Dead Doubles : The Extraordinary Worldwide Hunt for One of the Cold War's Most Notorious Spy Rings
Author(s): Trevor Barnes
The astonishing but true story of one of the most notorious spy cases from the Cold War—and the international manhunt that seized global attention as it revealed the shadowy world of deep cover KGB operatives.
The dramatic arrest in London on January 7, 1961 of five Soviet spies made headlines worldwide and had repercussions around the globe. Alerted by the CIA, Britain's security service, MI5, had discovered two British spies stealing invaluable secrets from the highly sensitive submarine research center at Portland, UK. Their controller, Gordon Lonsdale, was a Canadian who frequently visited a middle-aged couple, the Krogers, in their sleepy London suburb. But the seemingly unassuming Krogers were revealed to be deep cover American KGB spies—infamous undercover agents the FBI had been hunting for years—and they were just one part of an extensive network of Soviet operatives in the UK.
In the wake of the spies' sensational trial, the FBI uncovered the true identity of the enigmatic Lonsdale—Konon Molody, a Russian who had lived in California before being recruited by the KGB. Molody opened secret talks with MI5 to betray Russia, but before he had the chance, the KGB blackmailed Britain into spy swaps for him and the Krogers.
Based on revelatory, newly-released archival material and inside sources from around the world, Dead Doubles follows the hunt for the highly damaging Portland Spy Ring. As gripping as a le Carré novel, this incredible narrative, layered with false identities, deceptions, and betrayal, crisscrosses from the UK to the USSR to the US, Canada, Europe and New Zealand, and brings to life one of the most extraordinary spy stories of the Cold War.
Review(s):
“Dives deep into the investigation and trial. . . . This meticulously researched account informs and entertains.”
“A gripping and brilliantly researched history of the rise and fall of the Portland Spy Ring, which reveals much about the operations and personnel of Russian, British and American intelligence at the height of the Cold War.”
“Eye-opening . . . fans of Furst, Ludlum, and their kind will find this real-world exploration of old-school espionage suitably intriguing.”
“First rate…. Barnes performs an incredible deep dive into this story of international espionage and counterintelligence, mining both existing sources and newly declassified information to fuel a narrative as compelling as a spy novel.”
"Excellent and riveting, with a cast of characters as engaging as in any novel. Former KGB officer Vladimir Putin's modern-day Russia employs the same espionage methods now against the West. The themes of Dead Doubles – deception, betrayal, blackmail, chemical and biological weapons, atomic secrets, international rivalry – are as topical today as in the 1960s."
“An enthralling account of one of the last great spy mysteries of the 20th Century - I loved it.”
“Gripping . . . reads like a Graham Greene or Le Carré novel. . . . Anyone interested in Russia’s continuing undermining of the West, espionage, or simply a good thriller read should delve into this book.”
“Thrilling. . . . Barnes leaves out no step in this thorough reporting. This fast-paced narrative will engage those interested in Cold War international espionage and true crime.”
"The definitive account of the famous Portland Spies - fascinating, detailed and completely gripping."
"I read Dead Doubles with admiration...fascinating and meticulous...Using all available American, British and Russian sources, Trevor Barnes has produced a remarkable book."
ISBN: 9780062856999