Martin Kaiser was the man to see for obtaining certain devices, whether a wire, a wire detector, or possibly a bomb detector. Kaiser had been into the inner workings of electronics since he was a young kid and was obsessed with his ham radio. He was a tech guy well before they became commonplace, and he was proficient at creating devices such as the 1059 preamplifier. By 1965, Kaiser had turned his part-time work and hobby into a full-time business, and he was constructing countermeasure tools and teaching a class on countermeasures.

Kaiser not only knew how to design a viable gadget, but he was also a born salesman in convincing men like legendary FBI director J. Edgar Hoover to become clients. While the FBI was initially a loyal and valued client, the use of a cut-out for billing purposes foreshadowed future problems for Kaiser and the Feds. Kaiser's reputation attracted a mixed group of potential customers, from the hopelessly paranoid to those who believed they weren't paranoid enough. As the 1960s ended and the 1970s began, Kaiser's branching out into bomb detection devices became useful as bombings rocked the United States from radical groups on the left and right.

The 1970s also marked a reckoning for the US Government, as the Watergate abuses ushered in congressional hearings that examined the actions of the intelligence agencies. Covert surveillance and black bag jobs were now under the microscope, and men such as Kaiser were being scrutinized for the wares they provided. Kaiser voluntarily submitted to questioning and brought up the FBI cut-out, along with invoices inflated by FBI agents, and, with this transparency, sealed his fate in the eyes of the bureau.

A steady resolve and a strong work ethic kept Kaiser from folding under the heavy-handed tactics of a vengeful FBI. An attempt to get him indicted on spurious charges relating to a client he did work for yielded only wasted time and money, but a civil trial taxed both his financial and mental health. In spite of these travails, Kaiser never gave up, and his services were still sought by those who valued his skills, whether by certain law enforcement agencies or Hollywood.

Kaiser was honest in a world that preferred half-truths and evasion. While the FBI, CIA, and intel agencies might have abhorred this characteristic, the knowledge and facts that Kaiser relates in his memoir are fascinating. The author's straightforward autobiography recalls the thrill of being an innovator at the forefront of electronic surveillance and of being sought after by all three named government agencies (CIA, FBI, NSA). His rise to the top of his trade is balanced by a precipitous fall engineered by a vindictive FBI as a consequence of Kaiser's testimony in front of a congressional committee. The narrative is a blend of intrigue and drama, but the story assumes near-tragic proportions as Kaiser recalls the emotional torment of a criminal proceeding followed by an epic civil litigation that nearly bankrupted him. Kaiser's wealth of knowledge about electronic devices is awe-inspiring, and his views about the surveillance state are memorable and significant. This memoir will resonate with readers who either enjoy spy literature or desire to learn more about the technical aspects of surveillance. Kaiser's credentials are unmistakable, and his book is a worthwhile read.

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