Shadow Cell

Shadow Cell rips the curtain off the modern spy game with the kind of insider access only two former CIA operatives could provide. It’s a rare glimpse into the shadow war of the 21st century, where loyalty is tested, trust is weaponized, and victory comes at a personal cost. – Jack Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Sky MourningThe “Shadow Cell” operation is arguably one of the most esoteric, innovative, and successful by CIA to date. It is also proof of how important fresh blood is to any organization. As you will read, the selection of these two young officers was a gamble that not only paid off but also exceeded everyone’s expectations. Reads like a novel, educates like a thesis. I truly enjoyed the read and even learned a trick or two. – Ric Prado, New York Times bestselling author of Black Ops, and former Chief of Operations at CIA’s Counterterrorism CenterA pacy and fascinating read. I suspect the closest an outsider will get to sitting in on CIA training in agent-running. – Professor Sir David Omand, former director of GCHQ and author of How Spies ThinkOn one level, this is an important story of how two CIA officers fell in love, married and set up a rogue spy agency in the heart of an enemy state. Their unorthodox methods, borrowed from the playbook of Al Qaida, are now standard practice in US counter-intelligence. But the book is also a tense thriller in which Andrew and Jihi Bustamante are both the hunters and the hunted in a cat-and-mouse game with a dangerous double agent working in the heart of the CIA. Every page is more gripping than the last, propelling the reader to its exciting finale. – Robert Verkaik, author of The Traitor of Colditz and Jihadi JohnThis is a uniquely compelling spy memoir. Two former CIA field operatives take turns to recount clandestine life in the world’s hot spots. Together they reveal the latest CIA techniques, including building their own look-alike terrorist cell. It is a behind-the-scenes story of a secret war that blends love, mystery and betrayal. – Richard J Aldrich, author of GCHQNail-biting … An unusual window into the normally closed world of spies’ private lives … Part autobiography, part true crime - or rather, true espionage - their tale of the hunt for a highly placed mole, which is also partly an exposé of the sometimes-dubious practices of CIA corporate culture, is a page-turning read. – Roland Oliphant * Telegraph *The Bustamantes write with a frank, conversational tone that is easy to follow and welcomes the reader into their world … an excellent account of real-world spy games and an entertaining and informative look at the logistics of modern intelligence work. * Booklist *Hair-raising … an alluring crash-course on spycraft … the authors pack in plenty of suspense, providing the cliffhangers and paranoid atmosphere of a John le Carré novel. * Publishers Weekly *A fast-paced account of an effort to root out a mole and recruit double agents in an unnamed enemy nation … The adventures and misadventures are plentiful here, but of equally great interest to readers are the authors’ lucid explanations of how spycraft proceeds to begin with … A gripping espionage yarn that happily contradicts the authors’ advice for crafting a cover story: ‘Make it boring as hell. * Kirkus (starred review) *Hair-raising – Fred Kelly * Daily Mail *

Andrew Bustamante (Author)

Andrew Bustamante is a former CIA intelligence officer who served in the US military in Afghanistan and Iraq before being recruited into the CIA’s National Clandestine Service where he served for 7 years handling sensitive operations still classified Top Secret. He is the presenter of the EverydaySpy podcast and a sought-after media authority on military, espionage, and current events.

Jihi Bustamante is also a former CIA intelligence officer and the Vice-President of EverydaySpy. After earning two masters degrees and a law degree, Jihi was recruited into CIA’s National Clandestine Service from a career in social work supporting female refugees fleeing sex trafficking and genocide. Unlike her public-facing husband, Jihi remains private in both her personal and professional lives.