From Russia with Blood

Putin’s Ruthless Killing Campaign and Secret War on the West

By: Heidi Blake

Narrated by: Marisa Calin

Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Orwell Prize-nominated journalist Heidi Blake uncovers exclusive details of Vladimir Putin’s worldwide meddling with dissident voices. This is the explosive and true story of how Russia operates in our cities, right under the noses of the most powerful nations in the world, and why even they can’t stop him.

Russia’s resurgent encroachment into the West is the defining geopolitical story of our time - and a topic of insatiable public fascination. Putin’s use of targeted killing is designed to crush opponents, frighten critics into silence, exterminate traitors and wipe out the Western financial facilitators who make flight from Russia possible. In one sense this is nothing new: the Russian president is the consummate FSB man and an heir to Soviet-era autocrats who used the country’s feared security service to eliminate all opposition. But the growing pattern of brazen assassinations outside Russia’s borders is a mark of an emboldened state with burgeoning global ambitions.

Set in the heart of our cities, From Russia With Blood will analyse the geopolitical consequences of this strategy and the dangers of the West’s flat-footed response. Drawing on the expertise of Russian experts, intelligence insiders, academics and government sources in the US and Europe, Heidi Blake will uncover what has been kept from the public up until now. This audiobook is based on hundreds of thousands of documents, crime scene evidence, computers and mobile phones, surveillance footage, high-level intelligence briefings from serving officials and hundreds of insider interviews - but this is only the tip of the iceberg.

Supported by a vibrant cast of characters and a fast-paced narrative, this story will draw on original reporting to tell the full story of how Russia refined the art and science of assassination as a form of statecraft. But it will also offer insights into its formidable cyber powers, sprawling international propaganda machine and fearsome security, espionage and organised crime complex to create a frighteningly effective strategy for growing global dominance. This is an unmissable guide to how Western governments failed to guard those living on home soil against the threat, the dramatic events of the past year and their alarming significance for the future.

©2019 Heidi Blake (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"A real life thriller, packed with characters that even John le Carré couldn't dream of. If this doesn't scare you, then you're not paying attention." (Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland)

"Breathtaking in its scope and commendable in its detail.... Blake’s triumph is that she can pull an extraordinary tale of larceny on a grand scale, corruption of unprecedented levels and serial murder into a brisk, comprehensible narrative." (Sunday Herald)

"A spellbinding and heart-in-your-throat true story of Russian money and serial killing by agents of the Russian state in London.... In addition to being an unputdownable story, her shocking expose will hopefully change the way the British authorities act on crimes emanating from Russia in the future." (Bill Browder, author of Red Notice)

Excellent journalism

Extremely well researched and reported work. Jaw-dropping insights into the deep end of a very particular money, power and corruption game, how the UK let it in, and is now stuck with it.

Great story but bizarre narration

This is a fascinating book and very well researched, but the bizarre, sing-songy way it's narrated, with odd intonation and elongated vowels, makes it almost unlistenable. It's narrated as if it's a Harry Potter novel being read to a child, rather than non-fiction.

The worst narration of a book EVER

Ye Gods!! How did the narration for this book get pass Quality control?
The topic is as expected a serious issue so is let down a bit by some of the overly dramatic writing style
But the narration, well that is something all together.I have listened to audible books for years & this is so bad, It`s dreadful.
The best I can describe is, imagine you are one of a bunch of five year old kids sat in a semi circle and some twenty something girl is doing their earnest best to keep your interest and entertain you with dramatic story telling about bogey men and baddies.
Speeding up, slowing down, pausing for effect,adding dramatic inflection, changing pitch and tone at every turn. And then the best bit............... The most awful, I mean dreadfully awful attempts at adding national accents to some of the alleged words of people featured... it`s pure comedy gold because it is so badly done, I am certain people have been prosecuted for such poor stereotypical delivery "See you Jimmy, och aye, comrade!"

Anyway rant over.. I suspect my valid comments will be binned by the review police.

Great book let down by narrator

This book gives a really interesting and frightening look into Russia's interference with the rest of the world... but the narrator's pleasant and friendly voice doesn't match the dark and serious content at all. Maybe it's just me, her voice felt better suited for a children's adventure book...

WORST NARRATOR - AMAZING STORY

please please please buy this book for the story, but bear in mind you'll have to put up with the worst fake russian, English and French accents. why she couldn't have just read the book is beyond me

Well researched but flawed delivery

This is a great nice of research and well-structured book.

However, the tone and delivery of narration is, at times, either melodramatic or verging on the comic with unnecessary cod accents that distracted from the seriousness of the subject matter. Having listened to other books read by the same narrator, I have deduced that she is most competent in the telling of stories and is not where the fault lies. Her producer/ director has misinterpreted the audience in an attempt to make it more accessible or populist, which in my opinion is a great shame as the content is well worth a listen.

Brilliant book

Great book, filled with jaw dropping stories about how the Russians are on an international killing spree with the UK acting as an unwilling accomplice. The book does not get a 5 star review for one reason-the narrators continuous cringing attempts at accent imitation especially the French accent.

This book filled in so many gaps

A compelling story that taught me so much, especially as I thought I was already clued up on this subject. Some reviews criticised the narrator but I thought her performance and style were perfect - apart from a dodgy French accent towards the end of the book, but this was very brief. All in all one of the best books I've bought.

Wow

The changing of accents which some mentioned was a bit weird at first however that became less noticeable as I got in to it. Excellent story though and well worth a listen.

Wow

A stunning insight in to the Kremlin and its effect on the West. It such a great listen and given the issues involved a very brave and thoroughly researched piece.

Lacking depth and insight

In principle the story of Putin's rise to power and his control of the oligarchs is fascinating, but the account in this book reads like a series of Wikipedia entries or a collection of newspaper stories. In other words, there's a lack of depth and originality to this book. It does not feel at all well researched and falls into lazy stereotypes too easily. The narration is also poor. Pronunciation is idiosyncratic in places and there are some bizarre errors. For example, sawn off shot gun is referred to as 'sword off short gun". In sum, unrewarding to listen to.