Welcome to the 'Corey Pearson – CIA Spymaster Series'- Novels and Short Stories of Espionage and Intrigue!

                      Whether you’re looking for a quick, thrilling short-story read or an immersive spy novel to sink into, Corey Pearson’s world has something for every adventure lover. Buckle up, explore the world of espionage, and join Corey Pearson on his next mission today!   

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COREY PEARSON- CIA SPYMASTER NOVEL SERIES: Enter the deadly world of Corey Pearson – CIA Spymaster, where deception is survival and the enemy hides in plain sight in these full-length novels. In Mission of Vengeance, Pearson hunts Russian agents behind a Caribbean massacre. In Shadow War, he uncovers a sleeper cell plot threatening millions on U.S. soil. From covert ops to nuclear threats, these gripping thrillers fuse real spycraft with breakneck action. The line between ally and traitor blurs—and only Pearson’s team can stop the chaos before it’s too late.

COREY PEARSON- CIA SPYMASTER SHORT STORY SERIES: These quick, 20-30 minute reads are perfect for spy thriller enthusiasts who crave high-stakes missions packed with real-world espionage and gripping spycraft. Read them in any order and get whisked away into Corey Pearson’s daring adventures, all in a single sitting!

 

  

 

Why U.S. Allies Are Pulling Back on Intelligence Sharing

 

Allies Are Losing Trust in the U.S. — And It's Not Just Paranoia

📎 Read the full NBC News article

A recent NBC News report reveals growing concern among America’s closest intelligence allies. As the possibility of a second Trump presidency looms, some of these partners are already discussing pulling back on the intelligence they share with the U.S. Why? Because they fear their most sensitive secrets—especially the identities of assets—could end up in the wrong hands.

This isn’t political drama. It’s strategic survival.

Allies pulling back intel isn’t paranoia—it’s survival. If Trump leans toward Moscow, sharing assets’ identities becomes too risky. Once that trust is broken, rebuilding it could take decades.

The story isn’t just that allies are worried. It’s that they’re preparing for what they see as a realistic risk: a shift in U.S. foreign policy that could favor adversaries like Russia, whether through direct cooperation or negligence. That puts human sources—real people working in dangerous environments—at risk. Intelligence sharing isn’t based on blind loyalty. It’s based on trust, and trust depends on stability.

If that foundation cracks, we’re looking at a long-term weakening of global cooperation on terrorism, cyber threats, nuclear proliferation, and more. You can’t snap your fingers and fix it later. Relationships like these are slow to build and easy to break.

This article should be a wake-up call. Intelligence isn’t just about what we know—it’s about what others are still willing to tell us.

Bioweapons in the Shadows: The Real Threat Behind Russia’s Secret Labs

 

Deadly Silence: The Threat Lurking Behind Russia’s Bioweapons Curtain

     It’s easy to dismiss the idea of a secret Russian bioweapons lab as something lifted from the pages of a spy novel. But what if the fiction is closer to reality than we’d like to believe?

     As the global community continues to reel from the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the specter of biological warfare has quietly crept back into the conversation among intelligence experts. While there’s no verified evidence that bioweapons played any role in COVID-19, U.S. intelligence officials have confirmed growing concern over clandestine Russian laboratories — some of which were supposedly shut down decades ago — that are still operating in secret.

     Take the Vector Institute in Siberia, for example. Officially, it’s a research center for infectious diseases, working on viruses like smallpox and Ebola. Unofficially, satellite imagery and classified intelligence suggest a buildup of activity — new construction, armed security, and signs of military-grade infrastructure. Then there’s the lesser-known Kirov facility in the Ural Mountains and the Scientific Research Institute of Biological Instrumentation near St. Petersburg, all legacies of the Soviet Union’s vast and highly classified bioweapons program that started as early as the 1920s. Many experts believe the program never really ended — it just went deeper underground.

     The U.S. has been monitoring these locations with increasing urgency. Surveillance reports describe strange shipments, restricted areas expanding in size, and a flow of personnel that doesn’t match official rosters. The real fear? That these labs are developing or stockpiling weaponized versions of viruses like anthrax, smallpox, tularemia, or even new synthetic pathogens designed to spread fast and leave no trace of origin.

     It’s not just the viruses themselves that worry analysts — it’s the delivery systems. During the Cold War, the Soviets experimented with dispersal via aerial bombs, missile warheads, and sprayers. The concept was horrifyingly simple: unleash a highly contagious virus over a densely populated area, and let chaos do the rest.

     That premise forms the chilling backbone of Shadow War, a spy thriller I wrote after digging into declassified intelligence reports and speaking with former field officers. In the novel, Russian sleeper cells plan to release a lab-engineered virus using a discreet aerosol device along Wall Street in New York City. What starts as fiction eerily mirrors real-world possibilities — and that’s the point. The more research I did, the more I realized how disturbingly plausible the scenario is.

     Skeptics often point to the 1972 Biological Weapons Convention, which the Soviet Union signed, promising to dismantle its bioweapons program. But history tells a different story. Just three years later, an anthrax leak from a military facility in Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg) killed dozens — and the truth was buried for decades. Many in U.S. intelligence believe Russia simply hid its most dangerous operations and continued its research in defiance of international law.

     Today, with modern genetics, AI, and synthetic biology, a pathogen doesn't need to be a naturally occurring virus. It can be engineered — made deadlier, more contagious, or harder to detect. And if a hostile state actor or terrorist cell were to get their hands on such a virus, the fallout would make COVID-19 look like a dress rehearsal.

     This isn’t about fear-mongering. It’s about preparedness. The U.S. intelligence community continues to work around the clock to monitor these facilities, intercept chatter, and analyze satellite feeds. But the truth is, when it comes to bioweapons, detection often happens too late.

     That’s why stories like Shadow War exist — not just to entertain, but to warn. The novel’s plot may be fiction, but it’s anchored in hours of research, real-world tactics, and interviews with experts who’ve lived in the shadows. And it’s those shadows we need to shine a light on.

     Because if there’s one lesson history keeps repeating, it’s that threats evolve, enemies adapt, and silence doesn’t mean safety. The labs may be hidden. Their work, cloaked. But the risk they pose is very, very real.

     In the end, perhaps the most chilling part isn’t what’s happening in the lab — it’s how few people are watching.

 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and writes about the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). He also writes the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster Series, which blends his knowledge of real-life intelligence operations with gripping fictional storytelling. His work offers readers an insider’s glimpse into the world of espionage, inspired by the complexities and high-stakes realities of the intelligence community.

Shadows in the Capital: A Spy Walks Among Us

 

Ji-Yoon Lee, once South Korea’s top intelligence operative, walks the twilight streets of D.C., her designer bag hiding secrets as deep as the shadows trailing her."

Sometimes, truth really is stranger than fiction. That’s exactly what came to mind when news broke about Sue Mi Terry—the former CIA analyst turned foreign policy pundit—who’s now facing charges that sound more like the opening chapter of a spy thriller than real life.

     Terry, once hailed as a go-to expert on North Korea, allegedly spent years secretly helping South Korean intelligence operatives gain access to U.S. officials, slipping them information and pushing their narratives. According to federal prosecutors, she did all this while accepting lavish perks: tens of thousands in covert cash, high-end luxury goods from Dolce & Gabbana and Louis Vuitton, even fancy dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants. You’d be forgiven for mistaking her resume for a Bond villain’s sidekick.

     Here’s the kicker: a lot of what she allegedly did isn’t that far off from what registered foreign lobbyists do every day in D.C.—only she didn’t register. Under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), anyone working on behalf of a foreign government must disclose it to the U.S. government. It's a pretty basic rule, but an important one. And Terry, allegedly, just... didn’t bother.

     Her indictment shines a bright light on a deeper, often-overlooked issue: the importance of counterintelligence in keeping our government secure from foreign manipulation. It’s not just about preventing another Cold War-style standoff—it's about stopping subtle, behind-the-scenes influence campaigns that twist policy, shape public opinion, and compromise our national security.

     This isn’t just some bureaucratic misstep. When foreign agents can get this close to U.S. officials without raising alarms, it’s a sign that our counterintelligence radar may need recalibrating. And if you think Terry’s story is unsettling, wait until you read the plotlines in my Corey Pearson - CIA Spymaster thriller series.

     In those pages, the shadow games go even deeper. Former Russian KGB officers, using decades of tradecraft experience, quietly embed moles inside the office of the U.S. National Security Advisor. One particularly tense arc involves a high-ranking U.S. Senator—Chairman of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee—whose staff has been compromised. These fictional tales echo the real-world vulnerabilities exposed by cases like Terry’s. The scary part? Fiction often trails reality.

     What’s especially concerning about Terry’s case is how low the bar was for infiltration. She wasn’t sneaking into top-secret facilities or engaging in cloak-and-dagger dead drops in parking garages. She was already inside the tent—as a respected think tank voice, a former intelligence insider, and a recognizable face on cable news. That gave her a long leash to mingle with current officials, push certain viewpoints, and influence policy in ways that went mostly unquestioned.

     Now, of course, she’s innocent until proven guilty. But even if a fraction of the allegations are true, this case is an embarrassing reminder that influence doesn’t always come from the shadows—it sometimes comes wearing heels and ordering caviar at a business lunch.

     The reality is that foreign governments are playing a long game. Whether it's South Korea trying to influence U.S. policy quietly through unofficial channels, or Russian and Chinese operatives running deeper ops, the threat is real and growing. And in a world where former intelligence officers can so easily pivot into media, academia, and policy advising, the lines between national service and foreign influence can blur dangerously fast.

     The Sue Mi Terry case should be a wake-up call—not just for those inside the intelligence community, but for all of us. It’s a reminder that we need to be just as focused on the subtler forms of espionage as we are on the dramatic ones. After all, the most dangerous spy is the one who doesn’t look like a spy at all.

     Let’s hope the real-life CIA spymasters are watching just as closely as readers of Corey Pearson’s exploits.

 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and writes about the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). He also writes the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster Series, which blends his knowledge of real-life intelligence operations with gripping fictional storytelling. His work offers readers an insider’s glimpse into the world of espionage, inspired by the complexities and high-stakes realities of the intelligence community.

Spy Queen Stella Rimington Gone, But Her Legacy Lives in Fictional CIA Heroines

Female spies inspired by MI5 legend Stella Rimington conduct covert surveillance in the field

     Dame Stella Rimington, the legendary former Director General of MI5 and a trailblazer in the world of espionage, has died at the age of 90. And while her passing closes a powerful chapter in British intelligence history, her legacy is anything but over. In fact, it pulses through the pages of spy thrillers—both hers and others—and lives on in characters like Ana and Ashley, the two fierce female operatives in the Corey Pearson – CIA Spymaster Series.

     Rimington wasn’t just another spy—she was a total game-changer in a world full of stiff suits and even stiffer traditions. When she took over as head of MI5 in 1992, it was a huge deal. This was a job that had always been run by men, and not just any men—quiet, behind-the-scenes types whose names the public never even knew. But Rimington flipped the script. Not only was she the first woman to run MI5, but she was also the first boss of the agency to have her name made public. That one bold move shook up the whole culture of British intelligence. She didn’t just take the top seat—she did it in full view, with the world watching.

     If that sounds like something out of a spy novel, well… that’s because it kind of is. Rimington channeled her 27 years inside MI5—years spent mastering counter-espionage, counter-terrorism, and counter-subversion—into a second career as an author. Her spy thrillers are the real deal, not the overly stylized fantasy stuff. They drip with authenticity, and when she writes about spycraft, you know she’s not guessing.

     Which brings us back to Ana and Ashley.

     In the Corey Pearson series, Ana is the undercover chameleon with a sixth-degree black belt and a charm that masks lethal precision. She blends in, gets close, and when necessary, strikes fast. She’s bold, intuitive, and impossible to read—traits Stella Rimington embodied during her decades at MI5. Ana’s ability to disappear into roles echoes how Rimington first entered the intelligence world, quietly and almost accidentally, while posted in India with her husband. From there, she became indispensable, just like Ana in her fictional CIA unit.

     Ashley, on the other hand, is all strategy—methodical, calculating, and constantly ten moves ahead. If Ana is fire, Ashley is ice. She's the kind of mind who sees a trap before it’s even set. That’s classic Rimington. Long before she was ever DG, Rimington was the behind-the-scenes architect of British counter-espionage operations. She understood patterns, anticipated threats, and built strategy like a chess master. Sound familiar?

     Both characters—Ana with her field savvy and Ashley with her strategic brilliance—are clearly cut from Rimington’s cloth. The author of the Corey Pearson- CIA Spmaster Series has said as much: these two women were inspired by Rimington herself. It shows.

     What makes all of this so captivating isn’t just that Stella Rimington broke the mold—it’s that she made it cool to be a real spy. No tuxedos or shaken martinis needed. Her work was meticulous, sometimes boring, often dangerous, and always essential. She dealt with threats no one saw coming and worked in silence while others got the headlines. But she didn’t complain—she just got it done. That quiet grit? You see it in Ana. That cool, ruthless clarity under pressure? That's Ashley.

     One of the most telling parallels between Rimington and her fictional descendants in the Corey Pearson series is how they handle the evolving threat landscape. Rimington led MI5 through a transformative era—when the Cold War was ending, and new, shadowy terror threats were emerging. It wasn’t spy vs. spy anymore. It was spy vs. ideology, vs. invisible cells, vs. threats without borders. Similarly, in the Pearson series, Ana and Ashley are up against a deadly Russian sleeper cell aiming to unleash catastrophe on American soil. But the danger isn’t just out there—it’s infiltrated America’s own institutions. It’s the same kind of internal-external balancing act Rimington had to manage during her tenure.

     What’s wild is that Rimington also foresaw the growing need for openness in intelligence work. She pushed MI5 to be more transparent, helping it gain public trust in a time when secret services were viewed with suspicion. That blend of secrecy and accountability is a theme threaded through the Corey Pearson novels as well—where espionage isn’t just about hiding things, but protecting people and principles.

     Dame Stella Rimington didn’t just make history—she lived the spy life, then translated it into fiction. Her work continues to influence new generations of writers and characters, like Ana and Ashley, who now carry the torch in a new age of espionage fiction. In a world still spinning with misinformation, political sabotage, and unseen enemies, Rimington’s legacy remains urgent and relevant.

     So here’s to Stella Rimington: the real-life M, the literary spymaster, the game-changer. And to Ana and Ashley—her fictional daughters in arms—who remind us that behind every calm smile might lie a mind ready to outwit the world’s worst.

 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and writes about the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). He also writes the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster Series, which blends his knowledge of real-life intelligence operations with gripping fictional storytelling. His work offers readers an insider’s glimpse into the world of espionage, inspired by the complexities and high-stakes realities of the intelligence community.

Why You Need a Go-Bag—Even If You’re Not a CIA Operative

 

Your go-bag may look slightly different than the ones CIA operatives use… but hey, snacks are still mission-critical

     Most people think a “go-bag” is something only spies, Navy SEALs, or paranoid doomsday preppers keep tucked under the bed. But after years of writing the Corey Pearson–CIA Spymaster series, I’m convinced everyone should have one—yes, even you.

     In the intel world, a go-bag is a pre-packed kit for when things go sideways and you have to vanish fast. For a CIA operative, that might mean crossing a border under a fake passport, ducking into a safe house, or catching the last flight out before things get… complicated.

     For you? It could mean having everything ready for a last-minute weekend getaway, a sudden “my boss just lost it” resignation, or beating your neighbor to that prime campsite two states over. Or maybe it’s the moment a friend texts, “Hey, I’m five minutes away!”—and you remember you haven’t cleaned the house in a month. Grab the bag, lock the door, and vanish like you’ve been trained by the CIA.

     The contents are up to you, but here’s a standard spy-style starter pack:

• Cash in multiple currencies (bonus points if you have at least one bill in a language you can’t read—extra cool points if you have no idea where you got it)
• Fake IDs… okay, maybe just a Costco card if you’re staying legal
• Clothes for any climate (black turtlenecks optional, but they do scream “mysterious”)
• Energy bars and water (because hunger makes for poor decision-making)
• Burner phone (or a cheap backup you can toss in a drawer until needed)
• Duct tape (trust me, duct tape is magic—it fixes, fastens, disguises, and occasionally silences)

     Now, here’s the thing: the go-bag isn’t just for fictional spies. In fact, there are real-world examples where it made all the difference. One former CIA operative recounted an assignment in Eastern Europe that went south—fast.  The moment a local contact whispered, “They know who you are,” she was out the door. Her go-bag already had clean clothes, forged travel documents, emergency cash, and a tiny flash drive of intel that couldn’t fall into the wrong hands. She made it to a safe house and out of the country within hours—because she didn’t waste precious time packing toothpaste and socks.

     Granted, you’re probably not going to need forged papers or a diplomatic exfiltration plan (unless your Home Owners Association is really intense). But there are everyday moments where a go-bag can make you feel like the hero in your own story:

• Got an in-law “emergency visit”? Grab the bag and disappear for a peaceful 48 hours.
• Impromptu concert road trip? You’re out the door before your friends even finish Googling directions.
• Office fire drill turns into “everyone work from home for two days”? Your laptop, chargers, and favorite snacks are already in the bag.

     And the beauty of it is, your go-bag can be tailored to your needs. Love camping? Toss in a headlamp, multi-tool, and collapsible coffee mug. More of a beach person? Pack sunscreen, flip-flops, and that paperback you’ve been “meaning to read” for three summers. Parents? Slip in extra snacks, wet wipes, and a phone charger so you can survive the “are we there yet?” stage.

     In Corey Pearson–CIA Spymaster, a go-bag can mean the difference between life and death. In your life, it might just mean snagging the last room at the beach hotel before tourist season kicks in. But in both cases, the principle is the same: when you’re ready to move, you can move now.

     A go-bag also has a strange psychological perk—it makes you feel prepared, like you could walk away from the chaos of everyday life at a moment’s notice. Bad day at work? Traffic jam from hell? Unexpected apocalypse? Your go-bag is sitting there saying, “We’ve got this.”

     So go ahead—build your own. Worst case? It sits in the closet until you need it. Best case? You’ll look like a total pro when your friends realize you can pack your life in 60 seconds flat. And who knows? You might just get hooked on the idea of being ready for anything. Just remember: the key is not only to pack it—but to keep it somewhere you can actually grab it. Nobody ever escaped trouble by rummaging through the attic for a duffel bag.

     Ready to give it a shot? Your inner CIA operative will thank you.

 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and writes about the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). He also writes the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster Series, which blends his knowledge of real-life intelligence operations with gripping fictional storytelling. His work offers readers an insider’s glimpse into the world of espionage, inspired by the complexities and high-stakes realities of the intelligence community.

Sleeper Cells in Suburbia: Why Russian Espionage Is Targeting You

 

They Look Like Your Neighbors—But They’re Spies: The Sleeper Cells Hiding in Plain Sight

     Russian spying in the U.S. didn’t vanish with the Berlin Wall—it just got smarter, sneakier, and way more dangerous. We're not talking about guys in trench coats passing notes in back alleys. This is full-blown, 21st-century infiltration. Over the years, Moscow's been planting deep-cover operatives right here on American soil—people with real jobs, real families, blending in like ghosts. Add in cyber hackers, influence peddlers, and old-school spies, and you’ve got a network that’s not just watching us—they’re digging in, soaking up secrets, and quietly pulling strings behind the scenes. Their mission? Get close, get intel, and wait for the right moment to twist the knife.

     That might sound like a plot from a spy novel, but it’s not fiction—it’s fact. This stuff is happening now. And it’s no coincidence that the deeper you go into real-world Russian espionage, the more it mirrors the chilling plotline of Shadow War. In the novel, CIA operative Corey Pearson hunts a Russian sleeper cell leader plotting mass destruction. It’s eerily close to what we’ve seen play out in real life.

     Take the Illegals Program, for example—Russian spies living under deep cover in the U.S. for years, some with families, careers, and picture-perfect suburban lives. The mission? Blend in, get close to power, and feed the motherland with secrets. When the FBI rolled them up in 2010, the scope of infiltration shocked even seasoned intelligence professionals. But here’s the thing—those were just the ones we caught.

     And that’s just the surface. Russian cyber units like Fancy Bear and Cozy Bear have repeatedly targeted U.S. institutions—hacking into political campaigns, government databases, and critical infrastructure. This isn't just espionage. It’s preparation. It’s mapping our vulnerabilities, probing for weaknesses, laying the groundwork for what could one day be a paralyzing strike.

     Intelligence insiders know this. They live in that space where a quiet bit of chatter on a backchannel or a subtle shift in a foreign operative’s behavior can signal the next global crisis. They understand what’s at stake when sleeper cells aren’t just ghost stories but tangible threats—much like what Corey Pearson faces in Shadow War. The novel hits home because it mirrors the growing fear inside the intelligence community: that the enemy isn’t coming... the enemy is already here.

     What’s more, it’s not just about stolen secrets anymore. It's about sowing chaos—political division, societal breakdown, even potential biological or nuclear sabotage. The game has changed. Espionage now targets our democracy, our alliances, and our ability to tell truth from fiction. It’s slow, silent warfare—and most Americans are oblivious.

     Which brings us to you. This isn’t some spy movie playing out in smoke-filled back rooms. It’s happening here, in the open—only most people don’t see it. Russian sleeper agents aren’t chasing briefcases through back alleys anymore. They’re sitting in office parks, logging into servers, feeding intel back to Moscow. They’re digging into election systems, mapping out our power grids, probing banks, and healthcare networks. Quietly. Patiently.

     This isn't about stealing secrets—it’s about knowing how to shut the lights off in major cities, crash financial markets, scramble emergency responses.  It's about creating chaos without firing a shot.

     They’re not coming. They’re already here. And when they move, it won’t be with a bang—it’ll be with a blackout, or more.

 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and writes about the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). He also writes the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster Series, which blends his knowledge of real-life intelligence operations with gripping fictional storytelling. His work offers readers an insider’s glimpse into the world of espionage, inspired by the complexities and high-stakes realities of the intelligence community.