Betrayal in Berlin

The True Story of the Cold War's Most Audacious Espionage Operation

By: Steve Vogel

Narrated by: Joel Richards

Length: 17 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

The astonishing true story of the Berlin Tunnel, one of the West’s greatest espionage operations of the Cold War - and the dangerous Soviet mole who betrayed it.

Its code name was “Operation Gold”, a wildly audacious CIA plan to construct a clandestine tunnel into East Berlin to tap into critical KGB and Soviet military telecommunication lines. The tunnel, crossing the border between the American and Soviet sectors, would have to be 1,500 feet (the length of the Empire State Building) with state-of-the-art equipment, built and operated literally under the feet of their Cold War adversaries. Success would provide the CIA and the British Secret Intelligence Service access to a vast treasure of intelligence. Exposure might spark a dangerous confrontation with the Soviets. Yet as the Allies were burrowing into the German soil, a traitor, code-named Agent Diamond by his Soviet handlers, was burrowing into the operation itself....

Betrayal in Berlin is Steve Vogel’s heart pounding account of the operation. He vividly recreates post-war Berlin, a scarred, shadowy snake pit with thousands of spies and innumerable cover stories. It is also the most vivid account of George Blake, perhaps the most damaging mole of the Cold War. Drawing upon years of archival research, secret documents, and rare interviews with Blake himself, Vogel has crafted a true-life spy story as thrilling as the novels of John le Carré and Len Deighton.

©2019 Steve Vogel (P)2019 HarperAudio

Great

Takes a few chapters longer than other books of this category to get invested in but once it gets going its strong through the end.

The author does a better job than most other history writers to keep the reader engaged with the characters and by the epilogue I actually found myself slightly emotional reading how some of their lives had changed in their old age.

Excellent story of Cold War espionage

Although the story seems to try and make the traitor George Blake a sympathetic person, the fact is he was a traitor. This is a good story and overview of early Cold War treachery culminating in the betrayal of both programs and people as well as countries

Blake is a traitor

great story of espionage! but Blake is a traitor and deserved the gallows. Lol ve the history of it all.

Something New

I have read many spy novels, historical accounts of espionage. I even lived in Berlin from 1984 till 1990 seen all the historical site watched the wall come down Nov 9 1989, but never heard anything about the Berlin tunnel. This for me was a eye opening book, I enjoyed it.

REALLY REALLY GOOD

Not bogged down with names, does not go back & forth & repeat sections of the story, it a solid good romp into a cracking good storyline a must buy.

Great story, well-researched and narrated

One of the few books of this genre that manages to be thorough without being repetitive. Kudos to the author, editor, and reader!

Fascinating Book

I found it fabulous and at times funny. The writer of this book holds your interest from the first sentence

Excellent!

What an amazing story! Truth really is stranger than fiction in this case. The main character, George Blake, was brilliantly portrayed by the author. Nothing simplistic here. His motivations were explored quite comprehensively and I came to understand leftist/communist people better, I think, I can’t say enough good things about this book, the author & the reader. Very even-handed and objective toward people on all sides of politics.

The most riveting history book ever

I started listening amd had a moment of panic - I thought it was going to be too factual and dry to listen to but I was completely captured within 2 chapters. The story is very interesting and the information is repeated when necessary. Highly recommend this- a great history of the cold war amd the many mistakes made alomg the way.

Could not stop listening

It's unbelievable that this is a true story that was a fact I kept reminding myself of. The story is paced giving time for the facts to sink in. It is a piece of history I was unaware of.

The narrator made this a thoroughly enjoyable listen. Thank you to both Author and narrator.