A Taste for Treason: The Letter That Smashed a Spy Ring

by Andrew Jeffrey

When Dundee housewife Mary Curran became suspicious of flamboyant hairdresser Jessie Jordan’s frequent trips to Nazi Germany in 1937, she could not have known that she would become one of the world’s most successful amateur spycatchers

Thanks to Mary’s tip-off, MI5 and the FBI began major spy hunts on both sides of the Atlantic and security services in other countries rounded up yet more nests of Nazi spies. And so, again thanks to Mary, the Anglo-American special intelligence relationship was born.

Featuring parallel Nazi espionage plots in Europe and North America that converged on a Scottish post office and set against a dramatic background of mounting international tension, this is a story shot through with all the staples of spy thrillers – seedy traitors, alluring femmes fatales, sinister Nazi thugs and glamorous movie stars. And all of it is true.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 2022

Reviews

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very historical and factual but I found it a bit too much like reading for a school project back when I was more interested in anything but schoolwork. Just a bit too dull for my liking but if this is something that you are really interested in finding out more about then you will no doubt love this book. It's clear the author has a great passion for the topic and must have done a huge amount of research. Don't let my rating put you off if the book sounds like your thing.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I love a good spy story, I have mixed feelings about this book. This is a well-researched factual accounting of wartime espionage, and the title refers to the main story. Mary Curran became suspicious of hair salon owner Jessie Jordan's frequent trips to Nazi Germany. And why was Jessie hand-drawing maps of the waterfront? Once Mary turns to the authorities, a trap is set and a multi-continent spy hunt begins.

Interspersed throughout this main story are numerous other stories, running in length from just a few paragraphs to pages which, unfortunately, disrupt the continuity of the main story. Due to the large number of names of spies, spy hunters, civilians, locations, etc. it was hard to remember who was who and keep storylines straight (especially since Europeans seem to have four surnames!). I would still recommend those interested in the subject read the book, just be aware that this isn’t an easy-breezy read. At least, it wasn’t for me.

It’s chilling to learn what people will do for money, blood money actually. Handing over naval ciphers, blueprints, technical reports and specifications for money, and not caring that hundreds, if not thousands, could pay the ultimate price for greed.

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