Author: Barry Meier

Barry Meier applies decades of investigative reporting to institutions that operate outside ordinary public scrutiny. Spooked examines the expanding private-intelligence business through episodes involving political research, corporate investigations, reputation management, and the relationship between hired operatives and journalists. Harper published the United States edition in 2021, while Hodder & Stoughton issued a British edition under a different subtitle. Before writing books, Meier reported for the Wall Street Journal, New York Newsday, and the New York Times, where his work received George Polk recognition. His earlier titles include Pain Killer and Missing Man, placing this inquiry into private spies within a career focused on hidden networks, contested evidence, and the consequences of institutional secrecy.