The Architect of Espionage

“Masterful … definitive … [written] with the pacing of a thriller … more than a biography[,] it is a history of the modern Middle East told through the lens of a man who spent his life ensuring his nation had the upper hand.” —The Cipher Brief“An in-depth narrative… . The Architect of Espionage will be a delight for readers who appreciate historical detail… . Along with the history, Katz includes the personal dimension, painting Dagan as an interesting, insightful man who was often underestimated because he looked more like a short tough guy than the incisive political analyst he was.” —Moment“An eye-opening look at how real-world spycraft is conducted.” —Kirkus Reviews“The sto­ry of Meir Dagan, a hero whose life was an inte­gral part of the his­to­ry of Israel, is awe-inspir­ing. Katz relates it with the nuance, detail, and dra­ma it deserves.” —Jewish Book Council“Katz vividly portrays Dagan … moving.” —SpyTalk“Few names loom larger in the shadow war than Meir Dagan. In his extraordinary new book, Katz pulls back the curtain on the soldier, commando, and spymaster who transformed the Mossad into a service that not only provided intelligence but turned it into an actionable commodity. Fast-paced, deeply researched, and unforgettable, this is the story of a dedicated leader whose bold actions and ‘clandestine diplomacy’ changed the course of history. Required reading for those wishing to understand the landscape of the modern Middle East.” —Jack Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Cry Havoc“Dagan was Israel’s ‘Wild Bill’ Donovan and Katz nails the life of Israel’s legendary secret agent. Spies will study The Architect of Espionage to learn how the Mossad thinks and operates, because Dagan’s legacy lives on. The man changed the face of counterterrorism, turning the tables on enemies.” —Fred Burton, former special agent and New York Times bestselling co-author of Under Fire: The Untold Story of the Attack in Benghazi“Meir Dagan stands among the most consequential Israeli leaders in its history. Across fifty years, Dagan played an enormous role in protecting Israel from the numerous threats it faced, while also turning Mossad into the best intelligence service in the world. In The Architect of Espionage, author Samuel Katz brings Dagan’s remarkable story to life. I learned much more from this book about Dagan than I knew before I read it.” —Mike Morell, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency“Samuel Katz has done it again, producing a detailed window into the legendary career and life of Meir Dagan, one of the titans in the global intelligence world, a man feared by his enemies, revered by officers under his command, and deeply respected by his allies, particularly in the US.” —Marc Polymeropoulos, former CIA senior intelligence officer“Everyone who will read this exceptionally exciting book will get a better understanding of the difficulties, the challenges, and the threats that Israel had to deal with and the courageous manner in which Meir Dagan as head of Mossad helped the government and the state of Israel prevail… . Highly recommended.” —Ehud Olmert, former Prime Minister of Israel

Samuel M. Katz is a New York Times bestselling author who has written over twenty books on the Arab Israeli conflict, military and law enforcement special operations, espionage, and counterterrorism. He has written hundreds of articles for magazines and journals around the world, as well as documentaries for television. He is also the former editor-in-chief of Special Operations Report, a trade publication for the world’s commando and counterterrorist community. Katz lectures police agencies and military commands around the world on the history of terrorism, and he is a frequent guest on television and radio networks.