The Havana Syndrome
- Publisher
- Ebury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 15 October 2026
- Run Time
- 9 hours 53 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
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What to expect
THE TRUE STORY OF JOURNALISTS WHO UNCOVERED A NEW SECRET WEAPON THAT CAN STRIKE THROUGH WALLS WITHOUT LEAVING A TRACE...
In the fall of 2017, reports of mysterious 'sonic' attacks on U.S. diplomats began emerging from Havana, Cuba. Victims were struck down in their homes and offices. They described hearing loud buzzing sounds and feeling a sudden, intense wave of pressure hit their bodies. In the aftermath, they suffered debilitating headaches, vertigo, brain fog. In the worst cases, sensory and memory problems became chronic.
As investigative journalists Michael Rey and Oriana Zill de Granados began to look into the strange events, they had a chilling realisation. The 'diplomats' getting hit were not only State Department personnel. Many, if not most, were clandestine intelligence officers working undercover. Was someone systematically targeting America’s spies?
And it wasn’t just Cuba. Incidents were occurring in Beijing, Bangkok, Tbilisi, London, Vienna, and other locations. Young children and spouses were getting caught in the cross fire. And yet, as the tally of victims grew, CIA officials were adamant: The illnesses were 'psychosomatic.'
In this groundbreaking exposé, two award-winning journalists reveal the hidden history of the so-called Havana Syndrome. Drawing on more than nine years of reporting, secret medical records, whistleblower testimony, and intelligence reports, they uncover not only the technology and perpetrators behind the attacks but the U.S. government’s effort to downplay and deny them.
With the pace of a thriller, this book brings readers inside the lives of American intelligence officers whose careers and health were destroyed by the attacks, as well as the brave few who risked everything to demand accountability. The Havana Syndrome is a geopolitical saga with chilling lessons for national security and a deeply human story of betrayal and resilience.
'The Havana Syndrome is terrific - and terrifying. The authors have cut through the fog of secrets, screwups, and cover-ups to bring you this illuminating book. It will rob you of your sleep and send shivers up your spine.' TIM WEINER, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Mission and Legacy of Ashes
'Not just a thriller...a tour de force of journalism... The Havana Syndrome is a tale for the ages.' SCOTT PELLEY
© Michael Rey and Oriana Zill 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026
Critics Review
-
Not just a thriller. It is a tour de force of journalism, among the highest examples of what our profession is and can be. The Havana Syndrome is a tale for the ages because it exposes how government continues to place its own interests ahead of selfless patriots who serve their country .... Zill de Granados and Rey have uncovered decisive evidence about the nature of the attacks and who was behind them. I won’t spoil the detective story here. It’s too good—and important—to rush
Scott Pelley, award-winning journalist
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The Truth Is Out There… But start with this book
Chris Carter, creator, “The X-Files”
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Terrific — and terrifying. The authors have cut through the fog of secrets, screw-ups, and cover-ups to bring you this illuminating book. It will rob you of your sleep and send shivers up your spine
Tim Weiner, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Mission and Legacy of Ashes
-
This riveting exposé not only discloses an appalling failure of our government to tell the truth and protect us, it also dramatically affirms the necessity of the free press
Booklist STARRED Review
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Michael Rey and Oriana Zill
- Narrator
- Michael Rey, Oriana Zill de Granados, Robert Petkoff
- Duration
- 9 hours 53 minutes
- Release Date
- 15 October 2026
- ISBN
- 9780753562659
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Ebury Publishing
- Genre
- Espionage and secret services, Modern warfare, Geopolitics, True crime, Ordnance, weapons technology
Synopsis
<p><b><i>THE TRUE STORY OF JOURNALISTS WHO UNCOVERED A NEW SECRET WEAPON THAT CAN STRIKE THROUGH WALLS WITHOUT LEAVING A TRACE...</i></b></p><p>In the fall of 2017, reports of mysterious 'sonic' attacks on U.S. diplomats began emerging from Havana, Cuba. Victims were struck down in their homes and offices. They described hearing loud buzzing sounds and feeling a sudden, intense wave of pressure hit their bodies. In the aftermath, they suffered debilitating headaches, vertigo, brain fog. In the worst cases, sensory and memory problems became chronic.</p><p>As investigative journalists Michael Rey and Oriana Zill de Granados began to look into the strange events, they had a chilling realisation. The 'diplomats' getting hit were not only State Department personnel. Many, if not most, were clandestine intelligence officers working undercover. Was someone systematically targeting America’s spies?</p><p>And it wasn’t just Cuba. Incidents were occurring in Beijing, Bangkok, Tbilisi, London, Vienna, and other locations. Young children and spouses were getting caught in the cross fire. And yet, as the tally of victims grew, CIA officials were adamant: The illnesses were 'psychosomatic.'</p><p>In this groundbreaking exposé, two award-winning journalists reveal the hidden history of the so-called Havana Syndrome. Drawing on more than nine years of reporting, secret medical records, whistleblower testimony, and intelligence reports, they uncover not only the technology and perpetrators behind the attacks but the U.S. government’s effort to downplay and deny them.</p><p>With the pace of a thriller, this book brings readers inside the lives of American intelligence officers whose careers and health were destroyed by the attacks, as well as the brave few who risked everything to demand accountability. <i>The Havana Syndrome </i>is a geopolitical saga with chilling lessons for national security and a deeply human story of betrayal and resilience.</p><p><b>'<i>The Havana Syndrome </i>is terrific - and terrifying. The authors have cut through the fog of secrets, screwups, and cover-ups to bring you this illuminating book. It will rob you of your sleep and send shivers up your spine.' TIM WEINER, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of <i>The Mission and Legacy of Ashes</i></b></p><p><b>'Not just a thriller...a tour de force of journalism... The Havana Syndrome is a tale for the ages.' SCOTT PELLEY</b></p><p>© Michael Rey and Oriana Zill 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026</p>
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