Alan Trabue chose a bizarre, dangerous way to make a living. In A Life of Lies and Spies, Trabue exposes the often perilous world of polygraphing foreign spies in support of CIA espionage programs. He recounts his incredible, true-life globe-trotting adventures, from his induction in the CIA in 1971 to directing the CIA's world-wide covert ops polygraph program.
A Life of Lies and Spies brings readers into the high-stakes world of covert operations and the quest to uncover deceit, featuring a high-speed car chase, blown clandestine meetings, surreptitious room searches, tear-gassing by riot police, and confrontations with machine gun-armed soldiers. Liberally sprinkled with side anecdotes-such as debriefing an agent though a torturous swarm of mosquitoes in a jungle shack-Trabue's story highlights both the humor and the intrinsic danger of conducting CIA covert activities.
Writing from a unique perspective framed by his uncommon longevity and broad experience, for which he was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal, Trabue's memoir unveils the CIA's use of polygraph and interrogation to validate recruited spies' bona fides and information obtained through their acts of espionage.
The Central Intelligence Agency has not approved, endorsed or authorized this book or the use of the CIA seal, name or initials.
"Alan's accounts of the CIA's operational use of the polygraph are eye opening; fascinating; and absolutely amazing. During his outstanding career, Alan's superb management and oversight of the operational polygraph program was unsurpassed and as a result of his efforts, the program played a very critical role in keeping our nation safe. He is truly an unsung hero!"
Phil Houston, New York Times bestselling author of Spy the Lie and former CIA Polygraph Ex
"Due to decades spent in exemplary service to the CIA, most especially as it relates to all aspects of the Agency's use of the polygraph, there's literally no one with a greater breadth of polygraph experience nor having a more in-depth lens of its vital program than Alan Trabue...period! With his fascinating recountings, Mr. Trabue captures and puts the reader 'right there' in this gripping, first-hand account of what went on 'behind-the-scenes,' most particularly within the CIA storied, covert operations polygraph program. I heartily recommend this rare and authentic look back at the unique, clandestine world of espionage through which Alan Trabue navigated for nearly 40 years."
Bill Fairweather, CIA (ret.), former head of the CIA's polygraph program
