The recent film Argo  starring Ben Affleck tells the true but improbable story of a covert operation to save six Americans hiding in the Canadian Embassy during the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis. The history of espionage is filled with many such hard to believe tales and the Library's collection has many great titles to pick from.

Double cross: the true story of the D-day spies by Ben Macintyre — What did a Polish patriot, a Peruvian party girl, a Serbian playboy, an eccentric Spanish chicken farmer, and a volatile dog-loving Frenchwoman have in common?

Have you ever read a book, loved it, and can't understand why no one else has read this wonderful author? Here are some of my unknowns, or little knowns, you really should try: Deborah Grabien's JP Kincaid Chronicles, Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza's Brazilian Inspector Espinoza, Margaret Frazer's Joliffe series is a spin-off of the Sister Frevisse stories, and fans of Stieg Larsson's books should try Ake Edwardson's Inspector Erik Winter.

Rock & roll never forgets by Deborah Grabien

The silence of the rain by Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza

17F: the life of Ian Fleming by Donald McCormick

The dead witness: a connoisseur's collection of Victorian detective stories by edited by Michael Sims

The language of flowers [sound recording]: [a novel] by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

Love me to death: a novel of suspense by Allison Brennan

The boy in the suitcase by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnete Friis; translated from the Danish by Lene Kaaberbol

Dreams of joy: a novel by Lisa See

Faith: a novel by Jennifer Haigh

The fatal touch: a Commissario Alec Blume novel by Conor Fitzgerald

ITV in partnership with Agatha Christie, LTD has announced they will film 5 new Hercule Poirot stories for release in 2012.

Dead man's folly by Agatha Christie

The big four [Large print]: a Hercule Poirot mystery by Agatha Christie

Elephants can remember [by] Agatha Christie by Christie, Agatha, 1890-1976

What could be more intriguing than a spy story, where truth is stranger than fiction or fiction incredibly true to life? Here are some suggestions for exciting reading material to "spies" up your life!

Books

General History

Operation Dark Heart: spycraft and special ops on the frontlines of Afghanistan--and the path to victory by Anthony Shaffer — Lt. Colonel Anthony Shaffer had run intelligence operations for years before he arrived in Afghanistan. He was part of the "dark side of the force"—the shadowy elements of the U.S. government that function outside the bounds of the normal system. Operation Dark Heart tells the story of what really went on—and what went wrong—in Afghanistan.

The lady in the tower : the fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir

The comforts of home : thrifty and chic decorating ideas for making the most of what you have by Caroline Clifton- Mogg

Lives like loaded guns : Emily Dickinson and her family's feuds by Lyndall Gordon

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers." -José Narosky.
Some of these mystery stories take place in a time of war, some in its aftermath. No one is unscathed…

Blood Alone by James R. Benn

Bitterroot by James Lee Burke

Thirteenth Night: a Medieval Mystery by Alan Gordon

If you have been watching The Prisoner miniseries on AMC you might want to check out the original British series. The Prisoner aired in the late 1960s and starred Patrick McGoohan who also produced the show. In case you haven't see either version, The Prisoner is about a spy (Number 6) who is held prisoner at a seaside town where everyone is assigned a number and no one asks questions. Number 6 has to figure out who kidnapped him, why they are holding him hostage, and how to escape.