Intrepid’s Last Case chronicles the post-World War II activities of Sir William Stephenson, whose fascinating role in helping to defeat the Nazis was the subject of the worldwide bestseller A Man Called Intrepid. Sir William Stephenson (Intrepid) still stood at the center of events when he and author William Stevenson discussed in the 1980s an investigation into sudden allegations that Intrepid’s … allegations that Intrepid’s wartime aide, Dick Ellis, had been both a Soviet mole and a Nazi spy. They concluded that the rumors grew, ironically, from Intrepid’s last wartime case involving the first major Soviet intelligence defector of the new atomic age: Igor Gouzenko. Intrepid saved Gouzenko and found him sanctuary inside a Canadian spy school. Gouzenko was about to make more devastating disclosures than those concerning atomic espionage when the case was mysteriously terminated and Intrepid’s organization dissolved. Unraveling the implications of Gouzenko’s defection and Intrepid’s removal from the case, tracing the steps of Dick Ellis and disclosing much new information regarding United States and Canadian postwar intelligence activities, Intrepid’s Last Case is a story that for sheer excitement rivals the best spy fiction–and is all the more important because every word is true. Filled with never-before-revealed facts on the Soviet/Western nuclear war dance and a compelling portrayal of the mind of a professional spy, Intrepid’s Last Case picks up where the first book ended, at the very roots of the cold war. It describes one of the most widespread cover-ups and bizarre betrayals in intelligence history. This is the incredible Intrepid against the KGB.
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Fascinating history of spycraft during WWII and the influence of Britain on the creation of what eventually became the CIA.
Of necessity it is a little slow in developing but very informative and thought provoking
Intrepid was better
Spooks, useful idiots, betrayal, clandestine communications, spies and counterspies and spy catchers, moles, sleepers, murder, defection, disinformation, bureaucratic red tape and rivalries at national expense, favoritism, elitism: this book has it all. Intrepid’s Last Case is by William Stevenson about Sir William Stephenson. If you think that’s confusing, the whole book is that way; it runs the reader in circles. And then there are the acronyms: SIS, BSC, OSS, CIA, FBI, RIS ABC, NKVD, OGPU, KGB and RCMP. It’s a challenge to keep them all straight unless you have some background and interest in these things.
Igor Gouzenko is the defector, an intelligence officer for Russia; his situation is referred to as the Corby Case. This fellow and his wife were in Canada, and he defected with lots of damning information on the Soviets. That was in 1945. Igor was not handled well; much of his information was discounted by the politicians of the day or submerged by the very foreign agents he was attempting to expose. Aaargh!
For me the book wandered about some, but the author was good as showing how the nature of secrecy in the various organizations made it difficult to get good information. Written communications were weeded, twisted, or just destroyed. Only what appeared in the newspapers could be traced with surety since those articles were in the public eye and domain. Entire sections in some libraries have disappeared. The opposition and some of our own just don’t want people to know. Face it, your government tells you only what they want you to know; much is left out, and some is even falsified. Think of the official government reports on the Kenney assassination for a more modern example.
Stephenson tried to help Gouzenko and was somewhat successful, but the political personalities and attitudes of the time were not favorable to Gouzenko. His case was reopened in 1980, but he died soon thereafter, so not much came of it. Had America, Britain, and Canada listened to Igor initially, we would not have lost so much information to the Soviets. True, the atomic bomb secrets were already out of the bag, but later military and political maneuvers were also handed over. In Korea, for instance, such inside knowledge leaked to the communists cost us thousands of lives.
In sum, the book was informative but a bit of a tough read to follow all the threads and keep things straight. I read this book on my Kindle. Some years back I read A Man Called Intrepid, again written by William Stevenson about Sir William Stephenson, which detailed some of Stephenson’s actions regarding WWII.
always be wary of the Russians….historical (should be required reading for current members of Congress and members of the cabinet…I know “HE” doesn’t read books)
Great sequel to A Man Called Intrepid. I liked knowing another part of the story
Very informative bookabout the beginning of spying.
Reminds how governments and politicians are still corrupt
This book explained much of what I had never understood about the early days of the Cold War, and the role of the OSS and brand new CIA. The book also highlights Bill Stephenson’s crucial role in U.S intelligence.
Great read
Amazing to see WWII spies scrambling to adjust to post-war intelligence services.
Very interesting book on spies in the cold war era.
It was a little boring in a few places otherwise very informative
this book was very informative . It was also timely given all that is happening in the world today especially with Russian spies and their impact in the United States .
Dry. Not the exciting read I anticipated.
Rather dry historical narrative written in a very matter-of-fact way. Definitely not a page turner.