Gideon's Spies Inside Story of Israel's Legendary Secret Service

Jul 3, 2026

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Collection of prominent review excerpts providing wide critical acclaim for Gideon’s Spies and its author Gordon Thomas. The quotations emphasize gripping, spell-binding suspense-novel pacing, accessible yet rigorous investigative journalism, and detailed documentation of Mossad tradecraft. Multiple sources highlight insider access, balanced and responsible research, and vivid depiction of training, covert operations, and intelligence elite decision-making. Reviews also stress controversy, timeliness for Middle East/world affairs, and the book’s lasting value as a reference on Israel’s secret service.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages733

Reading Time18 h 49 min

Universal Critical Acclaim for Gideon’s Spies & Gordon Thomas “Literally impossible to put down.” The New York Times Book Review “Fascinating, spell-binding,‘can’t-put-down’ reading.” Los Angeles Herald Examiner “If you buy one book this year, this should be the one.” Toronto Globe & Mail “A Blockbuster.” New York Daily News “Intensely readable. An excellent popular work.” The New Yorker “Perfect and flawless . . . we get the feel of the time and the place.” Washington Post “It is spellbinding, with a suspense-novel pace. Timely, with a sense of tension, excitement and high drama.” Houston Chronicle “A convincing case for the thoroughness and responsibility of the research. This is a big and ambitious book”. Michael Pakenham, Baltimore Sun “It is not only magnificent journalism. It is writing, the kind of reportage that if Gordon Thomas were an American-born writer would earn him a Pulitzer Prize.” United Press International (USA) “Fascinating ‘can’t put it down’ reading. In the same league as ‘Is Paris Burning?’ but with brevity and economy of writing.” Boston Globe “Thomas handles highly dramatic material with clarity and impact.” Washington Post Book World “Gordon Thomas has a grasp of history . . . this is one of the few books to have captured the true nature of the Israeli Government and the thought process of the Israeli power elite . . . This book is a must for any student of modern Middle Eastern history.” Ari Ben-Menashe, Former Adviser on Intelligence to Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir and the Israeli Government “Gripping and compulsively readable.” Sunday Express (UK) “Tells it like it was—and like it is.” Meir Amit, former Director General of Mossad “Riveting, written with passion, it should be widely read.” Publishers Weekly “Thomas provides readers with a good sense of how the Mossad trains its agents. Fun read.” Kirkus (USA) “A fascinating look at a spy organisation that has remained off limits to most journalists. Some of the incredible episodes Gordon Thomas writes about seem like they belong in fiction and yet this is a first-rate non-fiction account.” Mary Fischer, GQ Magazine (USA) “Gordon Thomas has kept his head above the orchestrated campaigns of disinformation and produced a document about the Mossad that is as balanced and as truthful as can be arranged. This book is neither a vilification nor a condemnation of the Mossad. Thomas clearly understood Israel’s dilemmas when he put together this fine work.” Barry Chamish, co-editor, Israel Today Intelligence Review; author Who Murdered Yitzhak Rabin “Gordon Thomas digs deeply into the secrets of the Israeli intelligence service as a result of being given exclusive access.” Soldier Magazine “Great revelations. The author of this acclaimed history of Mossad has done it again.” The Drudge Report (USA) “A brilliant and exciting book.” The Literary Guild Magazine (USA) “Here is real insider stuff, written by an acknowledged expert. It is shocking and absorbing; rich and powerful. Go buy it!” All American Radio, Washington DC “A masterful job of reporting.” Observer “Gordon Thomas has written a major work on the history of the Israeli secret service, Mossad.” Ireland on Sunday “Using eyewitness accounts from director, agents, and even assassins, Thomas goes where few writers have gone before—inside the Mossad, Israel’s ruthless, super-secretive intelligence agency.” Maxim (USA) “This is essential reading for anyone concerned with the Middle East and world affairs.” Al Wasat (Saudi Arabia) “Thomas meticulously documents the shadowy world of spies and covert operations. Espionage buffs will love every page.” Booklist (USA) “What he says is always ominous—but never judgemental. That is what makes this book one of the most trusted on the world of secret intelligence.” The European “A compelling read, with any number of disturbing revelations.” For Him

FAQs

What aspects of Gideon’s Spies are most praised in the reviews?

Reviews consistently praise the book’s gripping, “can’t-put-down” readability, suspense-driven pacing, and clarity in handling dramatic material. Many also commend the richness of detail and powerful narrative style.

How do the reviews describe the research quality and access behind the book?

The excerpts highlight thoroughness and responsibility of research, documentation of the shadowy world of spies, and exclusive access that enables eyewitness accounts from directors, agents, and others involved in operations.

What do the reviews say about the book’s portrayal of the Mossad?

Several quotations emphasize balance and responsibility, stating the work is not mere vilification or condemnation. Others describe Mossad as ruthless yet compelling and grounded in how the Israeli government and intelligence elite think.

Jul 3, 2026

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