Book excerpt: The complete guide to professional spying for 8-to-80-year-olds. Whether you're just a bit nosy, or you want to launch a full-scale investigation of your neighbours, this indispensable handbook will teach you everything you need to know. There are practical sections on codes, ciphers, invisible ink and signalling, as well as guidance on drops and safe houses. This book teaches you how to spot when somebody is lying, and how to lie effectively yourself. There are sections on successful disguise and how to structure a spy ring, including psychological recruitment strategies, psychic surveillance, and spotting moles. And there's technical advice too about constructing bugging devices and setting traps. Herbie Brennan interlaces the facts with anecdotes about real-life spies, making this unique handbook an entertaining armchair read as well as an essential tool for any budding (or currently serving) MI6 operative.