This book review summarizes the key details of the book "Escape To No Where" including that it is about a true incident where a senior intelligence analyst was involved in espionage and fled the country. It describes the investigation process into the analyst by the counter espionage unit through surveillance techniques. However, clandestine investigation methods are not supported by law, which allowed the suspect to escape. The book highlights flaws in coordination between intelligence agencies and weaknesses that the suspect exploited. It concludes by calling attention to legal and systemic issues revealed by the case that require examination to better protect national security.

1. BOOK REVIEW
1. Name of Book : Escape To No Where
2. Author : Amar Bhushan
3. Publisher : Konark Publishers Pvt Ltd
4. Look of the Book : Soft bound with cover designed by
Misha Oberoi who corporate a photograph by Jan Bruder/ istockphoto.com. The cover
page bears a photograph shows a backside of a man under a streetlight in black and
white which depicts malicious intentions. The backside of the book cover is red in colour
with glimpse of complete story based on a true incident which arouses the interest of
reader to go through the book.
5. Cost : Rs 299/-
6. Pages : 333 including Author’s description
7. Comments/Reviews of others : “Unputdownable! Gripping! I have not
read anything like this since ‘The Day of the Jackal’!” by M R Narayan Swamy, IANS,
NewDelhi.
8. About the Author : Amar Bhushan served as Special
Secretary in the cabinet secretariat before he retired in 2005. He served in various shades
of Policing, Investigation and Intelligence in his nearly four decades of career. He always
remained as an outsider in the profession due to his compulsive habit of dissenting. His
passion to experiment with new and bold ideas, his penchant for rallying behind the lost
causes and intense dislikes for stereotypes.
The author has used his vocabulary intelligently and the difficult words are also
understood easily due to his flow of writing. He has been able to express the feelings of
various characters impressively by his meticulous way of writing.
A commendable piece of work by the author and bows the reader in his ovation for
shown courage to brought out the incidents occurred in flawless manner and binds the
reader with the book till the end.
9. Review of the book:
The book is inspired on a true incident took place in 2004 where a senior intelligence
analyst involved in an espionage case vanished from the country and took asylum in his
handler’s country.
It also reveals the state of security consciousness and awareness of the employees
involved and handling the important desks in intelligence agency. It highlights the
constraints in conducting aggressive operations, pitfalls in liaison relationship, competing
interests of intelligence agencies who serves the national interest badly and hazards in
coordination of intelligence inputs.
It narrates the investigation by the counter espionage unit of the agency over own
senior intelligence officer in chronological form in terms of days.
It highlights the honesty and guts of a junior officer of the organisation who became
a whistleblower in this case who smelled espionage activities by one of the senior analyst

2. on the basis of his eagerness to acquire the intelligence reports, information and other
relevant inputs out of his work previews which he reported as his doubts to the security
chief of the agency who also head the Counter Espionage Unit.
On the basis of the whistleblowers report the CEU started their investigation
proceedings by applying watchers on the suspect who followed his movements. Later
various electronic surveillance equipments in terms of cameras and microphones were
also used to monitor the suspect constantly round the clock which gave fruitful results in
later phase of investigation. The various techniques used show the technical
advancement in achieving the desired results.
It had also been noticed that clandestine operations in investigation does not have
any value in judiciary system of our nation which gave edge to the suspect and leaves
investigating officer and chief of the agency in helpless state against the suspect. It
throws the light on drawbacks on our judiciary system who can even falter with national
security due to absence of law on this particular issue.
The book also reveals the poor awareness and conscience over the security aspects
even among those who are responsible to deal with the confidential matters and
eagerness to show their knowledge on their respective field of operations. The suspect
uses the same weakness to his advantage and obliges the Officers with expensive lunches
and gifts. He indulged himself in the discussions with the officers to gain information
which unknowingly they shared with him.
It also brought out the follies in our system as the agency is headed by the chief but
virtually by the bureaucrats who are inexperienced in intelligence services as well not
trained to handle the espionage cases but due to the virtue of faulty system, it is seen in
all fields in our country which is required to be amended for the betterment.
The book has also focused on the escape of the suspect due to the undue delay in
decisions which caused a shame to the complete investing team as well as the
organisation and had to bear the brunt.
The book also reflects on the competition, non coordination and non cooperation
among other intelligence agencies. It shows intelligence agencies and working culture in
poor light. It gives a point to think over on our various intelligence agencies working and
their coordination for better intelligence inputs.
Overall the book gives the glimpse of various follies, ways of investigation,
helplessness, in coordination and unfaithfulness among various agencies which is a point
for consideration.
10. Lessons Learnt.
(a) The various ways of the investigation used were under the category of
clandestine operation which is not legal even after having the authenticity which
shows our system in poor light and requires to be examined.
(b) The suspect of espionage or spying to be treated firmly and should be
checked in time to secure the national security.

3. (c) The information related to the work should not be discussed with an
unauthorised or does not concern to the subject.
(d) The check should be imposed on the individuals who are involved in acquiring
the information which does not pertains to them.
(e) The alarming lifestyle of the suspect should have been inquired and found
out the sources of the income.
11. Conclusion.
The book is a great compilation of events by the author who served in
intelligence agency and shows his concern on national security and courage to bring
out the follies in our system.
This book revealed one of the true incidents occurred within the country and
brought out the inabilities of our government and bureaucracy to apprehend the
suspect after knowing his whereabouts.
It highlighted the constraints and inabilities of the investigating authorities
due to the flaws in our law and judiciary system which requires to be revamped
accordingly.
It had also shown how the blame game is played and officer of the rank of
chief is interrogated and silently send on retirement due to the escape of the
suspect.