Good Hunting

Reviews

“A sophisticated, deeply informed account of real life in the real CIA that adds immeasurably to the public understanding of the espionage culture—the good and the bad.”

“Jack Devine has the intelligence officer’s essential gift: the willingness to say no to bad ideas. Devine recounts the recurring pressure to do dumb things—from Central America to Afghanistan to Iran-Contra—which he usually was able to resist. His compelling memoir illustrates why the CIA is most successful when it sticks to the basics of ‘good hunting’ in espionage and covert action operations.”

“A refresher course on the breadth of America’s covert campaigns against the spread of Soviet influence and ideology…Mr. Devine’s remarkable thirty-two-year career is a microcosm of the secret thrust and counterthrust that defined those years.”

“Well-written and engaging, studded with insights and opinions that are thoughtful…The most fascinating revelations in this close-to-the-chest memoir give the reader a glance inside the compartmentalized mind of a man who led this twin life with surefooted adeptness.”

“A spine-tingling, utterly compelling book.”

“The insights derived from a long and varied career make this a top-line addition to the proliferating body of ‘insider’ memoirs from the years when the Cold War gave way to the ‘war on terrorism,’ and the rules began to change.”

“A vivid insider’s view, Devine’s is an engaging account for the espionage set.”

“Devine’s attention to detail translates into a finely delineated memoir of his selective undercover tradecraft.”

“Jack Devine’s personal narrative as a CIA case officer weaves through some of the most contentious pages of recent history: Iran-Contra, aid to the Afghan mujahideen, the coup against Chile’s Salvador Allende, the murderous drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, the traitorous Aldrich Ames. And Devine tells these tales with a case officer’s candor, busting popular myths as he goes. Read this book and learn why the nation still needs the CIA.”

“Jack Devine’s Good Hunting gives readers an inside look at CIA—the good and the bad—from someone who rose from the bottom of the Agency to the top, during some of its most turbulent times. There are new insights into covert operations from Chile to Afghanistan to Iran-Contra and the lessons that should be drawn from them by government leaders and the public at large. Beyond that, it’s just a good read.”

"Good Hunting, like Jack Devine himself, is straightforward, clear, patriotic, fascinating, and at the center of decades of key events. Tired of angry or self-serving stereotypes about the CIA? Turn to Jack Devine. I did, and it was a great call.”

“Jack Devine’s unusually detailed accounting of, and insight into, intelligence operations from the height of the Cold War through the global war on terrorism puts a bright light on the intrigue of the inner workings of the CIA. Most important, though, are his principles for covert action. Our clandestine service officers and national leadership alike would do well to read and understand Devine’s words and wisdom in this critical area.”

“The world of CIA clandestine operations and technologies is complex, tough, and often arcane and unforgiving but also consummately professional and necessary. Jack Devine is a larger-than-life character who served a long and distinguished career, in the field and in headquarters, spanning important periods in CIA history. If you want a better understanding of the CIA; its complex, differentiated, and noble people; and its missions, this well-written book is for you.”

“A fascinating—and highly instructive—insider’s memoir of four decades in foreign intelligence, insightfully described by an iconic pro’s pro.”

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