Closely Guarded: A Life in Canadian Security and Intelligence

This is a highly personal narrative, brought to life with excerpts from the letters that Starnes wrote home from London during World War II, when he moved in intelligence circles and met many prominent diplomats and policy-makers. His story recalls several of the key political moments of the 20th century, including the creation of the United Nations, the glory days of External Affairs, the Six Day War between Israel and Egypt, and the October Crisis in 1970. Starnes’s memoir offers a look at Canada’s security and intelligence work from the point of view of an official deeply involved in many covert government activities. It provides an insider’s perspective on both the little-known world of the Canadian intelligence community and the international security and intelligence network in which Canada has participated. Written by the author of five spy novels, it should interest those who follow the history of Canada’s undercover operations.