The Spymaster of Baghdad: The Untold Story of the Elite Intelligence Cell that Turned the Tide against ISIS

The Spymaster of Baghdad is a gripping story of the top-secret Iraqi intelligence unit that infiltrated the Islamic State, gathering information that turned the tide against the insurgency and paving the way to the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019. With unprecedented access to characters on all sides, Pulitzer Prize-finalist Margaret Coker challenges the conventional view that Western coalition forces defeated ISIS and reveals a page-turning story of unlikely heroes, incredible courage, and good old-fashioned spycraft.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 24 February 2022
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

The Spymaster of Baghdad is a gripping tale of the top-secret Iraqi intelligence unit that successfully infiltrated the Islamic State. More so than any other foreign power, the information they gathered played a crucial role in turning the tide against the insurgency, ultimately leading to the assassination of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019. Set against the backdrop of the most brutal conflict of recent decades, the book follows the journey of the spymaster as he establishes the unit from scratch in challenging circumstances following the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. The story unfolds through the fraught relationship of two of his agents, the al-Sudani brothers, one of whom spends sixteen long months undercover within ISIS, while the other serves as his handler. Additionally, the book tracks a disillusioned scientist who turns into a bomb-maker, posing a significant threat to thousands of lives.

Pulitzer Prize finalist Margaret Coker offers an unprecedented access to characters on all sides, challenging the conventional view that Western coalition forces defeated ISIS. Instead, she presents a captivating story of unlikely heroes, incredible courage, and old-fashioned spycraft. The book is described as moving, visceral, and utterly revelatory, with Damien Lewis, the author of Zero Six Bravo, praising it as a stunning tour de force by an author who has lived every word of it on the ground. Sinclair McKay, the author of Dresden, also commends the book, stating that the previously unknown Iraqi heroes of the war against the Islamic State are braver than Bond and as subtle as Smiley.

Lindsey Hilsum, in her review for The Guardian, describes the book as "deeply reported, unputdownable," highlighting the bravery and ingenuity of the Iraqi agents who played a pivotal role in the fight against ISIS. The book provides a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics of the conflict, shedding light on the human cost and the sacrifices made by those who risked their lives to bring about change. Overall, The Spymaster of Baghdad is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary history, international relations, and the ongoing battle against terrorism.

Weight: 248g
Dimension: 129 x 196 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780241987018