Mark Urban is a broadcaster and historian. Priory to working for the BBC he was defence correspondent for the Independent for four years, covering the end of the Cold War and the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. He is also the acclaimed author of Task Force Black: The explosive true story of the SAS and the secret war in Iraq; Big Boys' Rules: The SAS and the secret struggle against the IRA and Rifles: Six years with Wellington's legendary sharpshooters. Mark read international relations at the London School of Economics and served for a short time in the British army.
A detailed account of Skripal's life leading up to these terrible events * Daily Telegraph * Based on his extensive interviews with Skripal, provide an original and often fascinating read on the games that spies played in the wake of the Cold War * Sunday Times * Engrossing . . . Urban tells the story of Skripal's undercover career well, much of it previously unknown and gleaned from around 10 hours of conversations with him at his Salisbury home -- Luke Harding, <i>Guardian</i> A scrupulous piece of reporting, necessary, timely and very sobering -- John Le Carre Fascinating account of the poisoning case . . . Other books will follow on the Skripals, but they will struggle to match the texture of Urban's research, its knowledgeable hinterland * The Times *