The Widow Spy: My CIA Journey from the Jungles of Laos to Prison in Moscow

by Martha D. Peterson

The Widow Spy is the first hand account of a true Cold War spy operation in Moscow, told exclusively by the CIA case offiicer who lived this experience. She was one of the first women to be assigned to Moscow, a very difficult operational environment. Her story begins in Laos during the Vietnam War where she accompanied her husband, a CIA officer. She describes their life in a small city in Laos, ending with the tragic death of her husband. Then her own thirty year career begins in Moscow, where she walks the dark streets alone, placing dead-drops and escaping the relentless eye of the KGB. Experience her arrest and detention in Lyubianka Prison, as only she can relate it. What she reveals in The Widow Spy has never been told.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Biography, Espionage, Book Club, Historical

262 pages, Paperback

First published February 15, 2012

Reviews

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know the author through my sister, who is mentioned in the book.
I had heard several conflicting stories of the events surrounding Marti's arrest in Moscow, so it was very interesting to get the story directly from the author.
I found the book gave me a greater knowledge of the author, and her motivations. The book also gives a greater sense of the real life of a spy, very little "James Bond" type of excitement; attention to detail and careful planning are the hallmarks of a successful spy. While this may not appeal to someone looking for shoot 'em excitement, the author's courage comes through. It is important to note that the author blazed a trail for women, for, as she points out, she could perform her mission largely because there were so few women in it at the time.
I was disappointed in the editing. Grammatical and spelling errors are frequent, and mar the narrative.
Altogether, a good quick read from a brave lady.

[Emma Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not put this book down. I was acquainted with the author, but did not know much about her personal nor professional life. I am full of admiration for her courage, and her determination to carry out her duties in spite of the lack of trust/negative attitude by some of her colleagues who did not think a woman could do the job. Thank you for writing this book!

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, Martha's so very Scarlett O'Hara with her 'I'm gonna think about this tomorrow'. According to her, washing one's clothes is next to impossible without a servant. Partying's best done in twos.

The main idea: looking to fuck up other people's countries (sometimes already on the way to the deep side) is boring. And requires an enormous time spent boiling water, trying to get used to fermented cabbage and doing generally weird shit. Beware of this career, kiddies!

Some detailed details.

A very tragic account of John's death and its aftermath.

Lots of issues that the women must have had at the moment trying to prsue worthwhile careers... I can't imagine how they managed to live and work and succeed then!

[Debbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting slice of American history but I found myself skimming quite a lot of extra details that didn't need to be in the book.

[Mitzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE WIDOW SPY by Martha Peterson is a fascinating memoir that gives a personal look into her life as a CIA operative. From the jungles of Laos to her capture in Moscow, Peterson's experiences are gripping and insightful. I’m excited to discuss it with my book club and hear from the author at the event!

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fascinating subject -- Peterson joined the Agency after the death of her CIA-officer husband in Laos, and was a pioneer as one of few female case officers in the 1970s, and apparently one of the better case officers of any kind through out her career -- but the prose is flat and reads like a "what I did last summer" essay from a literate but not gifted student. Her thinking is also surprisingly un-complex, or at least her writing cannot capture the complexity of her thought, as often we're treated to assertions like "war protesters can't understand how they insult the families of those who have died", without ever considering the possibility that a lot of war protesters *were* the families of those who died in Vietnam.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I may disagree with Peterson's stances on quite a few subjects (such as, say, politics and anti-war protests), but her story is an intriguing one, particularly if one enjoys Cold War spy tales. The writing's not great, though, and some of the more repetitive parts could have been condensed to let the story flow better.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memoir and very interesting book written by the first female CIA officer about the 31 years she spent in service. She is highlighted in the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC and the KGB museum in Moscow. This books tells you as she experienced it...what a brave lady.

[Susan Fletcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took much too long!

Although there were moments that kept my interest, the story was very repetitive. Go to apartment, change clothes, smile at guard, drop off package, wait an hour, pick up package. You have just read 3/4 of the book.

[Taylor Menconi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fascinating read!!! It’s a firsthand account of Cold War espionage from one of the first female CIA case officers assigned to Moscow. What I liked most was how real it felt—no glamorizing, just honest, grounded storytelling about what life and fieldwork in 1970s USSR actually looked like. Her role was intense in moments, but also quiet, thoughtful, and sometimes really isolating, which made it even more compelling to me.

I’ve never worked for the CIA (as much as I sometimes like the idea), but I think there’s a shared kind of intensity that comes with being an expat in high-stakes environments—this book proved that to me. The author lived and worked in Southeast Asia and the USSR; I’ve also worked in Southeast Asia and a former Soviet country, and I was fascinated by the overlap in atmosphere, even across decades. The disorientation of a new city, the weight of sensitive work, and the strange mix of loneliness and purpose all felt deeply familiar. I kept gasping, nodding, even laughing at things that weren’t innately funny but instantly recognizable. We were close in age, too—her in Moscow, me in Kyiv—which made the whole story land even more personally.

[Kim Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is part of the same church as my parents-that is how I learned of the book. I found it very interesting to hear her account of her experiences as a CIA operative. She’s incredibly brave-a pioneer! So glad to have learned these things!

[William French · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peterson pulls no punches in this dramatic, from-the-heart account of her life and CIA career. Not many people know about challenges faced by Americans who were in the front lines of the Cold War. Peterson was one, first in Laos and then in Moscow. She has all the qualities an American would wish our spys to have, i.e., courage, high intelligence, calmness and an ability to think quickly and clearly when in danger, a wry sense of humor, and adaptability. She even came to like the brutally cold winters in Moscow! Much of the book revolves around the tragic case of TRIGON, one of our very best contacts in the Soviet government. She was mentally strong enough to weather the storm of doubters, people who thought she was somehow responsible for TRIGON's unmasking and subsequent death when she knew she wasn't. But, she never lost her humanity or even-tempered outlook. That comes from deep inner strength. Peterson is an American patriot, and this is one of the very best books about espionage and the toll it takes on our most courageous Americans.

[AntKathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insider Account

The story of CIA case officer Martha Peterson's arrest by the KGB has been told many times on TV and in books. However, this is a firsthand account of the significant contribution she made to the extremely successful Cold War operation running the Soviet spy Trigon in Moscow. As the first female case officer ever assigned to the Moscow CIA station, she was able to operate secretly under the noses of the KGB. The Widow Spy gives details left out in other accounts of Peterson's work for the CIA in Moscow. It is a complete record of the incredible job she did while stationed there, not just a footnote in other stories of Trigon's betrayal of the USSR. Well written and thorough, the only improvement that could have made this a five star review would be a better proofreader/editor for some of the minor errors in the text of the book. Martha Peterson and Trigon are heroes of the Cold War.

[K.D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother had this book on her shelf -- she'd heard the author speak in Wilmington, NC. Every time I visited, I'd read a little more....until I realized I needed to finish it all, because I was hooked. I'm not going to rate the writing, because this isn't an author who's been writing her entire life; so I'm going to rate the story. I am infinitely grateful that she shared her difficult & vibrant & deeply historical and political memories with me. It's a window into a time & a place that everyone should experience. Simply an amazing first-hand recollection, from a woman who defied convention at every turn.

[Books & Aerial · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnf at 90%
Disappointing in how misleading the subtitle turned out to be; not that many "adventures" in jungles of Laos and even less in that infamous Moscow prison, where the author stayed for less than 1 day...

It's a memoir, so a hodge-podge of sorts, mostly her time spent in Moscow as a CIA agent, "dropping packages" for other agents. She does share a bit of "tricks of the trade" but as to what documents she would receive or read - mouth shut. (I'm sure at this point most of them are declassified anyways.)
Other than that, between 25% and 80% of the audiobook we get very loosely threaded trivia: weather, people, food and a lot of descriptions on how her missions looked like from the technical as well as logistics side. Not very skillfully told, I'll add.

I found one comment of hers very "unprofessional" when she mentioned: "learning a useless one-country language"...
WOW, what do I say to ignorance of this kind?...
Then there was another about the way Soviet women dressed... Not much of an empath Ms.Peterson turns out to be.

audiobook via anyplay

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about the Cold War and spies during that time. For those of us old enough to remember this era, the book is an amazing account of what it was like then. The antiquated technology, the clandestine activities, the constant KGB surveillance. It also reminds us of how poor and backwards things were in the USSR at a time when they were the world’s second biggest super power. What a hoax to believe all that. In addition to the spy story line, the book is also a great reminder of how it was for working women in the seventies. I have been to The Spy Museum and it is fascinating to know how much is true and not just “James Bond”.
I was disappointed that she did not finish the book the way she started with a discussion my her children. I would have loved to hear their questions and thoughts while she explained all this to them (although that may be too personal).
The book was an easy read but it was written, so factually and dry that it was almost like a report or a journal log. So glad she included the photographs. I’m sure we will have a lively book club discussion.

[Christy R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book; I have a big appreciation for spy topics and women’s contributions to early intelligence operations. I also simply like Marti. Contrary to other reviewers, I found her diction easily digestible and delightful. Much better than dry and robotic documentation.
I only reduce a star because of the poor editing. That said, I worry a bigger editor would remove Marti’s personality from the book and make it less genuine.
The story itself is quite devastating. Her recounting of John’s death was profound, unique and important. The fate of TRIGON is disturbing after years of deteriorated health and productivity, during which the CIA should have informed him of his child and extracted him instead of selfishly pressing.
I relate to her consternation in a male dominated world. While dead drops are risky, I’m not sure I’d entirely consider myself covert spy status, but it’s courageous nonetheless.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd like to give this book 3.5 stars. Good story. I certainly hope the Spy Museum in D.C. changes its story in the room devoted to Ms. Peterson. But a couple of flaws that I wish had been addressed: 1) The ending was rather abrupt. And why no segue back to the beginning of the book, where she was telling this story to her teenage children? How did she meet her 2nd husband? Just a little epilogue would have been nice. 2) How did the KGB know where the drop point was on the bridge if the CIA's mole never told them? (don't want to give away any more here) And if Marti was sure she hadn't been followed there? 3) Does no one at the publisher's house know the difference between "loose" and "lose"?? 3 times "loose" appeared in this story, and in 2 of them "lose" should have been the proper spelling. Oh, my...

[Michelle Tootchen Small · Rating 3 out of 5]

I applaud Martha for telling her story, and appreciate the insight into her life and her service to our country. The title was a bit misleading in my opinion. There was a lot of description of her work in both Vietnam as a spouse and Moscow as a spy, but not as much about time in prison. I appreciated the detail and could definitely picture her life in Laos and Moscow, which are two places I have never been. My heart broke for her when she lost her first husband and I loved the way her story started with coming clean to her children about her past. I wish that had come full circle in the memoir, and wanted to learn more about her present day life and family. It will be interesting to go back to the Spy Museum knowing this full story. I read this book for a book club, and I am glad I did.

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a look into both the author's life as the wife of a CIA operative in Laos during the Vietnam War as well as her career after his death as a CIA operative stationed in Moscow in the 1970s. It was amazing to me how much of CIA life then was planning for dropping a package, dropping a package and picking it up. The amount of planning and patience needed to do this work is impressive.

The author is a former CIA operative, not a writer, so it isn't the most well-written book, but I found it interesting. I would have liked to hear about how her children integrated the knowledge of her past.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peterson lived a seriously badass life at a time when most women weren’t “allowed” to do what she did. Which is probably why she was good at it. The sexism is hard to stomach. The tension of the spy work is palpable. 4 stars for the story of her life.

I didn’t find her overly likable but also don’t think that’s the point. The book starts off telling her kids she’s a spy but then there was no follow up to that so it didn’t fit and should have been left out. The subtitle is misleading too, there’s no prison.

GR library doesn’t have the audiobook listed. The narrator was a poor choice but I got use to her squeaky voice.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book at my grandma’s house. It’s the autobiography of a young woman who was left widowed as a result of her husband’s service with the CIA in Laos. She then embarked on her own tour for the CIA in Moscow to carry on his legacy. The story itself was worthwhile but the writing was distractingly poor. It’s easy for me to forget how much I appreciate professional writing and professional storytelling until I read a book that lacks these elements. But I guess if I had to choose between living a life worth writing about and writing well, I would choose the former. So, I have a lot of respect for the author.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

2012. History. 262 pages. This is a true account of Martha Peterson’s CIA experiences when she was any women were working as CIA operatives. Women were expected to be the secretaries or the office workers. Martha Peterson started out as the wife of John Peterson, who served in Laos as CIA paramilitary. John was killed in action, after only a couple of years. Marti then decided to continue John’s work and join the CIA. She survived the prejudice, the rigorous officer training, the intensive language school, and was assigned to Moscow during the Cold War. Marti had-one advantage, prejudice. The KGB did not believe women could be CIA operatives much like the Americans believed. Therefore, she was almost never under surveillance. She was chosen to handle the spy, TRIGON. The book describes the frustration, fear and anger involved in working with another spy to perform dead drops and gather information. in the end, TRIGON was captured by the KGB. I do wonder why the CIA did not put more weight into TRIGON’s odd behavior shortly before they realized he was in a compromised position. This is a valuable quick read on the important and often forgotten women in our history. Martha Peterson is highlighted in a display at the International Spy Museum in Washington DC.

[K. Kidd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible story of a young woman who experienced more in her lifetime than anyone would ever want to. Starting with the heartbreaking death of her CIA husband John in Laos, to her harrowing dead drops in Moscow, this book is hard to put down. The strength and courage Martha Peterson needed in order to pursue intelligence and espionage work for the CIA is unbelievable. Keeping everything a secret all these years was a necessity of the job. Keeping secrets is what good spies are all about. It’s what CIA agents and handlers are trained to do. Highly recommend.

[Tricia Higgins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is so poorly edited that it distracts from an already overblown description of the author's contributions to the CIA. Very repetitious - particularly the emphasis on never being followed/considered to be a spy because of the author's gender. The initial part of the book leading up to the death of the author's husband is probably the most interesting. After that, there is a lot of either whining about being a woman in a man's world or actually boasting about it. Somewhat cringe worthy in the "pat myself on the back" department. Overall, I would rate this book as simply tiresome.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and enlightening story about a CIA operation in Moscow told by the person who was at the center of the activities. I am thankful for Ms. Peterson's service to our country both in Laos and then Russia. This is a great story that provides a small glimpse into the heroic and courageous lives of those who work quietly behind the scenes to ensure freedom and democracy around the world.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her story is fascinating. The writing is lacking: many loose ends not tied up. What did her children have to stay at the end of the story she began? That seemed important since she opened the story by telling them about secret career.
I know some of the key players in the book, which added an element of interest. What these spies did for the USA is amazing. She's a true American patriot.

[Jordison Francisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pesquisei The Widow Spy e pensei que a análise a seguir poderia ser útil.

Os usuários gostaram:

A atenção do autor aos detalhes permite que os leitores imaginem vividamente as cenas
A história é emocionante e cria suspense
O livro fornece informações sobre a vida de uma oficial da cia durante a Guerra Fria

Os usuários não gostaram:

A escrita é monótona e sem tensão
O livro precisava de melhor edição e revisão
A história não foi tão emocionante quanto esperado

[Dana Ridenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Widow Spy is a fascinating read written by Martha Peterson, one of the first female CIA Operatives in Moscow. Set during the back drop of the Cold War, the book gives readers an inside look into this secretive world of spies and espionage. Martha Peterson was definitely a trail blazer for women in law enforcement, especially in the CIA. I hardly ever read memoirs, but I found I couldn't put this book down.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging story about a woman that became a CIA operative after the death of her husband (also a CIA operative). I admire her strength, courage, and patriotism in the face of 1970s sexism. A quick read that was marred only by the horrendous editing. Grammatical errors? Really? No fault of the author, but annoying nonetheless.