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taffi's review
4.0
Some slow parts, but mostly fascinating. I was amazed at how similar it was to some fiction spy shows on TV
laurnrose's review
informative
medium-paced
2.75
Towards the end of the book, Jim Popkin poses a rhetorical question about why Ana Montes chose subversion when she could have exercised her First Amendment right to openly proclaim her beliefs. Given everything the book had meticulously detailed up to that point, it's kind of a dipshit question.
marilynw's review against another edition
4.0
Code Name Blue Wren: The True Story of America's Most Dangerous Female Spy—and the Sister She Betrayed
Jim Popkin (Author/Narrator)
At first I was struck by the dryness of this true account of Ana Montes's betrayal of her family, country, co-workers, and friends but when the account got to the work several individuals did to unearth and fight to expose the actions of this female spy, things got interesting for me. I admire the dogged determination of individuals who risked their careers to expose the betrayal when doors were slammed in their faces and the easy thing would have been to give up and forget what they had uncovered. There is a counterperson to Ana Monte and it's the woman who was instrumental in helping to bring her to justice.
I won't go into most of what I learned in this book. Ana Montes does not regret anything that she did other than the part about getting caught. We learn about her upbringing, which wasn't pretty when it comes to her treatment by her father who was quick to anger and was willing to hit, just as his father and grandfather had done before him. There are times when it seems excuses are made for why Ana did what she did but I don't buy them. She seems to feel no accountability for her actions which likely led to the deaths of countless people.
This story is disturbing in many ways but I'm glad this part of our history has been brought to my attention. It amazes me how clear many things must be to the people who worked with or had anything to do with Ana, after the fact. There is so much about Ana that it seems should have been a red flag about her personality and demeanor in hindsight but there are no do overs for any of us. Also, so many agencies/people had a chance to put the brakes on Ana's ability to pass vital information but it seems mistakes built upon mistakes to put her where she could do the most damage. I liked Jim Popkin's narration of his own book. It's straightforward and easy to hear.
Pub Jan 3, 2023
Jim Popkin (Author/Narrator)
At first I was struck by the dryness of this true account of Ana Montes's betrayal of her family, country, co-workers, and friends but when the account got to the work several individuals did to unearth and fight to expose the actions of this female spy, things got interesting for me. I admire the dogged determination of individuals who risked their careers to expose the betrayal when doors were slammed in their faces and the easy thing would have been to give up and forget what they had uncovered. There is a counterperson to Ana Monte and it's the woman who was instrumental in helping to bring her to justice.
I won't go into most of what I learned in this book. Ana Montes does not regret anything that she did other than the part about getting caught. We learn about her upbringing, which wasn't pretty when it comes to her treatment by her father who was quick to anger and was willing to hit, just as his father and grandfather had done before him. There are times when it seems excuses are made for why Ana did what she did but I don't buy them. She seems to feel no accountability for her actions which likely led to the deaths of countless people.
This story is disturbing in many ways but I'm glad this part of our history has been brought to my attention. It amazes me how clear many things must be to the people who worked with or had anything to do with Ana, after the fact. There is so much about Ana that it seems should have been a red flag about her personality and demeanor in hindsight but there are no do overs for any of us. Also, so many agencies/people had a chance to put the brakes on Ana's ability to pass vital information but it seems mistakes built upon mistakes to put her where she could do the most damage. I liked Jim Popkin's narration of his own book. It's straightforward and easy to hear.
Pub Jan 3, 2023
lukaron's review
5.0
Very interesting and informative read covering Ana Montes and, to a lesser extent, her sister and family, and the factors surrounding the massive breach in US intelligence she represented. Many may not know her, because the massive FBI and DIA effort to bring her down culminated at the same time as 9/11.
She was released from prison in January 2023.
Good, in-depth investigative journalism, well-written, and provides solid insight into the inner workings of espionage driven by ideological beliefs, which in my opinion is one of the more insidious and harder-to-catch versions of this particular crime.
She was released from prison in January 2023.
Good, in-depth investigative journalism, well-written, and provides solid insight into the inner workings of espionage driven by ideological beliefs, which in my opinion is one of the more insidious and harder-to-catch versions of this particular crime.