DÉFENSE ZONE
With Un agent sort de l’ombre: DGSE, Service Action (An agent steps out of the shadows), Pierre Martinet opened a door that the Republic keeps carefully closed: that of the most secret of the French secret services, the one that acts — discreetly, sometimes clandestinely — where diplomacy stops.
What is the book about?
The real daily life of a Service Action operative: ruthless selection, training — combat, infiltration, surveillance, working under a cover identity — then the missions, recounted within the limits of what can be told. Far from Hollywood glamour, Martinet describes a job of patience and rigour, where anonymity is the first protection and mistakes are unforgiving — as well as the personal price of this life in the shadows.
What is its context?
This account was one of the first of its kind in France, a country where — unlike the English-speaking world — former members of the services spoke little. It paved the way for a whole literature on French intelligence, from the books of Olivier Mas to historical investigations, which finally allows the public to understand what the DGSE really does.
Why read it?
Because it is the antidote to fantasies: neither shady dirty tricks nor James Bond, but the concrete mechanics of clandestine action and of the men who carry it out. Essential for anyone interested in intelligence — or thinking of applying to the DGSE: the book is worth more than any brochure on the reality of the job.
Who is Pierre Martinet?
A former soldier who served in parachute units, Pierre Martinet spent several years in the DGSE’s Service Action, notably in the teams responsible for covert operations abroad, before leaving the service and speaking out — a rare step that caused debate even within the organisation. Now an author and security consultant, he has published several books on the world of intelligence and protection.
Where to order the book?
The book Un agent sort de l’ombre: DGSE, Service Action is available in the Défense Zone bookshop, within our selection of books on intelligence.
