Comrade J

Secrets of Russia's Master Spy in America after the End of the Cold War

By: Pete Earley

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Spymaster, defector, double agent....Here is the remarkable true story of the man who ran Russia's post-cold-war spy program in America.

In 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed, the cold war ended, and a new world order began. We thought everything had changed. But one thing never changed: the spies.

From 1995 to 2000, a man known as "Comrade J" was the highest-ranking operative in the SVR - the successor agency to the KGB - in the United States. He directed all Russian spy action in New York City and personally oversaw every covert operation against the United States and its allies in the United Nations. He recruited spies, planted agents, penetrated security, manipulated intelligence, and influenced American policy - all under the direct leadership of Boris Yeltsin and then Vladimir Putin. He was a legend in the SVR, the man who kept the secrets.

Then, in 2000, he defected - and it turned out he had one more secret. For the previous two years, he had also been a double agent for the FBI.

He has never granted a public interview. The FBI and CIA have refused to answer all media questions about him. He has remained in hiding. He has never revealed his secrets. Until now.

Comrade J, written by the best-selling author of Family of Spies and The Hot House, is his story, a direct account of what he did in the United States after we all assumed the spying was over - and of what Putin and Russia continue to do today. The revelations are stunning. It is also the story of growing up in a family of agents dating back to the revolution; of how Russia molded him into one of its most high-flying operatives; of the day-to-day perils of living a double, then triple, life; and finally, of how his growing disquiet with the corruption and ambitions of the "new Russia" led him to take the most perilous step of all.

Many spies have told their stories. None has the astonishing immediacy, relevance, and cautionary warnings of Comrade J.

©2007 Pete Earley, Inc. (P)2008 Tantor

Enjoyable and educational book

I'm sure some will not find this book interesting because it isn't as exciting in their view as the action filled fiction novels but this is a really enjoyable book. I particularly enjoyed learning some of the behind the scenes history of events from the 80's and 90's.

Interesting story - well told

Overall this is an interesting and well written tale. Sometimes I had the feeling that it was almost too good to be true. The KGB was portrayed as precisely the corrupt organization that would suit American propaganda. So sometimes I wondered if someone had sneaked some convenient disinformation into the story. Still it is money well spent on a good book.

Read the Book

What would have made Comrade J better?

A different narrarator. This one was really bad.

What did you like best about this story?

This story is fantastic. Very exciting and relevant.

Would you be willing to try another one of Michael Prichard’s performances?

No way.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The story is great. I bought the book and loved it. The narrarator was terrible.

Any additional comments?

Read the book. This is a story worth reading.