THE ILLEGALS: RUSSIA'S MOST AUDACIOUS SPIES AND THEIR CENTURY LONG MISSION T INFILTRATE THE WEST

The spy book of the season! The definitive history of Russia’s most secret spy program, from the earliest days of the Soviet Union to Putin’s present-day invasion of Ukraine, and a revelatory examination of how that hidden history shaped both Russia and the West. Have you watched FX's The Americans or know someone who has? Well this book is for them and for all your espionage/military/political/history/David Ignatius/John le Carré readers who want to learn about the real thing. A Ben MacIntyre type read. Oh and you should watch The Americans. It's really good! Intense, but good. This is a gripping read and deep dive into Russia’s secret spy program that has covers all the in's and out's of this type of spycraft work: assassinations, double crosses, foibles, sleeper cells, and more. No one else has put this story out there with this kind of expertise. Having conducted extensive archival research in previously classified records, and spent tens of hours interviewing retired spies in the United States and Russia before being sanctioned for his coverage of the Ukraine War, there is no book that offers an account this authoritative, with this depth. Shaun is a correspondent for The Guardian and has been featured on Fresh Air earlier this year. Nearly every day seems to bring news of covert operations impacting the world. With new headlines about Russian agents being unmasked, this topic is at the forefront of public consciousness. Questions surrounding Russia’s military power and foreign intelligence programs are once again piquing interest. Putin also began his career in the KGB’s illegals program, and alludes to it frequently. This is a must-read book for anyone who want to understand Putin and where Russia is headed today.