Spy in the Russian Club

by Ronald Kessler

A look at the espionage of Glenn Michael Souther describes how the Navy man turned his back on his country to become a spy for the KGB, describing his relationships with women, his outrageous public behavior, and more. Reprint.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Ronald Kessler is the New York Times bestselling author of 21 non-fiction books about the Trump White House, Secret Service, FBI, and CIA.

Kessler began his career as a journalist in 1964 on the Worcester Telegram, followed by three years as an investigative reporter and editorial writer with the Boston Herald. In 1968, he joined the Wall Street Journal as an investigative reporter in the New York bureau. He became an investigative reporter with the Washington Post in 1970 and continued in that position until 1985.

Kessler's new book is "The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game."

Kessler has won eighteen journalism awards, including two George Polk awards--for national reporting and for community service. Kessler has also won the American Political Science Association's Public Affairs Reporting Award, the Associated Press' Sevellon Brown Memorial Award, and Washingtonian magazine's Washingtonian of the Year award. Franklin Pierce University awarded him the Marlin Fitzwater Medallion for excellence as a prolific author, journalist, and communicator. He is listed in Who's Who in America.

"Ron Kessler...has enjoyed a reputation for solid reporting over the past four decades." Lloyd Grove, The Daily Beast. "Kessler's such a skilled storyteller, you almost forget this is dead-serious nonfiction..." Newsweek. "[Ronald Kessler] is the man who broke the story about the [Secret Service prostitution] episode in Cartagena...." New York Times. "His [Kessler's] book quotes both flattering and unflattering observations about presidents of both parties." FactCheck.org. "[Ronald Kessler] is one of the nation's top investigative journalists." Fox & Friends. "Ron Kessler appears to get everything first." Slate.

Ron Kessler lives with his wife Pamela Kessler in the Washington, D.C. area. Also an author and former Washington Post reporter, Pam Kessler wrote "Undercover Washington: Where Famous Spies Lived, Worked and Loved." His daughter Rachel Kessler, an independent public relations consultant, and son Greg Kessler, an artist, live in New York.

Reviews

[Joni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given that the Navy and FBI somewhat bungled this by not investigating much earlier, it's no wonder that they would not have been very forthcoming about what secrets, specifically, Glenn Souther had access to, stole and passed on to the Russians. That being said, the details of his life and background reveal a lot about why he would do what he did. I knew Glenn and his finance' Ann, casually, when they lived upstairs from me in Norfolk so I found the psychology behind his personality to be very telling - it certainly explains a lot.

[Mike Harper · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for a better book. I happened to have known Glenn Souther, the subject of the book, when we served together in the U.S. Navy. But Kessler's examination of Souther's twisted personality and the potential damage he may have inflicted through his espionage activities falls dramatically short of compelling. It is dull, repetitive, and chock-a-block with unsupported speculation.

[Cws]

327.12

[Shelley Crosby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finally read this book after being interviewed for it many years ago. I was part of the church group that Glenn hung out with in Hammond, Indiana. I supplied the author with photos from our retreats and camps together during our teen years. The Glenn I knew was a great guy. I hardly recognize the person and the events outlined in this book.
I read the paperback version which appears to have been altered from the early hard cover edition I saw from friends years ago. It is missing the photos and many of the quotes I knew that friends gave regarding Glenn’s time with our group of friends.
I’m saddened by his life and feel terrible for what his mother went through. She was a wonderful person.

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author went into gratuitous detail about the subjects sex life. Why bother mentioning that Souther’s penis was 7 inches? Had it been 4 inches or 11 however, that would be of interest to me.
Glenn Southern, as described in the book, exhibits clear markings of Borderline Personality Disorder (low self image, frequent intense relationships, substance abuse, erratic behavior, and suicide) but the author fails to make the connection. It was right there.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Glenn Souther. Born in Hammond. Attended Munster HS. gave the Russians more info than any other spy.