Dead Doubles: The Extraordinary Worldwide Hunt for One of the Cold War's Most Notorious Spy Rings

One of the most well-known espionage cases from the Cold War was the Portland Spy Ring, which exposed the shadowy world of deep cover KGB illegals - spies operating under false identities stolen from the dead. The CIA's revelation to MI5 in 1960 that a KGB agent was stealing crucial secrets from the world-leading submarine research base at Portland in Dorset looked initially like a dangerous but contained lapse of security. However, the couple were tailed by MI5 watchers to a covert meeting with a Canadian businessman, Gordon Lonsdale, who was actually a senior KGB controller. The Krogers were exposed as two of the most important Russian illegals ever, and Lonsdale was no Canadian, but a senior KGB controller. This astonishing but true story of MI5's spyhunt is told here for the first time using hitherto secret MI5 and FBI files, private family archives, and original interviews.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 22 July 2021
Publisher: Orion Publishing Co

The Portland Spy Ring, a notorious espionage case from the Cold War, shook the world when its exposure unveiled the shadowy realm of deep cover KGB illegals - spies operating under false identities stolen from the deceased. Initially perceived as a security lapse by a British man and his mistress, the CIA's revelation to MI5 in 1960 that a KGB agent was stealing crucial secrets from the world-leading submarine research base at Portland in Dorset took a surprising turn. The couple, tailed by MI5 watchers, were led to a covert meeting with a Canadian businessman named Gordon Lonsdale. Unaware of his true identity, Lonsdale unknowingly guided MI5's spycatchers to an unsuspecting couple in suburban Ruislip named the Krogers. However, within weeks, the CIA raised the alarm, warning that their critical source of intelligence was set to defect within hours. Under pressure, MI5 swiftly acted, exposing the Krogers as two of the most significant Russian illegals ever sought by the Americans. Lonsdale, in fact, was a senior KGB controller, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding story.

This astonishing but true tale of MI5's spyhunt unfolds from the world of renowned author John le Carré and is presented here for the first time, utilizing hitherto secret MI5 and FBI files, private family archives, and exclusive interviews. Its reach spans across continents, from America to the USSR, Canada, New Zealand, Europe, and the UK. DEAD DOUBLES is a captivating episode in Cold War history, serving as a testament to the West's justified paranoia about infiltration and treachery.

Weight: 292g
Dimension: 129 x 196 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474609111