Dead Doubles

The Extraordinary Worldwide Hunt for One of the Cold War’s Most Notorious Spy Rings

By: Trevor Barnes

Narrated by: William Gaminara

Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 Trevor Barnes (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

For Spy Junkies

Not the most thrilling title but it will scratch the m itch of anyone (like me) who devours espionage books. Unconventionally structured— many details are relayed after the main story has been fully told.

I don’t usually care about narration but the English narrator does a bad American Accent that sounds more Russian than American and doesn’t do any accents for the Russian characters. It’s hilariously bad, but also a little distracting. Your mileage may vary.

Level headed and engaging

Full of the spy stuff you want, the bran you need, and the kind of academic rigor that leaves you feeling like it was a read worth your time. If you want spies jumping off submarines look into more fantastical books. This is the book for those that want to know how spies got a jump on submarines.

True story

An interesting historical review of actual spy ring. Enjoyed the way the book was laid out and the reminders of the Cold War, post-war Briton, etc.

This is an audio book I will play again more than twice.

Too much minutiae.

Would normally enjoy this style of presentation but gave up by chapter three. Couldn't tell the difference between what was new and what I'd already heard.