Pentlands Book Festival: 26 Oct – 25 Nov 2026

Alistair Moffat: Assassins and Secret Listeners

Thursday 5 November 2026, 7.30pm.  Baberton Golf Club, 55 Baberton Avenue, Juniper Green, EH14 5DU

Alistair was born and bred in the Scottish Borders.  He was Director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1976-81, which saw it grow into the largest arts festival in the world. He then moved to Scottish Television, where he rose to become Chief Executive and finally Chairman.  Leaving STV to focus on his writing, he also founded the Borders Book Festival.  He is the author of over forty books, mostly focusing on social history and primarily concerning Scotland.

Alistair was co-chair and historian for the Great Tapestry of Scotland, a community arts project which produced the embroidered tapestry designed by Andrew Crummy, who appeared at Pentlands Book Festival in 2024. 

Alistair’s latest book, Assassins and Secret Listeners, uncovers the story of a nation’s hidden heroes.  Throughout Britain secret listeners went about their solitary work, listening to the coded messages of German intelligence and passing them to Bletchley Park.

Men with firearms experience were trained in sabotage and silent killing.  In June 1940, with a full-scale German invasion expected, these units were poised to undertake suicidal missions attacking enemy supply lines and assassinating anyone who helped the Nazis.

Alistair tells the half-forgotten stories of immense bravery by ordinary men and women  whose heroic work played a crucial part in the Allied victory.

Photo credit: Ryan Rutherford