Gary Byrne’s SECRETS OF THE SECRET SERVICE- excellent book;
highly recommended!
As an author of four books myself, and as someone who has
literally “seen and heard it all” when it comes to the Secret Service, I was
greatly impressed with Gary’s latest offering. I have found that there are
basically two types of Secret Service books: somewhat “sanitized” personal
memoirs from an actual former agent and tabloid-style “tell all” type works.
Luckily, neither of Gary’s fine books fall into either category.
Gary’s writing style is very conversational and easy to
comprehend- you don’t have to be an agency expert or former officer to
understand all the nuances. In addition, Gary tells it like it is, mincing no
words and does not cater to the “politically correct” mindset. Basically, Gary
has a true story to tell; the truth “with the bark off”, so to speak. If you
don’t like it or if the truth makes you uncomfortable, tough.
Quite frankly, I am mystified by the small percentage of
reviews claiming this book is essentially a rehash of his first. When I read
them, I wanted to scream “what drugs are you people on?” In point of fact, I
found next to no true rehashing of anything in this book. Methinks some people
are “trolls” or do not like what Gary is espousing in his book(s); perhaps fans
of the Clintons and/or disgruntled former agents who were made men (from the
“old boys” network).
Gary does a very good job detailing all the prior major
assassination attempts and unfortunate successes thru the decades and even centuries,
going back before the Secret Service officially existed and all the way up to
modern times. I quite enjoyed his take on some of the more well-known events in
Secret Service history. One can tell Gary has an open mind and not a
set-in-stone agenda. I appreciated his criticisms of the agency thru the years,
while also calling attention to what they got right.
For history’s sake, perhaps the greatest good this book does
is detailing, in brutally frank fashion (that could ONLY come from someone who
was a former agent/officer and lived it), the Secret Service’s failings
and-perhaps most important of all-the essential remedies needed to turn the
agency around.
Like Gary’s first book, I found this one very hard to put
down. In fact, I am going to reread it very soon!
Bravo, Gary! A very timely book I recommend to every American who cares about
their country and their leader’s safety.
Vince Palamara
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