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rahultheinvader 's review for:
The Billion Dollar Spy: A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal
by David E. Hoffman
I read this book in three of four iterations. It an enoyable saga about the cold war years and the world of spies that sold state secrets for access to money and other materials. The story primarily focuses on the life of Adolf Tolkachev working as an engineer in Phazatron who continues to productively provide CIA with classified information on Soviet Radar Systems used in MIG fighter planes.
The book begins with the history of spying in United States and how it went through years of highs and lows until the mid 70s when it picks up steam. We learn stories of other spies, some who defected in US while others who kept punching holes from within.
The details regarding operatives running undercover, going to tremendous lengths to evade KGB and other security agents to make contacts is fascinating and feels right from a Le Carre novel. Also, we learn about the life of Soviet citizens, the rations, the scarcity and how "the Soviets could build a rocket ship, but not a toaster"
For me, one of the interesting chapters was the background on how Tolkachev's wife Natalia's parents faced repucursions for publishing against Stalin. The nightmare era of where everyone and anyone were suspected of being a traitor. It is evident how the state exercises its power over the citizens and quickly creates an atmosphere of doubt and silence.
But regardless of the merits, The Billion Dollar Spy is also victim of redundancy. After some time, the sequential nature of operatives making a run, meeting Tolkachev, their conversations, Tolkachev's Op notes and his requests for money and other stuff become repititive. And here I started to lose interest until the novel picks up with the introduction of American spies working for Russians in the form of Edward Lee Howard. Howard is widely considered as the reason for the discovery of Tolkachev.
Overall, The Billion Dollar Spy is an insightful view into the cold war history and the world of espionage.
The book begins with the history of spying in United States and how it went through years of highs and lows until the mid 70s when it picks up steam. We learn stories of other spies, some who defected in US while others who kept punching holes from within.
The details regarding operatives running undercover, going to tremendous lengths to evade KGB and other security agents to make contacts is fascinating and feels right from a Le Carre novel. Also, we learn about the life of Soviet citizens, the rations, the scarcity and how "the Soviets could build a rocket ship, but not a toaster"
For me, one of the interesting chapters was the background on how Tolkachev's wife Natalia's parents faced repucursions for publishing against Stalin. The nightmare era of where everyone and anyone were suspected of being a traitor. It is evident how the state exercises its power over the citizens and quickly creates an atmosphere of doubt and silence.
But regardless of the merits, The Billion Dollar Spy is also victim of redundancy. After some time, the sequential nature of operatives making a run, meeting Tolkachev, their conversations, Tolkachev's Op notes and his requests for money and other stuff become repititive. And here I started to lose interest until the novel picks up with the introduction of American spies working for Russians in the form of Edward Lee Howard. Howard is widely considered as the reason for the discovery of Tolkachev.
Overall, The Billion Dollar Spy is an insightful view into the cold war history and the world of espionage.