Best of Enemies

The Last Great Spy Story of the Cold War

By: Gus Russo, Eric Dezenhall

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

The thrilling story of two Cold War spies, CIA case officer Jack Platt and KGB agent Gennady Vasilenko - improbable friends at a time when they should have been anything but.

In 1978, CIA maverick Jack Platt and KGB agent Gennady Vasilenko were new arrivals on the Washington, D.C., intelligence scene, with Jack working out of the CIA's counterintelligence office and Gennady out of the Soviet Embassy. Both men, already notorious iconoclasts within their respective agencies, were assigned to seduce the other into betraying his country in the urgent final days of the Cold War, but instead the men ended up becoming the best of friends - blood brothers. Theirs is a friendship that never should have happened, and their story is chock full of treachery, darkly comic misunderstandings, bureaucratic inanity, the Russian Mafia, and landmark intelligence breakthroughs of the past half century.

In Best of Enemies, two espionage cowboys reveal how they became key behind-the-scenes players in solving some of the most celebrated spy stories of the 20th century, including the crucial discovery of the Soviet mole Robert Hanssen, the 2010 Spy Swap which freed Gennady from Soviet imprisonment, and how Robert De Niro played a real-life role in helping Gennady stay alive during his incarceration in Russia after being falsely accused of spying for the Americans. Through their eyes, we see the distinctions between the Russian and American methods of conducting espionage and the painful birth of the new Russia, whose leader, Vladimir Putin, dreams he can roll back to the ideals of the old USSR.

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

©2018 Gus Russo (P)2018 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"An informative and exciting history for the general reader and for the espionage expert alike." (Publishers Weekly)

"A rollicking tale of Cold War espionage... An unusual, entertaining story of steadfast friendship amid governmental treachery." (Kirkus)

"Best of Enemies is a knockout thriller about one of the great yarns in international espionage: how an American CIA agent and a Russian KGB agent wound up on the same side. You have to read it to believe it." (Tom Brokaw)

Awesome read

What a great story! Very riveting, and the narrator really brings life to this interesting yet dark time in Russia/US history. Thank you for writing it. Bravo!

thank you both for your service and humanity.

One of best telling of tje cold war and what can happen when real people with integrity believe in each in each other.
"
slowly slowly catchy monkey

Friendship against all odds

What a gripping historical narrative, but very much more so, a story of friendship against all odds. This spy caper is unique among all; its message is about the highest of humanity despite the omnipresence of the lowest, too.

Great spy book, I loved it

I could not stop listening to this audio book. It is the most factual and believable history of the CIA and KGB I have ever seen.

Really moving and powerful story

Liked - great story and a good performance.
Disliked - bit more foul (unnecessary) language than I’d like

great story

awesome friendship story and true great times. mind blowing and interesting to hear it all unfold.

An Expertly Performed Song of the Unsung Heroes

For the unsung heroes acknowledged solemnly by the stars on the wall at Langley, Best of Enemies is a Russo and Dezenhall composition of gritty and glamorous spycraft playing as background to a concert that calmed the Cold War from going nuclear. Few reviews will adequately capture the fascinating lives of this intimate recounting of patriots improvising against personal risks to save the lives of millions.

Compelling , interesting, and well-performed

I thoroughly enjoyed this look into the espionage world. It's detailed, engaging, well-researched, and balanced in it's presentation of differing theories where facts are not fully available. Ultimately, it's a story about how two people can have a deep and abiding friendship despite the fact that they not only disagree politically, but are spies for enemy countries. Content warning: Contains descriptions of torture, profanity, and allusions to sexual activity. It's not appropriate for kids, but is well worth the listen for adults.

Truth is stranger than fiction

This is a well written, fascinating story. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because of the liberal use of the F word which I found distracting and unnecessary. The story of two intelligence officers from opposing agencies who develop a strong friendship is compelling and poignant. This was a page turner.

Fascinating Recap of Cold War Espionage

Factual narrative of a CIA Operative and his friend, a KGB Officer. Very well written and exceptionally read. Highly recommend this novel.