A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal - The Billion Dollar Spy

Unfortunately I had to put the book down because of work, but it was easy to pick back up. As detailed as it was it wasn't cumbersome with names and details like you see in so many books. I would highly recommend this book.

Great read with fascinating details of the business of stealing secrets to protect US national security. One completes this book with a deep sense of appreciation for the US citizens involved in human intelligence operations and an even greater appreciation for the foreign assets who put their lives on the line.

Hoffman has done an excellent job with the single most important spy case of the 80's and possibly the entire Cold War. It's thoroughly research ed and moves forward with pace and urgency. It's an essential add to the bookshelf of anyone who follows seriously written espionage history.

Really enjoyed reading this fascinating true story. Details are great, with plenty of time spent describing the trade craft of the agents and their handlers. Found it was literally a page turner.. and I'm going back for a second read taking notes next time. How revealing about human nature and the motivations that drove some of the main players' desperate actions. I

This book captures you and makes you want to read thru to the end. I was engrossed and got behind on household chores to finish! Recommend it. Truly fascinating story that still has implications for our foreign policy today.

The author David Hoffman was a journalist for the Washington Post closely following the CIA Moscow Station. He has written a meticulously researched and documented stories about a Soviet Agent who provided the U S with invauable and accurate information particilarly about Soviet radar capabilities.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The detailed descriptions of the methods used by the CIA and their source were fascinating. For anyone that is interested in real Cold War history, this book is an excellent choice.

Very exciting story that almost reads like a spy thriller, except that if anyone wrote this as fiction you'd probably say it was way too implausible to be true. But Mr. Hoffman has done his research well, including using actual declassified CIA cables and reports (some of them reproduce in the book's photos), interviews with some of the key persons involved, etc., to build well-written account that likely is as close to the actual events as possible without using classified information.

Reads like a thriller, right down to plot twists and betrayal. In light of recent events, it almost makes one nostalgic for the cold war. Given the heavy research and annotation, the writing is remarkably lively.

If David Hoffman's the author, it's an outstanding read - period, end of sentence.

This latest of his is no exception and in my view may be even a touch better than "The Oligarchs."

If that's possible.

Highly recommended. The man cannot write a bad sentence, and always teaches with insight and depth while telling very human stories.

Absolutely one of the most informative books on CIA spy craft that I have read. Excellent detailed descriptions of events. This is the type of book that is very difficult to put down. I highly recommend this book.

This non-fiction account of one of the most financially lucrative spy connections in our history is fascinating. The story is well written, has a nice pace with a lot of suspense and is also very informative about how the spying process worked during the Cold War.

Non-fiction spy books is one of my favorite genres to read, and I have read many of them. While I have never done a review on any of
my previous reads, I felt compelled to chime in on this one. This is no doubt one of the best spy books I have read. A very suspenseful and
intriguing read which I had a hard time putting down. Very well researched, and written. I would give it my highest recommendation

I could hardly put the book down! Hoffman is brilliant at telling the story of one of the CIAs most important agents who made a difference in the Cold War. He opens a window on how the Moscow station of the CIA operated in those years as well. It is full of twists and turns and tragedy. It is well wort reading.

I lived through and worked with intelligence during this era. Very nice read about a very real time and place, but most importantly about a man who fought against tyranny in the best way he could think. Not many people could have done what Tolkachev did. Thanks for helping to end the Cold War in your personal but significant way.

Loved it! Great story, great timeline of events, well put together. The definitive story of Adolf Tolkachev. The book also touched on several other "related" cases, like Penkovsky and Sheymov, and even added some details to the Sheymov case that did not appear in "Tower of Secrets". But sadly also left out some details that both books hinted at, but never clarified. This is a good read for the layman and expert spy-buff alike.

This was a great and surprising read that really gives a feel for spying by the CIA at the end of the Cold War. The discussion on methods is most surprising since similar methods must be in use today.

Well-written, fascinating piece of history. For students of Cold War history, or just spy story enthusiasts, this is most enlightening and more fascinating than any work of fiction (but without the car chases).

Well-written, fascinating piece of history. For students of Cold War history, or just spy story enthusiasts, this is most enlightening and more fascinating than any work of fiction (but without the car chases).

I liked the pace and the structure of competing spy activities. Highly recommend for anyone interested in the development of our military superiority over the Soviets. Great book and story about patriots.

Non fiction that reads like fiction. A fascinating journey through Cold War Moscow replete with a courageous hero, steadfast spymasters, bureaucratic inertia, constant peril, and a heart breaking plot twist. It's an amazing and important story that had some, direct or indirect, impact on all of out lives at that time.

This is an extraordinary book on so many levels!

The back story of the spying and espionage operations between the US and USSR and what the mean for us today is absolutely stunning. Makes you wonder what other stories are out there that may or may never be told.

Hoffman's writing is also incredible. Very reminiscent of political intrigue novels by Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn or Brad Thor. You have to stop and remember this NON-FICTION.

Overall, one of the best books I have read in years.

Gripping espionage tale - you feel like you were running the agents yourself.
A true story of spying and betrayal at the height of the Cold War that makes one appreciate the sacrifices of the clandestine service of the CIA.

The cliche is that truth is stranger than fiction. Here is absolute evidence of that. The story maintains the suspense of good fiction but is true and moves along at a very nice pace. highly recommended.