A weak 4, more of a 3.5. I had read a book about the use of Dead Doubles a couple of years ago, and it was an interesting topic of how the Soviets were creating their covers. So when it popped up in this book I was fascinated to discover that this spy, code named Sniper was the one who gave MI5 the information needed to uncover the Portland Spy Ring. Goleniewski gave the CIA and MI5 a lot of valuable information, but this book had some frustrations in it. It was frustrating to see America throw away such a valuable asset after he had done, risked, and given up so much for her. It was frustrating to watch Goleniewski do such inexplicable and harmful things like claim he was the son of Tsar Nicholas II. It was also frustrating when the pacing of the story began to drag towards the later third of the book. In all it is a fascinating story for people who like Cold War spy stories. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the copy of this audiobook.

A well researched retelling of one of the most important and effective counter-intelligence spies of the Cold War. This historical work was rich with detail and kept the reader on the edge of their seat.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

Why would anybody want to be a spy for the US?
The careless way the US and Brittan treaded the information given it’s a miracle Goleniewski survived.
I listened to this as an audio book which might have been a bit easier then reading the book which is rather lengthy, about 412 pages with a lot of detailed information occasionally repeating some of it to clarify a point. Reading it I might have gotten annoyed sometimes but listening to it enforced what I had been hearing. The narrator’s voice was easy to listen to. Some people might find the material presented a bit dry but I found it very interesting and learned a lot.

4 stars

A well researched biography on a high profile soviet block defector I hadn’t read about before! Golienewski played an important role in early-cold war counter espionage, & had a tragic ending. I really enjoyed & learned from this account.

[What I liked:]

•This book is thoroughly researched, & the writer notes when accounts conflict or information is unavailable (many documents pertaining to Sniper haven’t been declassified by the US & UK governments).

•It’s interesting seeing how the interpretations of the Polish UB (Soviet-era intelligence agency) on Sniper & his activities intersect & sometimes conflict with those of the CIA, MI5, & MI6.

•Gee, I knew James Jesus Angleton got paranoid in his later years & made several strategic mistakes as head of the CIA because of it, but Golienewski’s story is a painful case study on just how horribly he got things wrong. It’s very illuminating how the writer uses Sniper’s story to illustrate the tensions & dynamics between US & UK intelligence, & even within factions of the CIA itself.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•The pace of the book slows in the second half, after Sniper’s defection. This isn’t the fault of the writer, it’s just that the subjects later years, while interesting, aren’t as exciting as his career as an agent in place.

CW: infidelity, mistreatment of prisoners, mental illness

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

Bonus quote, from one of Sniper’s anonymous letters addressed to “Herr Direktor” J Edgar Hoover while he was still behind the iron curtain:

“…I will be forcibly included in the ranks of singing angels if there is the slightest negligence on your part in maintaining the proper cover. As is generally known, such a summons is connected with a certain operation called ‘being stood against the wall’”.