Thrill is Gone Podcast

In this week's episode, we talk about the lasting impact of Zoom on our retinas. Then we make break for it, like Richard Hannay in Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps." Did people really used to sleep in cabinets? And is a helicopter more menacing than a biplane? The truth is, we all need to be nicer to the milkman. And finally we get into "Ship of Fools," Katherine Anne Porter's allegory for the world before World War II. What can we learn from the displaced sugarcane workers in steerage? Maybe we can learn how to be kind around the old captain's table. But remember, the only thing we can count on in this world is ourselves and this podcast, so give it a listen!

In this episode, we discuss the renaissance of New York, which is being led primarily by decadent rats and a return of primates scaling the city's tallest buildings. Then we move onto Allen Drury's 1959 novel Advise and Consent, which focuses on a difficult confirmation hearing for an aspiring Secretary of State. This novel shows how the sausage is made in the Senate and explores the dirty tricks and betrayals that can accompany a confirmation hearing. Is this the greatest Washington novel of all time? Don't disappointment the anti-appeasement crowd and give it a listen!

In this episode we recap the summer. Who had it best? Was it the microbes struggling for survival on the surface of Venus, or was it the genetic code of the woolly mammoth which might unlock the secrets of hair loss? Then we wade into the murky pools of modern pharmaceuticals. Why do Americans love to get their medical advice during the commercial breaks on morning news? The answer lies in production values. Then we get onto LeCarre's foray into the perils of modern medicine in The Constant Gardener. Does this murky pool run deep? Give it a listen and find out.

In this episode I discuss what it must've been like to be a youth when the world was new and George Lucas decided to give the world a space opera. Then I move onto this week's choice Monimbo by Robert Moss and Arnaud de Borchgrave. In Monimbo, Castro is up to no good and so is the CIA. Finally, we review the wild life of Arnaud de Borchgrave, who helped shape the conservative media. Is that a paper airplane? No it's an Arnaudgram that says you should listen to the podcast.

In this episode, I recap my cross-country journey with some reflections on the plains, mask-wearing, and what separates a rest area from a truck stop. Then I talk a bit about Tommy Lee Jones and his propensity to be dismissive of local policing. And finally, I talk about Single and Single, LeCarre's foray into the world of post-Soviet money laundering. What sort of scruples would you be willing to sacrifice in order to gain admission to the Swiss Air Admiral's Club? Clean your money, clean your mind, and give this episode a listen.

In this episode, we talk about The Farmer's Market and how what starts on the farm doesn't always make it to the table. Then we discuss the Icarus Agenda, a book that makes you want to throw it all away and move to Colorado's Western Slope. It makes a person wonder: what does the Vice President do and why would anyone be so worried about it? And finally we talk about Robert Ludlum's legacy of conspiracies and blockbusters. Maybe there's more to life than giant condos in Naples, but then again maybe not. Give it a listen. It's what the Inver Brass would want you to do.

In this episode, we discuss how the carbonated water business got package size so wrong. Twelve cans? Gone by noon and then I'm off to Giant Eagle to make deals with the wholesaler in the parking lot. Then we get into the nitty gritty of the Panama Canal. How much does a canal cost? What kind of sovereignty can America expect on the shores of the canal? And just how much customer service can I expect from my offshore accounts? Finally, we talk about LeCarre's book about the swinging 1990's. The Tailor of Panama is an homage to Our Man in Havana, with nods and hat tips towards John Buchan and Erskine Childers. Give the podcast a listen, and never settle for a ill-fitting Armani suit or a "Brass Plate Podcast."

In this episode, we discuss a trip to the shoe store, where I might've told some lies and picked up some speedy slippers. Then we get into the famous Hitchcock classic Rear Window, where Jimmy Stewart spends a whole lot of time behind a pair of binoculars. Did the neighbor do it? Of course he did, but I really want to know if the composer made Hamilton happen. And finally, we talk about Michael Crichton's 1996 hit Airframe, where the plane goes up and down like a porpoise and the pages fly by like an airplane. Did the union do it? Did the journalists get it wrong? No, of course not. It was bring your kids to work day! Give the pod a listen and don't let the union boys run you over with a forklift.

In this episode, we start off by talking about the 1968 Steve McQueen classic Bullitt, which invented the modern car chase and flaunted the lax airport security policies at the time. Rubbing is car chasing, as they say. Next, we talk about John LeCarre's 1995 novel Our Game, which focuses on the Caucuses and what it means to be a person of action. What will it cost man, what will it cost? Great question, because this book was a cudgel used to break the Net Book Agreement in the United Kingdom. You might've found this book in the produce aisle. Buy a head of broccoli and get the book half off! Give it a listen and find your calling in the mountains.

In this episode, we celebrate the official start of summer for all the almanac junkies out there. Then we move on to the reasons why Russian troll farms have, thus far, failed to identify and amplify this podcast. Are they intimidated by the cutting humor, or perhaps they respect it too much to toy with it? Like the rising tides and the actual votes on Survivor, we may never know the truth. Then we kick on, diving into The Craft of Intelligence by spy chieftain and real-life Risk enthusiast Allen Dulles. Have you ever wondered why you can't trust walk-ins? The barber knows, and so does Allen Dulles. Learn why one of Allen's protege's described his era in the following way: "We went all over the world and we did what we wanted." Do what you want, and give it a listen.

In this episode, I talk about the big move to Phase Two in New York City. It's never been more thrilling to get a haircut than right now. Then I talk a bit about the joys and the concerns about personalized service in the online book buying game. And then finally, I get into The Night Manager mini-series from the BBC and AMC. We got Dr. House, whose prescription for what ails the modern world is dynamite, we got Tom Hiddleston, who wears a suit as well as anyone, and we got Tom Hollander, who steals the show as Corkoran. Make the right decision, sport, and give it a listen.

In this episode, we start off by talking about all the untapped listeners who haven't listened to the podcast yet. A world of ears remains. Then we talk about Vertigo, which upended a streak of Hitchcock successes. Jimmy Stewart is scared of heights but in love with a stranger. Did the nun push poor Kim Novak off the belltower? We'll never know. And finally, we talk about LeCarre's first true post-Cold War novel. The Night Manager has action, adventure, and a theory about how the world might look now that the Soviets aren't around to keep the West busy. Open a new business in Curacao, wait for the profits to roll in, and give it a listen.

Conspiracy theories? We got 'em this episode folks. We start out with the 4G conspiracy, which is that if you have Sprint, you never got 4G! Then we move on to our Hitchcock retrospective where we talk about The Man Who Knew Too Much, when in fact it seemed that Jimmy Stewart didn't know much at all. That's a conspiracy! And finally, we look at The Spike, the neo-con movement's most fevered dream of 1980. Imagine if hippy leftist journalists trick the American people into electing some leftist dupes into The White House. As Robert Moss might tell you, if you dream it, you can do it. And as Arnaud de Borchgrave might tell you, cut taxes and buy more yachts! Give it a listen!

In this episode, I take a little time to talk about the protests against police brutality and systemic racism. Then I discuss what books, and thrillers in particular, have to do with what we expect of the police, the military, and our leaders. And finally, I get into The Secret Pilgrim, where LeCarre says goodbye to the Cold War, to old Ned, and to sweet Bella who was always going to betray him. Give it a listen and try not to blow the Estonian network. It's the least you could do.

Tune in for this wide ranging episode. I start off by exploring the potent power of cold brew coffee. Then I head North by Northwest to Hitchcockland where we wind up in Roosevelt's nostril. And finally we meet the Queen of the Spy Thriller, Helen MacInnes, who has a NATO-centric thriller that takes us to a forgotten corner of the French Riviera. Cannes you give it a listen? Yes, yes you Cannes. It's Menton.

Episode 53 has arrived. I talk about Marlon Brando in The Ugly American, where the stunts were real and so were the leg injuries. The crowds didn't like it and I'm not sure I did either, but there's plenty to say about it. Then I move on to the subject at hand: The Russia House. A publisher gets in over his head in a perestroikin' Soviet Union. It was a role so perfect, they had to give it to Sean Connery, who used it to coin his most famous line: "Pages Galore." Let yourself think freely like a Moscovite in the late-1980s and give it a listen.

In this episode, I talk about Blu Rays. What are they for? Why are they blue? Then I talk about the Tailor of Panama, a film in which Geoffrey Rush is nervous, Jamie Lee Curtis is confused, and Pierce Brosnan is mean. My big takeaway is that this was Daniel Radcliffe's major breakthrough! Finally, we talk about the prolific Leon Uris, who penned himself a sweeping, panoramic portrait of struggling writer Gideon Zadok in Mitla Pass. Jump out of an old Dakota over the Sinai and have a listen.

In this episode, I talk about a very long movie called Out of Africa that won Best Picture in 1985. It stars Robert Redford as some cool guy with a plane and Meryl Streep as a Danish lady who has a lot of cash and not enough coffee. Then I shift gears and talk about A Perfect Spy, which in the opinion of this fan is LeCarre's absolute best. Like seeing the Grateful Dead at the Pyramids back in '78, it's not for the faint of heart. Give it a listen and see if you have what it takes.

In this episode, I have a long chat about why I miss the dear old library. Then I dig into the life and work of the great Paul Hogarth, best known for illustrating the covers for an 80's Penguin reissue of Graham Greene's work. He did quite a lot, including driving a lorries around Spain when things were going bad. I even try my hand at drawing in the style of the great Paul Hogarth, with mixed results.

This episode focuses on Eugene Burdick and William Lederer's 1958 classic The Ugly American, which was meant to be a wake-up call for the American foreign policy establishment. It played a role in cultivating Kennedy's emphasis on counterinsurgency and its legacy continues to influence policy decisions to this day. Let the Swami from Savannah read your palm and give this episode a listen. Follow Keenan Duffey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/keenanwords Buy Paris Circle: https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Circle-Keenan-Duffey/dp/1970100001

In this week's episode, we talk about The Little Drummer Girl, John LeCarre's foray into the Israel-Palestine conflict. The book is a complex tale that will leave the reader wondering which side really deserves their sympathy. The recent television version is a stylish production that, in the final analysis, makes the decision for you. We also chat a little about the great John Prine and the beautiful songs that man wrote. Hang in there and enjoy!

It feels like, with everything happening in the world, that now is as good a time as any for a little trip. But don't get on a plane, lordy, don't get on a plane. Instead, pick up a copy of Pravda HaHa by Rory Maclean. With his vividly rendered interviews and sharp eye, Maclean takes the reader to the ends of Europe. Pravda HaHa is an illuminating travelogue about a place and a time on the edge.

In this episode, I talk a little bit about Tom Clancy's Executive Orders. Who was Tom Clancy? An insurance salesman. An admirer of the American military. And a wildly successful author. And he was more than all that. He helped shape the way America felt about its armed forces for the last four decades and with the revival of his hero Jack Ryan he continues to do so today. I dig into the politics and the allure of Tom Clancy. In part two, I invite on my brother Matt, a former submariner and longtime admirer of Clancy for a defense of the man who by my estimation might have only been outdone by the Bible and that British wizard in terms of pageviews in the last thirty years. Love Clancy or hate him, this episode has something for you. Listen to full episodes at ThrillisGonePodcast.com Follow me on Twitter @KeenanWords Follow me on Instagram @ThrillIsGonePod

In this episode, I talk about John Buchan's "man on the run" novel The Thirty-Nine Steps. I start off with an update on the situation in New York City. Then I talk a little about my last trip to library for a good, long while. No late fees, which doesn't hurt when you made a haul like I did. And then there's The Thirty-Nine Steps. What are they? It's not clear. But by the end of this novel, you'll be out of breath and on your way to the Western front. Not bad for an author who would eventually assume the title of "Ice King" (old slang for governor-general of Canada). Give yourself a little break and give it a listen. And keep an eye out for monoplanes while you're at it.

In this episode, I talk about Erskine Childers' classic novel The Riddle of the Sands. I start off with a recap of my visit to an antiquarian book fair where I encountered the nexus of Soviet propaganda and capitalism. Then I move onto the book itself, where a friendly sail around Germany's northern coast turns into an international caper. Invasion scare literature? You betcha. And then's there's Erskine, who went before the firing squad for his Irish nationalist beliefs. Give it a listen, and mind the sandbars.

In this episode, I talk about the book Smiley's People (it was a book, too!). I start off with a discourse on biography writers, who save all the smack-talk for their introductions. Then I move onto the musical Hamilton, where a duel champion's legacy is put to the sword. And finally, I talk about the subtle joys of Smiley's People, which is a fitting end to a series that only asked you to see the humanity in the other side.

In this episode, I talk about episode six of the 1982 miniseries adaptation of Smiley's People. I start off with an appreciation of audiobooks generally and George Orwell in specific. Then I move onto the final episode of Smiley's People, which, upon further review could've been wrapped up in 12 minutes. And finally, I talk about the life of Alec Guinness, which wasn't all space operas and moody British dramas. "George, you won!" You're George. You won.

In this episode, I talk about episode five of the 1982 miniseries adaptation of Smiley's People. We get started with an in memoriam for the great American author Charles Portis who, among other things, wrote True Grit. After that, I get into the shenanigans that are pulled on Amazon with books that land in the public domain. Finally, we step into Enderby's office for some Scotch and psychoanalysis. Remember what Tobe said: "Russians think the butterflies are spying on them." This is the forty-first episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in the series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where I read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. I am also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas along the way. Buy Paris Circle on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Circle-Keenan-Duffey/dp/1970100001

In this episode, I talk about episode four of the 1982 miniseries adaptation of Smiley's People. I talk about the three schools of British spy fiction, what it's like to have your trunk folded and crushed by transients, and wonder aloud what happened to Michael Jayston. Don't let the driving gloves scare you off, this episode has grip. This is the fortieth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in the series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where I read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. I am also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas along the way.

In this episode, I talk about episode three of the 1982 miniseries adaptation of Smiley's People. I talk about Bernard Hepton, fake statues, and the 17 minutes that changed it all for Beryl Reid. Ask Connie's partner Hillary for a cup of tea and give it a listen. You don't buy Degas from Signor Benati, you follow me? This is the thirty-ninth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in the series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where I read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. I am also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas along the way.

In this episode, I talk about the book Cold Warriors by Duncan White. The book takes a look at the Cold War through the lives of the greatest novelists on both sides of the Iron Curtain. White details critical moments in the lives of Orwell, Koestler, McCarthy, Pasternak and others. It was a time when books were weapons of war and authors wielded them for and against both sides of the conflict. The episode also gets into typewriters, particularly my Royal 260, which plays AM radio and, for the most part, can still type. This is the thirty-eighth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. If you like what you hear, subscribe to the channel and leave a pleasant sounding comment. Check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

In this episode, I talk about episode two of the 1982 miniseries adaptation of Smiley's People. I talk about the folks who made the Gaul Woman famous, the intersection of fate, Bruce Willis, and Alan Rickman, and finally a romantic dalliance between Dame Eileen Atkins and a certain Irish actor. Say it with me in your best British-tinted Eastern European accent: "It must be Max!" This is the thirty-seventh episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas along the way. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

In this episode, I interview author Jefferson Morley about his book The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton. Morley paints a sweeping portrait of the cunning and paranoia that defined a man who sat at the center of American intelligence from its inception. The conversation takes us from Angleton's humble beginnings in Idaho all the way through the internal mole hunt that defined the latter stages of his CIA career. Morley tells us, "Angleton's story is sort of the American version of Tinker Tailor." Give it a listen and support Jefferson Morley's work by buying a copy of his book at JeffersonMorleyBooks.com. Order a signed copy as a gift for the thriller lover in your life (that might be you). If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

In this episode, we talk about episode one of the 1982 miniseries adaptation of Smiley's People. We have Madame Ostrakova, caught up in circumstances she couldn't possibly understand. Then there's the magician and danger around every corner. Finally, poor General Vladimir just needs to talk to his old friend Max. What else but the steady hand of Sir Alec's Smiley could unwind this knot. Give it a listen and be sure to never listen to dear Oliver Lacon. This is the thirty-fifth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas along the way. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

In this episode, we talk about LeCarre's 1977 epic novel The Honourable Schoolboy. The follow-up to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is massive in scope and ambitious in tone. LeCarre takes a risk, leaving the familiar fields of Europe for the cities and jungles of southeast Asia. The result is something unlike anything he'd written before, both for better and worse. This is the thirty-fourth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas along the way. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

In this episode, we talk about the time LeCarre appeared on the cover of Time magazine. The October 3, 1977 cover featured LeCarre and a drawing of his latest release The Honourable Schoolboy. We spend a little time chatting about "Agent Running in the Field's" debut on the bestseller list, former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove's opinion on LeCarre's "corrosive" impact on the intelligence world, and where spy writing sits in the world of literature. This is the thirty-third episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas along the way. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

In this episode, we wrap up our month with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. We start by talking about the release of Agent Running in the Field, the perils of buying on Amazon, and, of course, the Tinker Tailor book itself. Tinker Tailor is about betrayal, about class, and about what people might do to fit within an institution. Give it a listen as we talk about where Tarr really came from, what Bland was doing in Poznan, and how it all ended over at Thursgood School for Boys. This is the thirty-second episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas along the way. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

In this episode, we talk about the stylish 2011 production of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, starring Gary Oldman as Smiley. Does Tom Hardy live up to the lofty standards of the great Hywel Bennett? Does Marc Strong know karate as well as Ian Bannen? And does Colin Firth channel the elitism and arrogance of Ian Richardson? All these questions and more will be answered! This is the thirty-first episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

We wrap up the journey through the 1979 mini-series of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in a sweeping conversation with listener Mike Liddy. We touch on all things Tinker Tailor, from who had the best performance to what the differences are between LeCarre's Cold War and post-Cold War work. Listen up while we say a fond goodbye to Guinness, Bennett, and the rest...for now. This is the thirtieth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

Episode six of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy finally answers the question that's been baffling us these past episodes: Who is the mole? Ian Richardson finally gets some time alone on screen and shows us the madness, brilliance, and treachery of Bill Haydon. And how about one last dalliance with Hywel Bennett? Absolutely. Tune in to see how it ends! This is the twenty-ninth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

Episode five of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy finally provides us with what we've been craving all along: Smiley and Prideaux alone in a field. It's Ian Bannen's episode to shine. Prideaux and Smiley talk about everything: their relationships with Haydon, what happened while Jim was being interrogated by Karla, and what to do next. And we get another classic action sequence where Guillam puts his hands on Esterhase. "Against the wall, Tobe!" This is the twenty-eighth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

Episode four of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy introduces us to the infamous Karla, who is a bit stingy with his words. It's a shame because he's played by the menacing and excellent Patrick Stewart. We also get to see what Jim Prideaux is like in the classroom (children driving). And finally, we learn what really happened at The Circus the night of the "Czecho incident." Be like Sam and pop a beer while on duty. This is the twenty-seventh episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

Episode three of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy introduces us to the decrepit Connie Sachs who still has a few pieces of crucial information for George Smiley. We also get to witness the ambition of Percy Alleline turned against The Circus. And last, but certainly not least, we get the best "walk and talk" of the series when Roy Bland tells us all about his time in Poznan. "Don't look like that, listener." This is the twenty-sixth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

Each episode of Tinker Tailor Podcast Spy is a celebration. But what sort of a celebration, you ask. Well, for starters, this episode is a celebration of the life and times of Hywel Bennett, who brings Ricki Tarr to life so that we can't look away. Give it a listen and keep your hand in, or else you might get rusty. This is the twenty-fifth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy might be LeCarre's most well-known work. The only thing better than the book might just be the 1979 mini-series starring Alec Guinness. In episode one, director John Irvin takes viewers with Prideaux to Czechoslovakia and back to England where Ricki Tarr is waiting with a story to tell. This is the twenty-fourth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

The Naive and Sentimental Lover takes us beyond the walls of The Circus and away from the moral conundrums that plague George Smiley. Prepare to uninhibit yourself, just as Aldo Cassidy does on his journey from middle class businessman to swinging bohemian. Come and listen as I talk about LeCarre's dalliance beyond the world of espionage. This is the twenty-third episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

Back Lash by Brad Thor takes readers to Russia where private-sector superspy Scott Harvath must fight his way to freedom. Will the wily Russians prevail in this shoot-em-up story or will the free-market overcome the failures of central planning? That, and a whole bunch of acronyms await in Back Lash! If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

The New Girl by Daniel Silva takes us to Saudi Arabia and across Europe as superspy Gabriel Allon is on a mission to ensure that the Saudi crown prince becomes king. It asks the question, "What if Mohammad Bin Salman had his reasons for killing Jamal Khashoggi?" Would you be interested in reading a book about that? Sounds strange, right? It is. It's a surreal book that exists in an alternate reality made possible by tight publishing deadlines and a crown prince who didn't do what he was supposed to. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

A Small Town in Germany takes us to Bonn where embassy intrigue is on the menu right beside the blood sausage. Strap in as Alan Turner tries to uncover a mystery in the midst of a growing nationalism and the faint echoes of "Make Germany Great Again." This is the twentieth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

This is the nineteenth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. In this episode, I dig into the relationship between Kim Philby, Graham Greene, and John LeCarre. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod

This is the eighteenth episode of Thrill is Gone: A podcast about thrillers. This episode marks another episode in our series Tinker, Tailor, Podcast, Spy, where we read all of LeCarre's work from Call for the Dead all the way to Agent Running in the Field. We are also going to be checking out the movies and radio dramas. In this episode, I dig into The Looking Glass War, LeCarre's follow up to the hit The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. If you like the podcast, check out the website: www.thrillisgonepodcast.com Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/keenanwords Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/thrillisgonepod