
The Widow Spy
My CIA Journey from the Jungles of Laos to Prison in Moscow
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Narrated by:
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Laural Merlington
About this listen
The Widow Spy is the firsthand account of a true Cold War spy operation in Moscow told exclusively by the CIA case officer who lived this experience. Martha D. Peterson was one of the first women to be assigned to Moscow, a very difficult operational environment.
Her story begins in Laos during the Vietnam War where she accompanied her husband, a CIA officer. She describes their life in a small city in Laos, ending with the tragic death of her husband. Then her own 30-year career begins in Moscow, where she walks the dark streets alone, placing dead-drops and escaping the relentless eye of the KGB.
Experience her arrest and detention in Lyubianka Prison, as only she can relate it. What she reveals in The Widow Spy has never been told.
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Riveting
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interesting, but dry
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Although this case is absolutely unique and details what it is like to work for the CIA in the former USSR, I found the narration is a bit distracting,l because the narrator just didn’t fit the story, IMHO. Listening to the narrator say “C I A” hundreds of times pausing to precisely say the acronym just sounded unnatural. You’ll have to excuse that slight criticism because my minor annoyance is nothing compared to the credible job the narrator did with pronouncing the difficult Russian locations and names. (At least she sounded authentic to this person who knows nothing about the Russian language.)
Undeniably Martha Peterson is a hero. I’m so glad I listened to her book and learned more about the Trigon case. I felt tension throughout considering what was at stake.
My last thought about this book is a couple of suggestions. I wish Ms Peterson would tell the story herself. Since the story began with her explaining herself to her 2 children, at the end, I expected to hear more about her life after she told them. I wanted to know a bit more to bookend the story.
I hope my presumptive comments will keep no one who enjoys true stories of bravery and exciting stories of espionage from listening to this one! It is definitely worth a listen!
First person account of brave CIA case officer who happened to be female
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Incredible story...
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Rich in detail, satisfying and touching
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COA
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Puts you in the shoes of an American spy in Moscow
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(Mostly) Fascinating Story
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Real life Bond story
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Enthralling story
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