Closely guarded : a life in Canadian security and intelligence / John Starnes.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Starnes's memoir offers a fascinating look at Canada's security and intelligence work from the point of view of an official deeply involved in many covert government activities.

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CHOICE Review

Starnes had a distinguished career in the Canadian foreign service and in intelligence work; this "closely guarded" memoir is his account of that life. From a well-off background, Starnes joined the Canadian army at the outbreak of WW II and worked primarily on intelligence questions. Then he was seconded to the Department of External Affairs late in the war and joined the Department at war's end. He remained for a quarter century, serving in increasingly senior roles, then became the first civilian head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Security Service at a time of great difficulty in Canada. Following his retirement, he suffered from investigations--and abuse--for some years. Unfortunately, although understandably, Starnes is very discreet. There are tantalizing details, but much is left unexplained or unexplored, and the result is ultimately unsatisfying. Even so, Starnes prints a number of documents in whole or in part that add much, and the hints about policy decisions, the interaction between politicians and spymasters, and relations among Allied agencies will likely help steer researchers in the right directions. Although not a great book, it is useful and engaging--despite some lamentable proofreading. Upper-division undergraduates and above. J. L. Granatstein; York University