⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Gripping
The story of the Cuban spy, Ana Montes, told by the FBI agent assigned to bring her to justice
Before I started this book I had never heard of Ana Montes but she turned out to be a fascinating character and an unlikely spy and following Peter Lapps account of how she was discovered and bought to justice was gripping
Ana is an unlikely spy and reading her story gave me a different perspective on the reasons people might commit espionage and that not all spies are cloak and dagger types, some challenge perceptions and Ana was one of those, hiding in plain sight
I will admit that at times I really struggled with this book, it’s very heavy going with a lot of background details in the first half that I didn’t enjoy as much but definitely needed to know and as the story sped up I was pulled further into it and ended up at the stage where I couldn’t put it down
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a story full of drama and intrigue that will challenge your perceptions and introduce you to a world that you may not know too much about

This was so interesting I had never heard of this and it really amazed me and kept me so intrigued throughout.. It felt so professionally written.

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

This is a well written informative book about an interesting case

Recommend for true crime fans

Queen of Cuba by Peter J. Lapp was a book, that once I started to read it, I found it hard to put it down, especially as it was a true story and an FBI Agent's called Ana Montes who spent seventeen years spying for the Cubans. She had been raised in a patriotic Puerto Rican Her father, a psychiatrist, was a former colonel in the U.S. Army. Her sister worked as a translator for the FBI and helped break up a ring of Cuban spies in Miami. Her brother was also a loyal FBI agent.

Ana Montes impressed all her bosses, but in secret, spent her breaks memorising top secret documents before sending them to the Cuban government. She received no payment, even as one of her missives could have brought her the death penalty. WoW - She was brave!!!

9/11 happened and everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing, But Cuba wanted Ana to continue her work for them. They didn't know the FBI was already on to her.
But, Now, retired FBI agent Peter J. Lapp was onto her and explains all the clues found and including never released information, that led their team to catch one of the United States’ most dangerous spies.

And what a book this was........It was very interesting from start to finish and how she got away with it for so long...........It would make a great film or series..........I highly recommend this book if you love American history.

Thanks to NetGalley and Post Hill Press the publishers for my ARC in exchange of a review.

The Ice Queen Of Cuba.
The US government officials knew they had a spy, but it never occurred to them that it could have been a woman. The Queen of Cuba is the story of Anna Montes who rose in rank and importance in the DIA. She became the agency’s chief analyst in charge of processing U.S. intelligence about the island, earning the nickname, “Queen of Cuba,” both for her unrivalled expertise and her arrogant and domineering manner.
Montes had a secret: She was spying for the Cubans. Montes ranks as one of the most damaging spies in U.S. history as Montes had secretly visited Cuba on several occasions. After she was arrested it was discovered that Fidel Castro had personally given her a medal. Through all of that, there had not been even a whiff of suspicion that Montes was their spy.
This book is a real page turning suspense story that takes you behind the schemes into the cloak and dagger world of a real espionage case from the FBI counterintelligence agent who helped catch the Cuban spy inside the DIA. This is a professionally written book by retired FBI agent Peter J, Lapp who helped captured and interrogate one of the United States most dangerous spy's the “Queen of Cuba”. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.