Book Review – Spyology by Five Mile Press

The Complete Book of Spycraft for Children and Adults

Mar 5, 2009

Hidden codes, secret identities, double agents, surveillance techniques, spy gadgets and more are explained in this fun look at the world of international espionage.

Styled as a real-life glimpse into a super-spy dossier, Spyology: The Complete Book of Spycraft (Five Mile Press, 2008) is a fascinating and visually intriguing collection of facts, based on facts and maybe facts about the secret world of spies.

Written by Spencer Blake, known as Agent K, Spyology is a record of his mission to capture the CODEX gang. This collection of Agent K’s notes includes his personal notes on his current case and a series of mysteries for readers to unravel to solve the mystery of Operation Codex. In addition, it offers information on people, events, equipment and techniques that have been significant in the developing field of espionage.

The book has a scrapbook-like appearance, with information interspersed with photographs, maps, codes and drawings as well as hidden flaps, handbooks, and handwritten notes. There is even a secret message hidden in the spine of the book.

Learning about the Techniques and History of Espionage

Anyone from the age of 10 who is interested in secret codes, hidden messages and secret identities will find Spyology an interesting study of all things secretive and mysterious from the world of espionage. The combination of mysteries to solve and real-life spy stories is a fascinating combination.

The conceit that the book is an actual dossier made public because they have passed the secrecy time limit is carried on throughout the book from cover to cover, including featuring in the imprint details from the publisher. The front cover includes a decoder dial that can be accessed through a secret panel and a variety of secret hiding spaces, mystery envelopes, flaps and codes throughout the book maintain the spycraft theme.

Another Fascinating –Ology Handbook

Spyology is part of a series of books published with a similar format covering a range of topics. The series currently includes:

The OlogyWorld website includes additional challenges, games and information relating to all the titles in the series.

Spyology, as with other books in the series, is sure to find fans in both confident young readers and adults. The book is interesting in both content and layout with the added intrigue of a mystery to solve, it is sure to appeal to anyone interested in mysteries and codes.

The copyright of the article Book Review – Spyology by Five Mile Press in Children's Non-Fiction is owned by Susan Whelan. Permission to republish Book Review – Spyology by Five Mile Press in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.