• Operation Whisper

  • The Capture of Soviet Spies Morris and Lona Cohen
  • By: Barnes Carr
  • Narrated by: John Pruden
  • Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (56 ratings)

Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.
Operation Whisper  By  cover art

Operation Whisper

By: Barnes Carr
Narrated by: John Pruden
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.62

Buy for $17.62

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Born and raised in the Bronx and recruited to play football at Mississippi State, Morris Cohen fought for the Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War and with the US Army in World War II. He and his wife, Lona, were as American as football and fried chicken, but for one detail: They'd spent their entire adult lives stealing American military secrets for the Soviet Union. And not just any military secrets but a complete working plan of the first atomic bomb, smuggled direct from Los Alamos to their Soviet handler in New York. Their associates Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who accomplished far less, had just been arrested, and the prosecutor wanted the death penalty. Did the Cohens wish to face the same fate? Federal agents were in the neighborhood, knocking on doors, getting close. So get out. Take nothing. Tell no one.

In Operation Whisper, Barnes Carr tells the true story of the most effective Soviet spy couple in America, a pair who vanished under the FBI's nose only to turn up posing as rare book dealers in London, where they continued their atomic spying. The Cohens were talented, dedicated, worldly spies - an urbane, jet-set couple loyal to their service and their friends. Most people they met seemed to think they represented the best of America. The Soviets certainly thought so.

©2016 Barnes Carr (P)2017 Tantor

What listeners say about Operation Whisper

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    24
  • 4 Stars
    17
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    29
  • 4 Stars
    15
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    25
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A little hard to follow via audio

I loved the book and performance but think that having a hard copy would have made it easier to follow all the characters. I found myself having to go back and re-listen to follow the complete story and cast. It's a fascinating read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Good listen and recommended, but a bit undirected

Overall, it’s a great story . It’s recommended it you like and listen to real life Cold War stories . I did the book could have been more streamlined and seemed to contain unnecessary information and character building.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Facinating.

This story was a fascinating look into the nitty gritty details of spycraft as really practiced.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Intriguing

This was an excellent book. Having just worked on the play Pack of Lies I wanted to learn more. This was hugely informative!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Too many facts details

The story gets lost in all the dates and details and you can't tell who's who and what's going on

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful