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Agent Storm

My Life Inside al-Qaeda

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Agent Storm

By: Morten Storm, Paul Cruickshank, Tim Lister
Narrated by: Neil Shah
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About this listen

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of Agent Storm: My Life Inside al-Qaeda by Morten Storm with Tim Lister and Paul Cruckshanks. Read by Neil Shah.

He was the Western convert who would plunge deep inside al-Qaeda. He named his first son Osama after 9/11 and became a Jihadist. But then - after a sudden loss of faith - Morten Storm made a life-changing decision. He became a double agent and joined the CIA, MI6 and MI5.

Filled with hair-raising close calls and deception, Storm's story builds to the climactic finale when he must betray his friend and mentor al-Awlaki - al-Qaeda's biggest threat to the West. Storm is trusted to find al-Awlaki a wife from Europe. She becomes the bait for a possible American drone strike.

 Freedom & Security Military & War Political Science Politics & Government War & Crisis

Critic reviews

Revelatory, extraordinary . . . There are not others [books] in which the main protagonist has also played such an extensive role for western security services, and, more crucially, is prepared to reveal so much (Jason Burke)
A rollicking read and a rare insider's account of Western spying in the age of Al Qaeda, where the risk if exposed is not Cold War-style expulsion but gruesome execution
Explosive
You couldn't make it up . . . Agent Storm couldn't really be less like Bond (Christina Lamb)
Gripping
Reads like a screenplay for a James Bond movie written by Joel and Ethan Coen
Morten Storm's account of his nerve-wracking life spying on Al Qaeda for Western intelligence gives us the most detailed, compelling, and human look at modern espionage in the lethal world of jihadist terrorism that we are likely to get' (Mark Stout, former CIA officer and Director)
Opens a unique window onto bleak interlocking landscapes-the radicalization of European Muslims that has now been energized by the Syrian civil war, the leadership and organization of global jihad, and the twilight struggle waged by western intelligence agencies against an elusive and implacable enemy." (Steven Simon, bestselling co-author of The Age of Sacred Terror and The Next Attack)
Morten Storm, Paul Cruickshank, and Tim Lister tell an astonishing and unknown tale of the exploits, change of allegiances, double crosses and inner workings of both al Qaeda terrorist groups and the Western intelligence agencies charged with stopping them. Hard to put down (Mitch Silber, former Director of Intelligence Analysis at the NYPD and author of The Al Qaeda Factor)
Remarkable. As a true spy-story, this book brings you incredibly close to what it actually takes to be an extremist and get into a terrorist group while balancing loyalty and treachery in the world of intelligence. Essential reading for everyone interested in how the war on terrorism is actually fought in the shadows. (Dr. Magnus Ranstorp, a leading expert on international terrorism)
All stars
Most relevant
Wow on everything! I heard about this book from a youtuber I follow and it was a little different than I expected. A deep and fascinating look into the world of extremism and counterterrorism. This book goes deep into the life of Morten Storm, his early life, radicalisation and his work with government agencies. It is honest about the darkness in all these aspects. The only aspect which I wish was expanded on more was the motivations of his deradicalization. Sometime large event can be epiphanies and are difficult to quantify, but this was no reason to mark it down. Well constructed and well told. The Narrator does have an accent but his is very clear and give so much character to the man who's story he is telling as well as gives a voice to the other players involved

A captivating eye opener

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A incredible story with twists and turns. The narrator is awful. The accents are terrible. His Arabic pronunciation is embarrassing. Really makes it a difficult book to listen to.

Great book terrible narrator

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i really enjoyed thos book and never wanted to stop listening to the book.

my only complaint are the English accents were terrible.

Great story

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What made the experience of listening to Agent Storm the most enjoyable?

The book was heavily detailed which gave a lot of insight, but the way Morten Storm's life suddenly changed to religion, and then 10 years later equally suddenly he lost the faith and the consequences that had, were most interesting.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Morten was by far the most interesting character, but the author built up a very vivid picture of all characters that he came into contact with

What about Neil Shah’s performance did you like?

Neil Shah read the text eloquently and dynamically. He managed to wrap his tongue around the many difficult Arabic names and was a joy to listen to.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The most startling events where how the government agents wanted to suddenly wash their hands of Morten when things got sticky. Also very surprising is how the whole agency business revolved around money.

Any additional comments?

The book starts well but after a few chapters I started to flag. He went to his new brothers in Arabia and a lot of detail was there and at first I thought that the whole book might be like this and I was starting to struggle. But hang in there, by chapter 10 it starts to get very interesting. I listened to this each morning on the way to work and often sat in the car park for an extra 10 minutes riveted to what was playing out. I've finished the book and funnily enough I miss it now!

Detailed and intense excellence

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interesting story which came across very honest with the author admitting to all his bad deeds aa well as his good ones that followed, I personally feel for all his efforts he has not been rewarded or treated nor protected adequately by the government agencies who he helped so much to catch terrorists, gripping story too, highly recommended x

good honest account

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