The Secrets of the FBI

By: Ronald Kessler

Narrated by: Michael Bybee

The Secrets of the FBI, by New York Times best-selling author Ronald Kessler, reveals the FBI's most closely guarded secrets and the secrets of celebrities, politicians, and movie stars uncovered by agents during their investigations.

Based on inside access, the book presents revelations about the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound, the recent Russian spy swap, Marilyn Monroe's death, Vince Foster's suicide, and J. Edgar Hoover's sexual orientation. For the first time, it tells how the FBI caught spy Robert Hanssen in its midst and how the FBI breaks into homes, offices, and embassies to plant bugging devices without getting caught.

From Watergate to Waco, from congressional scandals to the killing of bin Laden, The Secrets of the FBI presents headline-making disclosures about the most important figures and events of our time.

©2011 Ronald Kessler (P)2011 Random House

Even-handed; an interesting history of the FBI

'This book seems even-handed; an interesting history of the FBI that covers its directors and significant cases (Waco, Abscam etc) to the present. It also covers FBI training and undercover operations. The narrator is particularly well suited for this title. This is my first book by the author and while it claims 'secrets' of the FBI -there are some- I think it mostly covers issues in depth and gives background not generally well known. I have not 'read' about the FBI before so much of the story is new or at least in depth compared to the news. I enjoyed it!

fascinating

this clears up many other stories I've heard about the SPI. Lot of things that I've heard just didn't make sense and this book touches on those same things clearing up the music. There is simply things that never got out that this book reveals. Amazing book.

FBI

What we now know e the FBI is very far from the glowing report given in this book. Today, the FBI must be dismantled and redesigned without political interference.

superficial

This is a superficial look at the FBI. Not really much in the way of secrets. It was entertaining though and an easy read.

Yikes!

No wonder our country is in such a mess--lack of communication between agencies may destroy us before the terrorists do.

Entertaining

Ronald Kessler in The Secrets of the FBI provides a series of investigative chapters concerning the work of the FBI. The raid on Osama bin Laden, Marilyn Monroe’s death, the Vince Foster suicide, and other stories are here. While a very interesting read, this book contained no “secrets” that I didn’t already know or that had not been reported in the press earlier. However, each chapter contained insights into how the FBI works and interesting related details. The book takes a rather eclectic approach loosely connecting the various tales in the several chapters. If you are not familiar with the work of the FBI or have never read in this genre, this book might be one you would like to pick up. The reading of Michael Bybee is very good.

The Book Was Very Interesting!!

What did you love best about The Secrets of the FBI?

The information that I gained from the book that I didn't know before. I learned a few things about the FBI that I didn't know before.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Secrets of the FBI?

There was no one memorable part. To me the whole book was memorable.

Have you listened to any of Michael Bybee’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was my first time listening to Michael Bybee.

Puerile Pablum

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Substance

What do you think your next listen will be?

Not this

Would you be willing to try another one of Michael Bybee’s performances?

No

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disbelief

Any additional comments?

I got stuck in traffic today and listened to this nonsense for over an hour before coming to my senses and putting on a little rock 'n roll. SECRETS OF THE FBI??!!!! WOW!

SPOILER ALERT - Here's some of the

not as good as Kessler's earlier FBI book

I have bought and listened to several of Kessler's books. This is the least impressive, possiby because I have been saturated by insights in earlier books, or maybe this should have been published as an "updated and expanded" Inside the FBI.

seemed a bit random

Solid narrator, but tough to follow the arc of where the author was going. Seemed like a lot of the material covered was from long ago newspaper clippings. Not a total waste of time, but certainly below average.