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Victor Ostrovsky

Claire Hoy

By Way of Deception : The Making and Unmaking of a Mossad Officer Hardcover – September 1, 1990

by Victor Ostrovsky (Author), Claire Hoy (Author)

132 ratings

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Intelligence agencies should never try to ban books about themselves. Like Peter Wright's Spycatcher (Penguin USA, 1987), which was suppressed in Britain , this book on Israel's legendary spy organization by a former Mossad katsa or case officer has ended up on the New York Times best seller list. Among the controversial revelations that led Israel to seek a ban (which was quickly overturned in the United States and Canada) is Ostrovsky's charge that the Mossad refused to share knowledge of a planned suicide mission in Beirut, resulting in the deaths of 241 U.S. Marines in 1983. Another New York Times best seller, Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman's Every Spy a Prince ( LJ 7/90), provides more reliable details on Israel's spy network.
- Wilda Wil liams, "Library Journal"
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product details

Hardcover: 371 pages
Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st U.S. ed edition (September 1, 1990)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312056133
ISBN-13: 978-0312056131
Package Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 132 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #448,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #555 in Espionage True Accounts
- #697 in African Politics
- #667 in Israel & Palestine History (Books)

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Claire Hoy

Victor Ostrovsky

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132 customer reviews

Ranger Book Reviews

Interesting insider view of the Mossad; a somewhat biased perspective, but a fascinating read

June 2, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

It's incredible that Victor Ostrovsky's memoir of life inside one of the most secretive intelligence agencies on earth is still eminently readable and selling well since it was first published in 1990. Kindle and paperback versions are still available via Ostrovsky's own small press publishing house. Having read several books about the Mossad, I was looking for something different. I heard of Ostrovsky via YouTube -- where a treasure trove of Ostrovsky interviews and speeches can be found on subjects ranging from Israeli national security to intelligence operations to post-911 counter-terrorism (for many years he was the go-to man for news agencies looking for a Mossad insider). I found his books and discovered Ostrovsky's work is certainly different. Because unlike other memoirs by former Mossad agents, "By Way of Deception" is the personal narrative of a disgruntled former katsa (case officer), one who left the service under a cloud, with bones to pick and unafraid to name names. For a variety of reasons, some alarming, others somewhat self-serving, Ostrovsky fell out with his employer and eventually left Israel for the life of a writer and artist in Arizona USA. I won't spoil the reader by trying to explain all the whys because I think people should read his book. Besides being a memoir, Ostrovsky shares organizational and supposed tradecraft secrets that one assumes must have been highly classified at the time of publication (unless his entire publishing career is just a huge disinformation campaign -- a real possibility!). He also shares some conspiratorial concepts about secret intelligence agencies that will be familiar to readers of Victor Suvorov (KGB/GRU), Lev Timofeyev (KGB), Fletcher Prouty (CIA), David Talbot (CIA) and others worth comparing with. Ostrovsky is a decent non-fiction memoirist but having read his fiction before (several self-published novels; not very well written) I assume Claire Hoy did the heavy lifting to make this the fast-moving and fascinating read that it is. But it's Ostrovsky's book nonetheless. In fact, Ostrovsky followed this up with a sequel, The Other Side of Deception, that I hope to read soon. I know a little about intelligence myself and have spent some time in Israel so this book was right up my alley. But it's so well-written that even newcomers to these subjects will find it enjoyable. But be warned. His revelations are messy, disturbing and he is undoubtedly biased. But this book is still recommended. Highly.

8 people found this helpful

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Purple Elephant

Accurate portrayal of the Mossad

February 15, 2013

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

If you don't like all the political mumbo jumbo of a spy book but like the actual art of spying then this one's for you. The first hand accounts of the espionage, sabotage and assassinations ultimately ordered by the prime minister puts you right in the thick of it as if you were actually there watching the case officers and recruited agents yourself. I enjoyed reading the first hand accounts in the book "Blowing my cover my life as a CIA spy" by Moran and I am enjoying this read about the first hand accounts of the mossad. Victor Ostrovsky keeps the book interesting and accounts for his memory as best as possible. I like his writing style it's not boring.

6 people found this helpful

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Courage

May 19, 2019

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Love the book and thanks for signing it for me. Makes you wonder who is watching who from behind the scenes. Anyone could be a participant unknowingly. Victor confirms the adage that” authority corrupts. And absolute authority corrupts absolutely “. Thanks for your moral courage.

One person found this helpful

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T. Martin

Great reading it will leave you wondering who is in charge

June 5, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Great insite into a very cloudy organization. One often wonders what is fiction and what is truth when people write tell all books. I would say if only half of this is true he worked for a fascinating group. After reading you will wonder if the tail is wagging the dog or the other way around.
I think anyone who enjoys reading about these organizations will enjoy the book.

3 people found this helpful

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Robin Ringer

Great exciting read, but no literary masterpiece.

November 21, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Very interesting read, could not put it down. However not a literary masterpiece. One chapters was so full of details I got lost and did not understand what the Mosad operation had been about.

Kindle edition has lots of errors, seems like it's scanned in from paper edition and not checked. Even the very first word in the book is misspelled.

Much history on the Mossad is written by enthusiastic supporters so this is a good balance to those. Although bare in mind the author is a defector and holds a serious grudge so he is not so balanced himself.

5 people found this helpful

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chamelean75

thrilling

September 6, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I read this book with a grain of salt. Readers should be aware the author states that parts of the book are false. As to which parts, you'll have to decide for yourself. What impressed me most about this book was the description of the training that goes into becoming a mossad agent. I had no idea how much training was required. A very small percentage graduate to becoming a mossad agent and sometimes, entire classes fail to graduate.

The insight into the various mossad missions was also very interesting.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the mossad.

3 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

book: by way of deception

February 7, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

It's one of the very few inside views of the Mossad (Hebrew for "institute"). While the Mossad occasionally screws up, mostly they're lethal to Israel's enemies. How they do it is of intimate interest to me. It's interesting that the author apparently "said too much" and is on the run from the Mossad. Either THAT is a piece of Mossad disinformation, or this is a pretty high-fidelity look inside the Mossad.

3 people found this helpful

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Larry C.

Very disappointing.

September 7, 2019

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Thought this would be an explanation of how excellent operatives are schooled and trained. Perhaps some case histories. Instead,it seems the author may have a "chip on his shoulder", and wants to do a hatchet job on his former organization. A total waste of purchase money.

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