Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Accidental Spy

By: Sean O'Driscoll
Narrated by: Gerry O'Brien
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £4.99

Buy Now for £4.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

The gripping real story of the ordinary American man who found himself at the centre of a deadly terrorist organisation - and working for both MI5 and the FBI.

A bored trucker from New York took a holiday to Ireland with his new girlfriend and brought down the IRA.

Just a quick Google search reveals the level of interest across Britain, Ireland and the US into exactly how this ordinary blue collar worker found himself at the centre of an espionage ring.

David Rupert, a complete outsider with no connection to Ireland, rose to the very top of the Real IRA, all while working for the FBI and British intelligence. But the story is really about just how a bored, frustrated New York trucking manager becomes one of Britain’s most valued spies, brings down the entire IRA structure and makes $10 million in the process.

Along the way he finds himself in the most extraordinary and terrifying situations - is involved in major terrorist operations, sets up an Iraqi sting operation and is organising US arms shipments with a man being trained to kill the then British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

©2019 Sean O'Driscoll (P)2019 Mirror Books
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Deep Cover cover art
Stakeknife's Dirty War cover art
Double Agent cover art
First into Action cover art
Thatcher's Spy cover art
Rescued from ISIS cover art
Saddam's Bombmaker cover art
The Gangbuster cover art
Like No Other Soldier cover art
Killing the Dream cover art
MRF Shadow Troop cover art
Secret Victory cover art
SAS Great Escapes cover art
The Interceptor cover art
The Ballad of Danny Wolfe cover art
Soldier Spy cover art

Critic reviews

"I hope I have done justice to David's complex personality and the most extraordinary story I have come across in 20 years of journalism. I hope it answers many unanswered questions and raises some uncomfortable questions for security forces in the US, Ireland and the UK. Most of all, I hope it helps explain the combination of injury, rage and ego that fuels international terrorism and the quiet patience it takes to bring it to an end." (Sean O'Driscoll, journalist and Northern Irish correspondent for The Times)

What listeners say about The Accidental Spy

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    342
  • 4 Stars
    136
  • 3 Stars
    46
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    8
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    334
  • 4 Stars
    103
  • 3 Stars
    31
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    5
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    312
  • 4 Stars
    111
  • 3 Stars
    34
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    6

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting history of IRA

it was a bit long winded and I did struggle to finish it. very interesting tho

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

You could be mistaken that the narrative for this book is film fiction ... however even more captivating because it’s real life people and events .
The narration was first class .
Would definitely recommend .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great!

Nothing else to say. Informative and keeps you plugged in. Not preachy yet extremely educative. Highly recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such an interesting story!

I found 'An Accidental Spy' to be a really interesting read. A well told story. Highly recommended it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

David Who....

This story kept me captivated, a briliant insite to the internecine bickering of the republican movement in the 90's. Thoroughly enjoyable.
The book is closed off with the court case and Ruperts life in the aftermath of his experiences.
It was a book I could pick up at any time, but had to wait in the car or do another lap woth the dogs before stopping.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent

one of the best books I have ever read/listened to. the detail of people and places is excellent

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This would make an amazing film!

Superb from start to finish! An easy listen. One that I'd recommend if you want to understand the complexity of the IRA.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

very interesting listen and excellent narration will keep you interested. hadn't realised the depths of the struggles until this.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Twisted tale.

Good to eventually have the convoluted story of 'David Ruppert' explained to an Irish person in a straitforward manner.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Movie Stuff

Sounds like a good script for a spy movie. Excellent performance by O’Brien. Very enjoyable!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!