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Russians Among Us
- Sleeper Cells, Ghost Stories and the Hunt for Putin’s Agents
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins
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Russians Among Us
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Summary
Like a scene from a le Carre novel or the TV drama The Americans, in the summer of 2010 a group of Russian deep cover sleeper agents were arrested. It was the culmination of a decade-long investigation, and ten people, including Anna Chapman, were swapped for four people held in Russia. At the time it was seen simply as a throwback to the Cold War. But that would prove to be a costly mistake. It was a sign that the Russian threat had never gone away and more importantly, it was shifting into a much more disruptive new phase. Today, the danger is clearer than ever following the poisoning in the UK of one of the spies who was swapped, Sergei Skripal, and the growing evidence of Russian interference in American life.
In this meticulously researched and gripping, novelistic narrative, Gordon Corera uncovers the story of how Cold War spying has evolved – and indeed, is still very much with us.
Russians Among Us describes for the first time the story of deep cover spies in America and the FBI agents who tracked them. In intimate and riveting detail, it reveals new information about today’s spies—as well as those trying to catch them and those trying to kill them.
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Critic reviews
REVIEWS FOR RUSSIANS AMONG US
‘This [is a] superb study of the illegals system … In the West it was erroneously assumed that the illegals programme ended with the Cold War, but as Corera proves it was ramped up and modernised by Putin for the 21st century … Alexander Poteyev was a veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan who rose to become deputy head of Directorate S. His story, told here for the first time, is an extraordinary one… Corera tells this astonishing tale with deft authority, placing it in the wider context of Russian intelligence strategy. Few are better versed in the intricacies of the continuing spy war between East and West.’ Ben Macintyre, The Times
‘Extremely readable … A lively and disturbing account of the extraordinary events that led to, and the terrible ones that followed, the Vienna spy swap in 2010, an episode perhaps best remembered in the West for Anna Chapman, the strikingly beautiful socialite who turned out to be a Russian spy.’ Telegraph
‘A lively and engrossing account of the FBI’s decade-long counterintelligence operation … Corera correctly notes that the US and UK were slow to appreciate Russia’s malign intent once Putin became president … Offers a persuasive account of how Moscow had adapted its espionage toolkit … A compelling book that combines good storytelling with subtle understanding of spy methods old and new’
Luke Harding, Observer
What listeners say about Russians Among Us
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Margaret H
- 02-03-21
very interesting, tricky perspectives
Good book, good recording, no hearing problems. Great story, albeit scary perspectives. I recommend it.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- ML
- 23-01-21
Fascinating
A bit repetitive at times,but if you enjoy espionage stories you will really enjoy this. The stories of the illegals is fascinating and the end , somewhat sad, especially the unknowing children etc. It brings the story up to date with cyber intelligence with the involvement in elections and politics and the revenge stories such as Salisbury. Quite compelling.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 19-05-24
Fascinating
Incredibly well written and researched. A fascinating insight into what one presumed finished with the Cold War and yet proves us wrong.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 31-05-21
excellent!
Gripping from start to finish. Pieces all the headlines we have heard together well with all the background info.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew P.
- 27-07-21
Really interesting insight
I really loved listening to this book and found it fascinating and relatable. The modern history and known stories put a different perspective on them and peeks behind the curtain and what was truly going on
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- AS
- 31-10-21
The story of spies that makes you think .
A very insighful and researched piece by Gordon, looking at the way Russian spies operate and take advantage of democracies and capatalism. Makes you think about the person next to you in the train.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew mitchell
- 02-10-20
Extremely engrossing
Very interesting book, 5 stars, so much that you dont hear about on news that I learnt from listening. very interesting about the kids born in America to Russians parents and how the kids grow up believing there parents were Americans and grow up believing that they where just a normal American family but they where actually Russians sent over to spy on that very country.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Henrik
- 10-01-21
Even better than expected
The span from traditional sleeper cells to digital warfare made this book even more interesting - and scary - than I had hoped for.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mick B
- 14-05-23
Fascinating
Fascinating story and excellent narration. Not always easy to follow due to the myriad of unfamiliar names, but that didn’t lessen the experience for me - bingeable!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- John
- 29-01-24
Great story
I loved the information contained in it, the story telling took a bit of getting used to but well worth the time taken to listen to this
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