When CIA counterterrorism and Russia expert Alex Finley published her first two spy novels, Victor in the Rubble (2016)andVictor in the Jungle (2019), she went 'all in' on the book launches. Guests used aliases, some had missions to accomplish by the end of the party, and others pre-ordered books signed with messages in code.
“People got very creative and some managed to live their cover the whole night,” said Finley, now a SPYEX consultant.
Even though Finley left the CIA in 2009, it seems the spying game was too intriguing to leave behind entirely.
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When CIA counterterrorism and Russia expert Alex Finley published her first two spy novels, Victor in the Rubble (2016)andVictor in the Jungle (2019), she went 'all in' on the book launches. Guests used aliases, some had missions to accomplish by the end of the party, and others pre-ordered books signed with messages in code.
“People got very creative and some managed to live their cover the whole night,” said Finley, now a SPYEX consultant.
Even though Finley left the CIA in 2009, it seems the spying game was too intriguing to leave behind entirely.
From CIA Directorate of Operations to spy satirist
Before joining the Agency, Colorado-born Finley was a journalist reporting on Capitol Hill, the Pentagon, and the Department of Energy, or as Alex describes it: “Chasing puffy white men around Washington D.C. as a member of the wild dog pack better known as the Washington media elite.”
Finley then spent six years working in the CIA Directorate of Operations based in Europe, West Africa, and Washington, helping Agency analysts identify gaps in intelligence and liaising with the operational side to get those answers. She has experience working with foreign liaison and military partners and received an award for her outstanding contributions to the counterterrorism mission.
She published her third satirical novel in her ‘Victor Caro’ series in April 2022. The satirical books revolve around a case officer who is running an asset and gathering intelligence on corrupt politicians while trying to protect his source.
SPYSCAPE caught up with Alex Finley between projects to ask about her literary career.
Q: Is your 'Victor Caro' book series inspired by any real-life events? Real-life spycraft?
A: Of course the books were inspired by some real-life events! But I’m certainly not going to elaborate. I think that’s part of the fun of books like this: trying to figure out what’s real and what’s not. Using satire allowed me to pluck out the absurd parts of real events and use them in a wholly fictional way. I won’t confirm or deny any of it. But to keep the Publications Review Board on my side, I will note: these are all works of fiction.
Q: Why do you write from a male point of view?
A: I first attempted to write Victor in the Rubble in the first person. That failed spectacularly. Then I tried a female protagonist, which also didn't work. The problem was, I had very specific themes I wanted to dive into in Rubble (namely, dysfunctional bureaucracy and the absurdity of the war on terror). But I also wanted the story to be as real as possible, even though it is satire. In keeping things real, the female lead kept running into issues that I was not interested in exploring - or in some cases, was not personally ready to explore yet. In the end, Victor became the best vehicle to highlight what I wanted to highlight.
Q: Why is it so hard for females to get a foot in the door as authors in the spy genre?
A: I think this is probably because the world of espionage was an ‘old boys’ club for so long. Also, generally, I think women suffer from imposter syndrome more than men, so they are sometimes reticent to make themselves vulnerable publicly, which writing and publishing a book does. Publishing my first book, Victor in the Rubble, was a leap of faith. I was scared sh**less. Once you put your book out there, you have no control over how anyone will think about it or about you. But then I got such great feedback and responses from people who had been involved in the war on terror, who told me how much my book meant to them. It was one of the most satisfying experiences I've had.
Q: You’ve gone the self-publishing route noting that publishers take a high cut of the profits. Would you consider a mainstream publisher? And what’s next? Any book/TV or movie projects coming up in the future?
A: I would consider a mainstream publisher if the deal were right, of course. I may be a creative mind, but I am still running a business. As for what's next: I've started my fourth book and I've been developing a few projects. If anyone wants to buy the rights to any of my books, call me!
Q: You’ve had two spy-themed book launches, what about the latest book launch?
A: Due to the uncertainties involved in trying to organize parties during Covid, I opted not to do the spy-themed parties this time around… For Victor in Trouble, I pulled a Beyoncé. I dropped the book with no warning.
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