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The Billion Dollar Spy

A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal

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The Billion Dollar Spy

By: David E. Hoffman
Narrated by: John Moraitis
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About this listen

January 1977. While the chief of the CIA’s Moscow station fills his gas tank, a stranger drops a note into the car.

In the years that follow, that stranger, Adolf Tolkachev, becomes one of the West’s most valuable spies. At enormous risk Tolkachev and his handlers conduct clandestine meetings across Moscow, using spy cameras, props, and private codes to elude the KGB in its own backyard - until a shocking betrayal puts them all at risk.

Drawing on previously classified CIA documents and interviews with firsthand participants, The Billion Dollar Spy is a brilliant feat of reporting and a riveting true story from the final years of the Cold War.

©2017 David E. Hoffman (P)2019 Audible, Ltd Freedom & Security Politics & Government Espionage Russia Cold War Air Force

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All stars
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Great book and really well read. First time I have given 5 stars in each coloumn.

First class

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I don't normally go for this sort of book but really enjoyed it.
I have seen a few comments on the narration but I didn't have any issues with it. I felt it reflected the pace of quite an in depth story I would recommend

not my sort of thing Normally

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Hard to believe it’s true and so many secrets were revealed but absolutely fascinating story. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Fascinating and a real

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So interesting. Do read this alongside the other brilliant account covering UK’s intelligence successes The Spy and the Traitor.

Excellent

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what an insight into the art of the spy world and what lengths each side goes to

loved it

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I haven’t enjoyed an audible so much for ages. Absolutely brilliant. Great story and so well written. The narration was first class too. Congratulations to everyone involved in this production. :)

Fantastic!

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Fantastic story with exceptional detail and supporting context. However, the narrator’s performance of some sentences is irritating. Having not seen the written text; I cannot be sure that the author hasn’t included numerous unneeded commas (although I suspect it’s likely to be the narrators own bizarre structure). On occasions I had to re-listen to paragraphs as there were awkward breaks or continuations that didn’t flow well. Either way; Tolkachev is undoubtedly an unsung hero of the Cold War and subsequent conflicts.

Fantastic story, but narration is sometimes jarring

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this was a journey of monumental new appreciation for what has come before us and the sacrifices made

moving

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I love this subject and this book is very good at describing the ins and outs of alot of what goes on whilst the CIA runs a high profile agent in the USSR. as the main subject is also little later on in the cold war, it's also little more current than some of the books about espionage that you come across. The side acts are also very famous spies, so I think overall people will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Espionage history at it's best.

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Very detailed book, very well read. There is a lot to learn even for someone who has read a lot of books on this subject. Very real and felt dangerous.

Classic Cold War Thriller

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