Fabulous insight into a period of history that I lived through and hard to believe that a handful of individuals were responsible for making the world a safer place - yet again, politicians take the credit for something they were only told about at the very last moment. Highly recommend read.

Very interesting; I can recall some of the news items; puts them into context.

A gripping account of a KGB spy whose appreciation for Western culture gained during his first posting in Denmark, combined with his abhorrence at the sudden erection of the Berlin Wall and brutal crushing of the Prague Spring, led him to become a British spy out of pure conviction and at great cost to his personal and familial well-being. Fascinating to see how intelligence, (mis)information, (mis)perceptions, & personal circumstances can bring the world to the brink of war as well as how Oleg Gordievsky skillfully fed both Thatcher & Gorbachev the talking points for their historic meetings. Gordievsky's extraction from the Soviet Union was thrilling & Macintyre writes & reads with mastery. Cold War history at its finest.

A challenging read - a little slow at the start, but worth it in the end

Excellent book and well read.

I'm not one for spy stories finding them rather unbelievable and farcical. I had to read this for book club and so pleased I did. I can't believe that the reality is even more unbelievable and farcical than fiction! Absolutely fascinating story. Amazing, genuinely brave and patriotic people. So much to admire, beyond their obvious intelligence, but what a hideous way to live your life. Constantly questioning everybody and everything you hear. Constant fear of being discovered. The convoluted instructions you have to follow to avoid that discovery - amazing feats of memory required. And reliant on a shambolic bureaucracy. An emotional rollercoaster and a new found respect for our spymasters. A brilliant listen

So fantastically written reads like a story, behaves like a movie, factual because it’s real! Awesome

Fascinating and insightful. It gives a deep view of the Cold War, the interplay between Russia, the U.K. and the USA, spy craft and risks, and of the lives and motivations of the spies. I found it compelling from beginning to end.

A truly amazing tale of espionage worthy of le Carre, but better because it’s fact.

It took about 2/3 of the book to become interesting, and then rushed through the last bit. Disappointed that it’s time I won’t get back.

Gripping - amazing story. True life James Bond stuff

Absolutely terrific - better than any fiction

Wow! what an amazing true story. Loved every minute of it.

Very interesting - insight of the shadow world..