A Spy in Plain Sight: The Inside Story of America's Most Damaging Russian Spy and the Implications for National Security Today

by Lis Wiehl

New York Times bestselling author and former federal prosecutor Lis Wiehl delivers a behind-the-scenes account of how FBI agent Robert Hanssen, a church-going father of five, sold national security secrets to Russia for more than two decades--and how America's current political climate makes it still possible today. Three years into his career as an FBI agent, Robert Hanssen made the shocking decision to volunteer as a spy for the Soviet Union, beginning two decades of espionage that the Department of Justice considers "possibly the worst intelligence disaster in US history." Drawing upon deep archival research and exclusive personal interviews--including unique access to FBI and CIA agents and Hanssen's friends and family--former federal prosecutor and Fox News legal analyst Lis Wiehl has written a propulsive, page-turning thriller detailing how this unassuming father of five, a devout Catholic and member of Opus Dei, got away with sharing highly classified information with Russia, including the names of FBI operatives within the KGB and details about America's military weapons operations. When FBI agents--with help from an ex-KGB officer--arrested Hanssen in 2001, the resulting investigations laid bare the weaknesses in the FBI's internal security. In her careful analysis, Wiehl uncovers surprising reasons behind Hanssen's devastating acts of betrayal and sheds light on the very real possibility of another mole in operation today, particularly given our current social and political climate.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Espionage, True Crime, Audiobook, American History, Biography

336 pages, Hardcover

First published August 2, 2022

About the author

Lis Wiehl is a New York Times bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction books, a journalist, an attorney, and a legal expert. She is the former legal analyst for Fox News, former co-host of WOR radio's “WOR Tonight with Joe Concha and Lis Wiehl,” and was an anchor for the Law & Crime network (a multi-media live trial network). Lis Wiehl hosted the podcast Pursuit of Justice with Lis Wiehl and until recently was an adjunct professor of Law at New York Law School. Lis is the author of eighteen books, including the first in The Hunting Series, Hunting Charles Manson: The Quest for Justice in the Days of Helter Skelter, out in paperback from Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins on June 25, 2019.

Lis Wiehl is one of the nation’s most highly regarded commentators and legal experts. After graduating from Harvard Law School, Wiehl practiced law in a private law firm in Seattle where she also wrote by-lined articles on legal issues for The New York Times. From there she went on to become a third generation federal prosecutor (her grandfather and her father — an FBI agent — were also federal prosecutors) in the US Attorney's Office in Seattle. She served as the Deputy Chief Investigative Counsel for Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee during President Clinton’s impeachment. From 1995 to 2001, she was a tenured law professor at the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, where she ran the Trial Advocacy Program, which won several national awards during her tenure.

During her time at the University of Washington, Wiehl also stepped deeper into journalism by working as a reporter and legal analyst for NPR's All Things Considered, MSNBC/NBC News, and locally at KIRO, the CBS network affiliate in Seattle. After MSNBC and National Public Radio, Wiehl moved to the Fox News Channel where she served as a legal analyst and reporter for over fifteen years. During her time at the Fox News Channel, she appeared on numerous shows including The O'Reilly Factor, Your World with Neil Cavuto, The Kelly File with Megyn Kelly, Lou Dobbs Tonight, and the Imus morning show. Wiehl also hosted the Legal Lis radio show and the Wiehl of Justice podcast.

In 2005, Wiehl released her first book, Winning Every Time: How to Use the Skills of a Lawyer in the Trials of Your Life. Two years later she released The 51% Minority: How Women Still Are Not Equal and What You Can Do About It which was awarded the 2008 award for Books for a Better Life in the motivational category. Since then, Wiehl has continued to write bestselling books of fiction and non-fiction.

Lis Wiehl continues to appear in the media as a legal expert and commentator for organizations including CNN, CBS, NBC, and NPR among others. She regularly lectures at colleges and universities, appears as a keynote speaker, and speaks at bookstores, conferences, and literary festivals.
Wiehl earned her Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, her Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Queensland, and a bachelor’s degree from Barnard College, Columbia University.

Lis Wiehl currently lives near New York City.

For more information please visit www.liswiehlbooks.com.

Reviews

[Rowan MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

How well do you know your neighbour or colleague? Imagine if someone you saw each day, someone you worked with, turned out to be someone entirely different. Imagine if they were dangerous, responsible for the deaths of others, and regarded as the most damaging spy in history. The story of Robert Hanssen reads like an intricate Bond film, or Le Carré novel - only it’s real life.

“He’s the Man Behind the Curtain, the one you never see but who is watching you all the time.”

Lis Wiehl is the daughter of a former FBI agent, but still managed an unbiased approach to the story. She certainly had no problem highlighting the FBI incompetence which led to Hanssen being able to operate undetected as a spy for twenty years. His KGB handler estimated the total value of his espionage to have been $10 billion!

An exhaustive amount of research has been poured into this book, with an impressive array of people and sources listed in the back. Wiehl had access to a range of CIA and FBI personnel, Hanssen’s best friend, brother-in-law, psychiatrist and others. It all helped build an intimate picture of the infamous spy. Turns out, he was quite the monster.

It’s so heavy on detail that it can be confusing – even for someone, like myself, who reads a lot of non-fiction. Changing time-frames were jarring too, but I found myself hooked once I settled in.

There were so many mentions of dead-drops, packages, classified documents, codes and fake names. It was entertaining chaos and exciting to read, even when knowing the outcome. I'll never look at a footbridge the same again!

“Studying the ever-growing dead-drop sites, one begins to wonder if espionage could exist at all without sylvan parks and footbridges to hide packages and payments under.”

I enjoyed the inclusion of letters between Hanssen and handlers - they brought the story to life. Lis Wiehl made me feel like I was suddenly privy to secret information! The comparison to other well-known spies was interesting - in particular to Rick Ames, who was operating (unknowingly) at the same time and reporting to the same handler.

The treatment of Brian Kelley (wrongfully suspected by authorities of being the mole) was heartbreaking. I felt quite sorry for his widow. The many red flags against Hanssen, as highlighted extensively by Wiehl, made me wonder how they ever thought it was anyone but Hanssen.

It was intriguing to read how they spied on Hanssen once they knew it was him. Wiehl was able to build tension with the resultant capture too. His words to arresting officers sounded like something out of a film.

“What took you so long?”

Wiehl concluded with psychiatric perspectives on Hanssen; his motives and the traits that allowed him to operate for so long (extreme compartmentalisation) - I could read a whole book on the psychology of such people. The final chapter on the state of democracy and security risks wasn’t as strong. Somewhat paranoia-inducing, it seems clear there will be more cases like this in the years to come.

If you like James Bond, Le Carré , The Americans, or simply enjoy an espionage film once in a while, then this is compulsory reading.

“Please, at least say goodbye. It’s been a long time my dear friends, a long and lonely time.”

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Spy in Plain Sight is the fourth book I've read about FBI double agent Robert Hanssen, and it's probably the weakest. As a telling of the Hanssen story, it is somewhat non-linear, often lurching forward or doubling back on the timeline of Hanssen's decades-long espionage career, and detailing the stories of Hanssen's personal weirdness out of sequence and, at times, without adequate context. There's a glibness about Wiehl's writing style, too, that seems more suited to the blurb on the back of the book than the story being told within. If you're going into this book without much background knowledge of the Hanssen case, hoping to have a grasp on the whole saga by the time you reach its conclusion, you might just find yourself frustrated. David A. Vise's The Bureau and the Mole: The Unmasking of Robert Philip Hanssen, the Most Dangerous Double Agent in FBI History may be two decades old, but it remains superior to Wiehl's 2022 offering. Yet A Spy in Plain Sight is not without merit, particularly when it comes to relaying the perspectives of various people involved in the investigation that belatedly nailed Hanssen. It also documents some of the changes within the U.S. intelligence community in the 20 years since Hanssen's incomparably damaging mole work. Thus, despite being inferior to its predecessors, A Spy in Plain Sight is able to offer something they could not. Whether that's enough to make it worth reading probably depends on just how interested you are in real-life spy stories.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Went into this not really remembering anything about Hanssen's story. Thought this was well-written, very interesting. I did this on audio and Wiehl does the narration herself which is perfect for her very conversational writing style here. Didn't necessarily care for chapter 24 on the analysis of Hanssen. Everything else was very interesting.

[Ginger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, well researched, and full of facts. At times, it felt like a presentation one would write for an assignment at university concerning structural failures within our intelligence departments. I was hoping for more of a novel approach.

[Sheri Maxey-Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced read up to chapter 25--an absolutely unnecessary chapter.

[Melynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fantastic right up until the end chapter when the author went off about the now disproven Russia collusion conspiracy theory during the 2016 elections. I would have given it five stars if she had stopped just prior to her ideological filled rant. Knowing what I know about how dark Russia has been in terms of intelligence penetration over the past 25+ years, I can see how some might have conjectured Russian interference, but now that the facts have been laid bare by Mueller’s investigation & current court cases, it’s time to set that conspiracy theory aside.

[Kevin Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pain to read—it’s like a half-finished rough draft. Clearly well researched but the material isn’t brought together logically at all.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Edelweiss for the arc! Super interesting story, it was a little tough to read but I'm not much of a nonfiction reader. I do love how thorough the author was in the details and timeline of this story. She really built the full picture of Hanssen's betrayal. I had never learned about this case and I was really excited to read more into it. All in all, I would recommend especially to habitual non-fiction readers.

[Mj · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read chapter 25 first, so you know her bias. But enjoyed the book.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly interesting!! Shocking how much he got away with selling and how he evaded capture for so many years.

[Polianna (moze_booka) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75

[Scott Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I realize it's easy in hindsight to see the clues but pretty stunning that Hanssen got away with being a spy for so long.

Very strange guy that seemed to stay under the radar in part because of how strange he was.

[Jlauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting/educational read about an FBI agent who passed secrets to the Russians and avoided detection for decades. He was arrested in 2001. I don’t remember ever hearing about this guy, Robert Hanssen.
Can’t really recommend this book because it turns out Hanssen was a real scumbag and the book goes into some details about his depravity. Also a handful of swear words.
Two things I took from this book: the FBI and CIA clearly are not as impressive as they seem upon first glance, and OH MY GOODNESS the number of agencies, divisions, commissions, inspections, etc etc that have to be created or have to funnel information through to even begin to track down the spy in their midst, is quite frankly horrifying.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a good read with interesting inside information. I was hoping for more details on how Hanssen operated, how he kept it secret, and how he was caught and monitored - especially the time between when the FBI knew how he was and eventually arrested him. These things were covered, but I was looking for a deeper dive. I’d recommend it for anyone interested in learning more about this case.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is full of way too much detail. Unless you are part of the upper echelon of federal law enforcement, there are too many people to keep track of. If you really want to read this book, I recommend fast forwarding to parts six and seven. Otherwise, it's overwhelming to attempt to keep track of the minute detail the author lays out.

[Paul Calamia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story, badly written.

[Jackspear217 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fakty zawarte w tej książce mogłyby posłużyć za scenariusz kolejnego filmu o Jamesie Bondzie. Ukryty na widoku to historia o najgroźniejszym szpiegu w dziejach USA, obejmująca kilka dziesięcioleci jego "pracy" , aż do momentu, kiedy wpadł, rozpracowany przez swoich kolegów z FBI. Sam opis działania kreta w najsłynniejszej agencji szpiegowskiej jest bardzo pasjonujący i doskonale przedstawiony przez autorkę, która pochodzi z rodziny agentów i była też prokuratorem generalnym, ale to co mnie najbardziej zainteresowało to końcówka książki. Jest to analiza charakteru Roberta Hanssena i znalezienie przyczyn, dla których zdecydował się zdradzić własny kraj, nieraz wydając wyroki na swoich kolegów, działających pod przykryciem w innych państwach. To także wykaz obecnych zagrożeń z jakimi muszą się mierzyć agencje wywiadowcze, w dobie powszechnej cyfryzacji, innych sposobów na przekazywanie danych ale i innych dróg do prowadzenia wrogich kampanii, przez organizacje i jednostki, niewyglądające już jak te z czasów Zimnej Wojny. Książka przedstawia amerykański punkt widzenia na te sprawy, ale można łatwo odnieść założenia w niej zawarte na inne kraje, wszak służby sojuszniczych państw ze sobą współpracują i zmagają się z podobnymi problemami. Autorka zadaje pytanie czy przypadek, który opisuje może się powtórzyć i niestety dochodzi do wniosku, że tak. Robi to w sposób interesujący i sprawia, że książka wciąga bez reszty. To jest po prostu wszystko bardzo dobrze napisane, a do tego jeszcze bardziej interesujące, bo zdarzyło się naprawdę. Podsumowując ta książka przypadnie do gustu fanom szpiegowskich thrillerów, jak i miłośnikom literatury faktu, bo umiejętnie łączy cechy tych dwóch gatunków literackich. Serdecznie polecam!!! Gwarantuję, że nie będziecie mogli się od niej oderwać!!!
Za książkę dziękuję @znakhoryzont

[mariuszowelektury · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Ukryty na widoku” to historia agenta FBI, który przez ponad dwie dekady był szpiegiem sowieckim a później rosyjskim. Autorka na podstawie dostępnej dokumentacji, rozmów z osobami zaangażowanymi w śledztwo, jego bliskimi i współpracownikami odtwarza proces zaangażowania się w działalność szpiegowską, opisuje krok po kroku śledztwo zmierzające do jego wykrycia. Nie oszczędza również tych, którzy powinni zapewniać ochronę kontrwywiadowczą, wskazując tzw. “smużki dymu”, które były ignorowane, mylnie interpretowane.

Książka rzuca światło na wiele różnorodnych aspektów tej historii: od predyspozycji wynikających z opresyjnego wychowania przez ojca; zamierzone lub nie kierowanie swoim życiem tak, by stać się szpiegiem (wybór studiów, małżeństwo); wpływ Opus Dei, do którego należał na postrzeganie świata, a także nieustanne podkreślanie katolickiego, konserwatywnego światopoglądu, za pośrednictwem, którego tłumaczone były różne jego “dziwadztwa”; kończąc na kulturze pracy w służbach, która daleko odbiega od oczekiwanych założeń. Hanssen wykorzystuje każde niedociągnięcie, nieprzestrzeganie procedur, towarzyskie zależności, by osiągnąć zamierzony cel, a służby śledcze nie stosując tajemnicy służbowej, opierając się na nieformalnych zależnościach prowadzą śledztwo na manowce, oskarżając niewinnych ludzi, ignorując z góry pewne hipotezy. Czasem można odnieść wrażenie, że większym problemem jest biurokratyzacja, kultura pracy a nie szpieg.

Autorka, była prokuratorka i córka agenta FBI, w ciekawy sposób opowiada tą historię, dokumentując nie tylko szpiegowskie działania, ale pokazując je z różnych perspektyw, pogłębiając psychologię postaci i pokazując bezwład jaki panuje przez dekady w służbach.

Interesująca książka non fiction, którą miejscami czyta się jak powieść szpiegowską.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wiehl does a great job retelling the facts about Robert Hanssen. The narrative is engaging, including eyewitness accounts and quotes from those involved in the investigation.
I believe her goal is to explain Hanssen’s acts of espionage, investigate whether or not he “fit the bill” as your stereotypical spy, understand how he slipped through the cracks, and explore the possibilities of “another Hanssen.” She spent a lot more time discussing Hanssen and his espionage than spies as a whole. Personally, I think it would’ve been better if she had spent a bit more time exploring the typical red flags of a spy, as well as much more time at the end discussing the possibilities of another Hanssen. It would’ve added much more depth and clarity to the book, especially because the layout leads one to believe there would be more content on spies as a whole. Another way it could’ve been improved is if she cut out information about other spies and the possibility of another Hanssen and just focused on him. The way she left it is good, the analysis just feels a little lacking. However, she explained the events with great detail and put the reader into the story.
I also appreciated her acknowledgement of both opinions of controversial issues about this topic. Rather than simply stating one side, she explored the arguments of both parties and let the reader come to their own conclusion. The way she writes is engaging and entertaining, yet professional and neutral. It is apparent that she researched this case well and has a thorough knowledge of the whole process. It didn’t feel like I was reading a report about an FBI investigation; rather, I felt as if I was helping catch a master spy. Over all, it was a very informational and enjoyable read.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read other books about Robert Hanssen and listened to the podcast “Agent of Betrayal”. Much of the content of the podcast comes from this book, a somewhat different look at not only Hanssen, but Aldrich Ames, and one other spy of the times. Compartmentalization is key to Hanssen’s ability to fool so many friends, relatives, and fellow bureau and agency connections, for such a long time. The real travesty in the story is the hard core investigation of Brian Kelley, someone intimately involved in many prominent cases, he seemed to be a likely suspect even though so many indicators were pointing other places. Probably ruined his life. Another outstanding factor was the extreme religious right. It was frequently identified as a conflict in personal, professional, and religious actions. Such supposedly religious people doing so many bad things is mind boggling, then and today as well. Overall, a good read.

[Michelle Skelton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lis Wiehl's "A Spy in Plain Sight" offers an in-depth look at the notorious FBI agent Robert Hanssen, who sold secrets to Russia for over two decades. The book is meticulously researched, with exclusive insights from FBI and CIA agents, and Hanssen's personal circle.

Wiehl delves into Hanssen's complex personal life, highlighting his troubled marriage and social awkwardness. His marriage woes, marked by infidelities and a strained relationship with his wife, reveal a man living a double life not just professionally but personally. These details add depth to Hanssen's psychological portrait, showing how his personal failings paralleled his professional betrayal.

However, the dense bureaucracy and exhaustive detail sometimes make the narrative feel convoluted. While the thorough research is commendable, the book's intricate structure can be challenging to follow, detracting from an otherwise fascinating story of espionage.

[Tomasz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wydawnictwu Znak Horyzont dziękuję, bo odmłodziło mnie o jakieś trzydzieści lat - cofnęło do czasów, kiedy książki były tłumaczone przez osoby angielski znające ze słyszenia i nazwy, nie istniała Wikipedia, i nawet okularów nie potrzebowałem.
Matkobosko.
Sama książka Wiehl to nic szczególnego, ale jej polskie wydanie Z ROKU 2024 (nadal nie wierzę) kwalifikuje się, luzikiem, do ścisłej czołówki największych edytorskich nieporozumień dekady. Literalnie tłumaczone idiomy ("psia buda", szapoba, gamonie) i generalnie tłumaczenie robione ze słownikiem w dłoni, słowo po słowie, czasem nawet z angielską składnią. Przypis od redakcji wprost kłócący się z tekstem, do którego się odnosi. Zero chęci sprawdzenia, czy przywoływane książki miały polskie wydania (wspomnienia Philby'ego, na przykład, miały). Żałość i zgroza.

[Kim Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Spy in Plain Sight by Lis Wiehl is an in-depth look at Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent who sold secrets to the Russians for over two decades. Sadly, I had never heard of him! This occurred at that same time as the Aldrich Ames scandal, yet I missed this one completely.
The book had a non-linear timeline at points, which caused some confusion. However, the narrative is engaging and meticulously researched, including eyewitness accounts and quotes from FBI and CIA agents involved in the investigation.
Hanssen's betrayal shines a light on structural failures within our intelligence departments that allowed him to evade capture for so many years.
I listened to the audiobook with Wiehl providing the narration herself which added an extra spark.

[Joel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Spy in Plain Sight was a great book. The story about Robert Hansen, a FBI agent who turned into a Russian spy, kept me engaged throughout the whole book. The author, Lis Wiehl, did a fantastic job researching the subject matter and presenting it as an intriguing story. It was amazing how the bureaucracy of the FBI and CIA effectively enabled this traitor to share some of the U.S.’s most classified secrets with the Russians over a 20 year period. If I have one small criticism of the book, it’s that sometimes I was uncertain who was talking as often it wasn’t explicitly stated. Otherwise, it was a great read and I highly recommend it to others.

[Elynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember when news of this spy broke. I was fascinated by the story. This book gave a really good picture of Robert Hanssen as a spy as well as why he went undiscovered for so long. Overall the story telling did a good job of not getting bogged down with too many details. There were a few sections that were a little slow paced, but overall kept my attention. I was definitely rooting for him to get caught.

[Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would give this book 0 stars if I could. Most of the book is filled with irrelevant detail, with a confusing non-linear timeline. It is also extremely dry.


The thing that got me the most was that the author pointed out what she thought the FBI and CIA should have done. I don't care. Tell me what they did to catch him. Tell me the real history.

This book was about Robert Hanssen, sort of. It was a thinly veiled democratic agenda.

[Tamara Estes · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the author might be a contributor to Fox News, she obviously is very anti-Republican and anti-conservative values. I wanted to read a good book about Hanssen without politics being laced through it like this book does.

The book jumps all over the place, while interesting in parts, it is hard to keep track where in the story she is at points.

[Terry Solfest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative book about the Robert Hanssen story, but more importantly about the aftermath and how agencies are dealing with security going forward. I found the last chapter particularly chilling. Not just national security issues but power grids and banking and finance. Very timely also in light of the indictment of Donald Trump! I also really liked the writing style.

[AnnWithGlasses · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating to learn more about the FBI and the world of spies and counter spies. Unfortunately, the book was a slog due to dull writing. I finally gave up 75% through the book. Too bad. If it had been written in a more engaging style and less like a PhD dissertation, it could've been a page-turner.

[Lexi Mag · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was clearly very well researched, but it felt like a bunch of personal stories and anecdotes about Hansen, but not put together in a way that I felt was easy to follow. I was hoping for more of a story. To me, this felt like reading a bunch of editorials written by different people stitched together.