Dead Doubles: The Portland Spy Ring and the Hunt for the KGB's Greatest Illegals

by Trevor Barnes

The dramatic arrest in London on January 7, 1961 of five Soviet spies made headlines worldwide and had repercussions around the globe. Alerted by the CIA, Britain's security service, MI5, had discovered two British spies stealing invaluable secrets from the highly sensitive submarine research center at Portland, UK.  Their controller, Gordon Lonsdale, was a Canadian who frequently visited a middle-aged couple, the Krogers, in their sleepy London suburb. But the seemingly unassuming Krogers were revealed to be deep cover American KGB spies—infamous undercover agents the FBI had been hunting for years—and they were just one part of an extensive network of Soviet operatives in the UK.

In the wake of the spies' sensational trial, the FBI uncovered the true identity of the enigmatic Lonsdale—Konon Molody, a Russian who had lived in California before being recruited by the KGB. Molody opened secret talks with MI5 to betray Russia, but before he had the chance, the KGB blackmailed Britain into spy swaps for him and the Krogers.

Based on revelatory, newly-released archival material and inside sources from around the world, Dead Doubles follows the hunt for the highly damaging Portland Spy Ring.  As gripping as a le Carré novel, this incredible narrative, layered with false identities, deceptions, and betrayal, crisscrosses from the UK to the USSR to the US, Canada, Europe and New Zealand, and brings to life one of the most extraordinary spy stories of the Cold War.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Espionage, Crime, War, Audiobook, Russia

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 8, 2020

Reviews

[Mircea Petcu · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Un thriller plin de intrigi". Cuvintele apartin judecatorului care a pronuntat sentintele.

[Jaksen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this through the Goodreads Giveaway program - thank you again!

However, a dnf but I feel I can rate it.

A very weighty, nonfiction and entirely complicated book concerning the uncovering of a huge spy ring. Yeah, that last bit is in the title!

I wanted so much to read, devour, understand this book and so I kept some notes and highlighted passages. I was truly 'into it,' until, on looking back on earlier notes realized I was hopelessly lost. I spent so much time backtracking, trying to remember who was who and who did what and when, etc. The writer does take a very matter-0f-fact approach, which I like, and though is not a 'wordy' writer, the subject gets so complex that twists and turns are necessary. This book, therefore, is really for the devoted spy story-lover, or those truly into nonfiction history, especially of the time period directly after WW2. I also need to say this: this writer knows his stuff.

I got halfway through, found some sections mesmerizing, re-read and re-noted those, but overall, was too lost to finish. I might try again in the future, but for now it's a dnf and four star rating.

[Afterwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable. The fascinating ins and outs of a spy ring that was discovered in 1960 and was under surveillance for a while after that. Very British in the sense that these spies were plain and ordinary, middle aged people living unremarked in dull English suburbs where people mind their own business.

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

OMG, dry, dry, dry... had some really interesting parts.. but dry, dry, dry....

2 stars

Happy Reading!

[Ian Racey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an engaging enough read, but I’m left with the impression that the discovery, investigation and apprehension of the Portland/Lonsdale spy ring wasn’t enough to sustain a whole book, since all of that is finished before the reader has even reached the midway point. The remainder of the text then becomes a series of lengthy accounts, first of the five spies’ trial (relevant), then of the five separate decade-long prison terms they served, in detail (… less relevant), then for each spy in turn a biography of their lives up until they were spying in Britain (relevant again) and then of their lives after their releases (again veering toward the less relevant). So, it was good, but I feel like I’ve read a series of about five tangentially related longform articles, not all of which are articles I’d have read if they were separated out.

[Bettie]

Ethel the spy: the enigmatic spinster who sold Britain’s secrets to the USSR. Ethel Gee, a lowly clerk, was a valuable KGB mole in 1960s Britain. Telegraph article by @trevorwbarnes, author of Dead Doubles, a new book on the Portland Spy Ring out today

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A detailed history of the Portland Spy Ring, with special focus on Konon Molody, the Russian-born, American-raised spy who usurped the identity of a deceased Canadian, Gordon Lonsdale, to create a new life in London. Embedded in the Western world, he ran a spy network that included two employees at the Naval research site in Portland, and the Krogers, a married couple of American origin whose quiet suburban life as antiquarian booksellers provided great cover for clandestine activities.

I enjoyed the various strands of the story coming together : an employee of the naval base receiving an antisemitic anonymous letter and triggering a closer look at Houghton, the local spy, and his girlfriend Ethel Gee. Intel from within Russia providing clues as to the identity of the spies. Laborious shadowing andsurveillance by MI5. Technical breakthroughs, gadgetry, spycraft. And then the aftermath : the exchange of Gordon Lonsdale and the Krogers, and the prison terms of Houghton and Gee.

The story is not entirely complete and there are gaps that don't make a lot of sense. Some of this is probably due to the fact that deception and lies are second nature to spies, some of it is due to the fact that some documents are still classified (in the Western world) or locked in the archives (in Putin's Russia), but some of it is due to the writing style. The author definitely geared this volume to people with an interest in Cold War espionage, and it helps to know who Kim Philby and Fuchs were. I do applaud the inclusion of maps and a list of characters.

[Peter Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was inspired to read this book having enjoyed a local amateur dramatic production of Hugh Whitemore’s play “Pack of Lies”, which focused on the experiences of the Search family of Ruislip whose neighbours turned out to be KGB spies. This aspect of what became known as the Portland Spy Ring is, of course, included in “Dead Doubles”, although frustratingly not in the detail I had hoped for having listened to Gay Search’s fascinating story on a podcast.

I found “Dead Doubles” factually rich but lacking in finesse. In the hands of a story-teller, this book could have been gripping. Instead, Trevor Barnes opts to share all the historical artefacts he has unearthed in his impressive research on the Portland Spy Ring in the manner of a student eager to impress an examiner by throwing all their knowledge into their answer, hoping that some of it may score some marks.

I would also have liked to have seen a set of illustrations of the main protagonists and locations referenced in the text. Many are readily available on the internet but presumably the author couldn’t afford to licence them for inclusion in his book.

There is a fantastic book to be written about the Portland Spy Ring in- unfortunately “Dead Doubles” isn’t it.

[Ashish · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dead Doubles" by Trevor Barnes is an electrifying real-life spy thriller that takes you deep into the clandestine world of Cold War espionage.

The book engrosses with its portrayal of the notorious Portland Spy Ring, delivering a kaleidoscope of intrigues related to code breaking, false identities and treachery. As a reader, I was enthralled by Barnes' meticulous research and elegant prose, which breathed life into the shadowy figures wandering in the streets of 1960s Britain. The narrative was masterfully woven, revealing the intricate game of intelligence bit by bit. Barnes' storytelling skill leaves you with an intense anticipation as the cat-and-mouse chase unfolds. Operating in a sphere where misinformation was just as deadly as a bullet, "Dead Doubles" definitely does justice to the complexity of the spy world.

This thrilling narrative is a must-read for all fans of espionage history!

[E_F_S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Doubles is a slowly absorbing read. The first two chapters are densely packed with the facts setting up the premise of taking down the Portland (U.K.) Spy ring. Just stick with it! There's an alphabetized list of all the players involved in the beginning of the book as well as a list of abbreviations for easy reference in keeping the plot straight. Once the reader hits the third and forth chapters, the various "story" lines are interwoven with clarity and the action is relentless. At some in the second section, I had to remind myself I was reading a factual account. That's how seamless and riveting the writing is. If you like spy history and Cold War accounts, Dead Doubles is a worthy read.

Note: I read this in between two Mick Herron Slough House novels.

[Roberta Westwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding

Wow. This was one of the best books on real life spies I have read. There are five spies at the centre of the story. First, you learn about them as MI5 figures them out, then take them down (most exciting). The book then follows the trials, imprisonment, spy exchanges and life afterwards. Then, a fresh perspective is provided, via life and spy stories from Moscow’s perspective. Lots of spy signal details (“a man scratching his left ear with a bandaged finger” etc)… you’ll learn what dentists and combs have to do with it.
As an audiobook, I appreciated the inclusion of the accompanying PDF: this was great for putting together the pieces, such as the spies (they all have multiple names!), the MI5 players, the maps, etc. (I colour coded my copy).

[Krepde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing anything about espionage has one major hurdle. The subjects lie. Trevor Barnes has weaved his way round such obstacles with meticulous research to provide a fascinating overview of a case that shook Britain in the early 60s. The only flaw is that you finish the book still feeling that you don’t know the nature of the characters as well as you might wish. But isn’t that always the case with people whose trade is subterfuge and treachery? A fine book that provides an in-depth study of the Portland spy ring and opens up intriguing questions regarding others who may have been operating at other secret locations in Britain at the same time.

[Nate Hendrix · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really interesting to read about what it took to catch spies in 1950s and 1960s England. Surveillance was difficult due to a lack of cars on the road. MI5 actually moved into people's homes with them in order to watch a neighbor. I'm trying to picture that today. The doorbell rings. "Hello Hendrix family this is the FBI and we would like to have an agent stay in your spare room to watch the neighbor down the street"
Book nerd moment Able is mentioned in this book. A spy I knew about because I read Bridge of Spies by Giles Whittell after watching Bridge of Spies the Tom Hanks movie.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barnes provides a fascinating look at a case study of the Russian illegals program. Overall the book is well written and Barnes takes advantage of his ability to follow the lives of the Russian agents after their release from prison. Barnes mostly avoids getting caught up in his own fascination with the illegal program and does a very good job at characterizing how national intelligence programs work. For readers today, Barnes highlights the parallels between the KGB and FSB and the Russian mentality towards strategic spycraft.

[Mhd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly interesting given the rather sterile writing. Overall, a good book but not something you just sit down and read right through. My main take-away is it's very surprising that anything substantive comes of international spy rings: breakthroughs seem to come from luck or from the other side's incompetence. It reminded me that I hadn't seem the movie "The Bridge of Spies" for a while, so I re-watched it. This book did enhance the details of that event.

[Thanasis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Το βιβλίο περιγράφει την ανακάλυψη ενός δικτύου κατασκόπων στην Μεγάλη Βρετανία στις αρχές της δεκαετίας του '60.

Ο τρόπος που στρατολογήθηκαν αυτοί οι άνθρωποι, ο τρόπος που έπαιρναν τις πληροφορίες, ο τρόπος που επικοινωνούσαν μεταξύ τους κλπ ήταν όπως στα μυθιστορήματα του Τζον Λε Καρρέ.

Επόμενα στην λίστα τα: Strangers on a Bridge: The Case of Colonel Abel and Francis Gary Powers και Bridge of Spies: A True Story of the Cold War.

[Will Deez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrilling read! I loved how the book starts by explaining the spy ring that was ran by seemingly average joes. Two of the spies being an elderly couple. However, the spies were fiercely loyal to their respective causes.

Their methods were incredible. The final chapters explain the origin stories. Remarkable to read how much influence the cohens had, especially Lona with her espionage work at los Alamos.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, extremely intriguing. I feel like I learned so much. I listened to this on Chirp Books (highly recommend this app) and probably almost listened twice with the number of times I rewound and listened again.
This true story had me saying "wowwww" so many times. I found myself excitedly telling my husband about the spies, the information, the efforts MI5, and more. I will most likely listen again. 5 stars, easily.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book focusing on the histories and retellings of the spy ring that was in England and were stealing British intelligence secrets to give to the Soviets. The lengths that these spies went to in order to smuggle out these plans to their Soviet counterparts makes it almost like the old spy movies. But I guess all fiction can be based in reality.

I would like to read another of Mr. Barnes' books.

I did receive a copy as part of a goodreads giveaway.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a complete eye opening book. I had no idea the great lengths the Soviet Union used to spy on the world. It was full of extremely factional information. From how the spies were caught. To before they were spies and to what happened after they were caught.
I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn more about espionage.

[Mh Weyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the most exciting spy story I have ever read but still quite interesting. Unlike others, there is no mystery to the story. It is spelled out quite clearly. And they are tracked down in the first few chapters, leaving you to wonder what the rest of the book contains. It fills in the picture without bogging it all down.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting story about British KGB spies. It was a bit hard to follow initially until I got used to all the different characters. Some of the English customs and vernacular was also a bit of a challenge.

I do not have much tolerance for stealing secrets like this so it left me kind of angry.

[Mat]

SFBR4.5 : Dead Doubles is an absorbing view of an investigation of a spy ring and the personalities embedded in the ring. The danger of the times is conveyed in a tangible way, where the reader is engrossed in the triumphs and pitfalls of the investigation. The author does an admirable job in his portrayal of the spies and their motives. A most enjoyable read!

[CQM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't often listen to audiobooks, but this was on Spotify, and the reader was very good.
I expect a lot of people have a vague knowledge of the Portland spy ring, but Trevor Barnes' investigation throws up some fascinating details, and, having grown up not far from Ruislip, I'll be seeing spies everywhere next time I'm passing through.

[Clayton Kessler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! A non-Fiction deep dive into espionage that fills in the gaps and connects the reader to other books and movies about the events of the cold war. All while providing plenty of drama, intrigue and suspense.

[India · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most gripping books I have ever read. At some points it's hard to believe it's non-fiction as it reads like a spy thriller. The Portland Spy Ring case is thoroughly enthralling and this book is so, so we'll written.

[Kevin Riehle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meticulously researched and interestingly written. The book does a good job showing both the strains of being a Soviet intelligence illegal and the complexities of a counterintelligence service trying to investigate illegals.

[PAUL · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent account of the Portland Spy ring. Meticulously researched and well written.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a rare book that I feel would be better as a tv show or movie. The overall information is interesting, but the explanations are soooo long. A very verbose book.

[Ernest Spoon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not find this book engaging. It seemed rather lifeless, drab perhaps, like Harry Houghton and Ethel Gee.