Ben MacIntyre has done a great deal of research, which he manages to fashion into a very good narrative. He understands both the techniques of espionage and the psychology of those involved. The story of how Oleg Gordievsky came to spy for Britain, having risen to a high rank in the KGB is fascinating – although the rather long and turgid early biographical chapters didn’t grab me at all. Once Oleg becomes an active KGB officer with serious misgivings about the Soviet system, though, it’s completely gripping. The details of espionage tradecraft are very well described, the people involved excellently portrayed and the story of operation PIMLICO, to get Oleg out of Russia once he was suspected, is very exciting and utterly gripping.
I have docked one star because I found the opening section a struggle, but I can recommend this as an excellent, informative and very engrossing read.
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