Spy

by Kit Bennetts

The inside story of the Bill Sutch spy scandal by the agent who potted him.In 1975 Kit Bennetts was one of the youngest officers ever to serve in the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. Fresh out of training, on routine surveillance duty one night he followed a big Mercedes from the Soviet Embassy in Wellington and witnessed a meeting between a KGB officer and an unknown man. That man turned out to be Dr William Sutch, one of New Zealand's most eminent citizens. Five months later, after more surveillance and a major sting, Sutch was arrested and charged with passing information to the Russians.A spectacular trial ensued — New Zealand's only epionage trail, ever — at which Sutch was acquitted, only to die seven months later. Thirty years aon, and with the recent release of the Mitrokhin archives, fascination with the case and speculation about whether Sutch was indeed a KGB mole endures.Spy marks the first time an SIS officer has ever gone public. Fast paced, humorous, it details how the SIS got their man, only to lose the case against him in court.

321 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 31, 2014

Reviews

[Angus McLean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read from someone at the coal face of NZ's biggest spy case.

Bennetts waited 30 years before publishing his book, but it is still relevant and very well written. Recommended to anyone with an interest in espionage.