The Spy Wore Silk

The Spy #3

by Countess of Romanos Aline

The author reveals a true story of royalty and murder as she searches the backstreets of Marrakesh and palaces of Casablanca to ensure the survival of Morocco's King Hassan--and her own

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Mystery, Memoir, Espionage, Biography Memoir

316 pages, Hardcover

First published March 4, 1991

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aline, the countess, was enjoying her life as a Spanish socialite, wife, and mother when in 1971, she accompanies her husband, Luis, to Morocco. Luis was attending an annual board meeting in Rabat of Riff Mines, an iron ore company founded by his grandfather 60 years earlier. At the same time her long-time Moroccan friend, Fatima, invited Aline to attend an exhibit of Fatima’s jewelry line in Casablanca followed by a stay for a few days in her home to help Fatima’s rebellious and modern sister, Salima, out of her depression. When Luis returns from the board meeting, he told her that his old friend, Abdul Nabil, was frightened that there was a plot to kill King Hassan. The king had rebuffed Abdul when he informed him. Abdul wanted Aline as an American to contact the U.S. ambassador for his assistance. He believed only the Americans could investigate the rumor as he feared repercussions if he disclosed his suspicions to anyone else and that the Libyans and Soviets are involved. Aline meets Salima at the exhibit. At a dinner party, Aline encounters Michel de Bonville, a French representative manufacturing leather goods. She introduces Michel to Salima, who to her delight he later offers her a job in the company’s public relations. Aline is able to communicate Abdul’s concerns to the local CIA agent as the ambassador was unavailable requesting that Abdul remain anonymous. Three weeks later she learns that Abdul is murdered after his name had been leaked. Once again, at the request of her former employer, the CIA, she is recruited to investigate the plot to assassinate the king of Morocco. She had a perfect excuse to return to Morocco and try to warn the king. She and her husband had been invited to King Hassan’s shooting trip for almost two weeks in April less than a month away. They were accompanying friends, Carmen Franco (General Franco’s daughter) and her husband, whom Morocco was honoring. After clandestinely meeting with the king’s brother, she is told to contact one of the king’s trusted advisors, Rachid Salloum, the king’s former tutor, who could more delicately determine if the plot is a vicious rumor for the king to lose confidence in his aides or if there is a genuine threat. Accompanying her on the tour are General Medbouh (head of the King’s Guard and childhood friend of the sisters), Michel de Bonville, Russian Serge Lebedev, American William Casey (a former OSS agent) and his wife, journalist Moustapha Benayad, and Captain Omar Khalil (their guide). She witnesses the clashes of the king’s two closest advisors, Rachid and national military hero General Mohammed Oufkir. She is running out of time as the days toward the plot count down as she tries to untangle the plot while encountering attempts on her life, Soviet agents, love affairs, and later a fatality. Can she discover the perpetrators? Is the threat real? Will the king take the threat to his life seriously? Will she survive?

The third book in the series, which I truly enjoyed as I read one after the other, of the true adventures of Aline. I was fascinated to hear about what transpired during this time and how the rich and powerful of Morocco lived. As an admirer of Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Desert Jail by Malika Oufkir, I had read of the general’s daughter’s perspective many years ago.

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Countess Aline was an American-born lady who was recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (later to become the CIA) during World War II. After training, she was sent to Spain as a spy. She subsequently married a Spanish count and continued to operate as a spy (codename = "Tiger") in Europe and elsewhere for many years. At the same time, she was raising three boys and living the privileged high society life in Spain.

The best thing about Aline's books is that they really do read like novels. She highlights the most exciting and fascinating events and dispenses with the dull details. They're better than novels, though, because the events are true!

In The Spy Wore Silk, Aline takes us to Morocco as she recounts her 1971 assignment to discover who was plotting to kill Morocco's King Hassan II. She participated in an elaborate ten-day hunting trip with the king's friends, advisors, and military leaders, hobnobbing with the high and mighty while sniffing out treachery. The trip turned out to be harrowing and life-threatening for Aline and others in the group, with intrigues at every turn. Her introduction to Morocco, while traveling with royalty in lavish and glittering style, is almost as thrilling as the spy story.

The Spy Wore Red remains my favorite of Aline's books, but all of them are worth seeking out.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've recently gone on a spate of autobiographical books about Muslim women from Saudi Arabia (the Princess Sultana books) and Morocco (Stolen Lives and the sequel by Malika Oufkir) and now I'm in this book about a real life spy in Morocco trying to prevent that very Moroccan coup in 1972 that sent Malika Oufkir into prison for twenty years. I love reading different things by different people in order to get a more rounded idea of what really happened and this has been a great trail.

I'm not overly fond of the writing style of the Princess Sultana books nor the Spy books, but they are interesting enough that I will continue to read the rest of them. When women have no rights and are treated like they are in these countries, physical appearance, riches and beauty are the things they strive for--the only chance they have at any kind of better treatment in life. It's very very sad--and more than sad. It's a tragic waste of life and talent and I have no words to express the depth of my feelings about it. But it also impacts the author's writing in a bit of a negative way, since a lot of the writing is about how rich someone is, or how beautiful they are. It's like that is the only thing that matters, and it isn't so much a flaw of the author but more a product of that culture that requires it.

[Alan Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aline's third spy book didn't grab me quite as much as the other two. For one thing, she takes a lot of pages to talk about beautiful dresses and beautiful mansions and beautiful food and animal shoots where hundreds of animals get killed, mostly in Morocco. The underlying story is about a possible takeover of the Moroccan government, and Aline almost gets killed a couple of times (along with her husband), so there's plenty of action and suspense. She isn't involved in part of the action; it's told from a third-person point of view. Of her spy books, I still like the first one, The Spy Wore Red, best.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

also not as good as the first one :P :)

[Anne Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This third book of Aline’s spy adventures takes us to Morocco and Aline trying to figure out who is the mastermind of a coup against King Hassan.
Luis and Aline go to Morocco to King Hassan’s shoot. There has been a message that in ten days the king will be assassinated. But Aline wonders how will she be able to get this message to the King? She tells the kings’s brother, and he tells Aline Rachid Salloum, the King’s closest aide, should be the only other person to inform. Aline and Luis try to enjoy themselves in Morocco. They are given a guide, Omar Khalil, shown beautiful places, eat delicious food, and introduced to many people. But never a dull moment, unfortunate circumstances occur that make it seem someone is trying to kill Aline. A corner of a tent lands on Aline and a former colleague. The car Aline and her husband are in comes close to falling off a cliff because of no brakes.
Aline is friends with two sisters who bring their own drama. Fatima complains to Aline about her sister, Salima. Salima was married to a bad man in America. Her father brought her back to Morocco. Fatima wishes Salima could marry a good Moroccan man. In the meantime, Aline introduces Salima to Michael de Bonville. He manufactures leather goods and he actually hires Salima to work for him. They fall in love, even though Aline sees Michael going into Fatima’s room. Then Salima and Michael tell Aline they’re engaged!
Aline befriends a Russian, Serge, who she thinks is going to defect and work for the Americans. Serge seems to just have a crush on her.
Rachid is killer by a motorcycle.
Back in Madrid, Aline sees Serge at horse races. He’s actually not allowed to be there because he’s a communist. He’s able to tell Aline she is in danger and to trust him. Aline leaves the races early but as she’s driving away Michael de Bonville is in the back seat and has a gun! A car has also been following them. Aline steps hard on the brakes so the car behind crashes into them. She escapes and gets to the highway, gets a ride, then a taxi home.
Serge then comes to Aline and Serge’s home. It was him in the car following Aline. He wants to defect. Michael is actually a Russian working for the KGB and involved in the assassination of King Hassan. He was trying to kill Aline and Luis. Aline believes Serge. She calls for help, the KGB men come, look around, and go, and Serge is taken away. When Aline goes to Washington to meet Jupiter and sit at a debriefing of Serge, that’s when she learns about the coup actually happening. King Hassan is not injured.
Salima is getting married to Ahmed Faradi, a childhood friend from Morocco who her family readily accepts. Michael has been threatening Salima and Fatima.
Aline attends Salima’s wedding.
A second coup occurs. King Hassan’s plane is attacked. General Oufkir, Morocco’s national military hero and the king’s best aide, is the traitor! He wanted to be king! The papers claim he committed suicide but Aline’s background information says he could have been shot.
The last big news is told by Jupiter at his home where he invites Aline and Luis. Michael is dead. He was poisoned. By Fatima? Or Salima?

[Kathleen (itpdx) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this was not a true story, I would have stopped reading it fairly early. The contessa’s writing style is sophomoric. Her descriptions of people and places are uninspired and pedestrian. But her experiences of a royal tour of Morocco while being aware of an assassination plot against the king, the defection of a KGB official and the uncovering of another are very interesting. The events in the book took place in the early 70’s and point out the US’s policy of supporting dictators as long as they were anti-communist. The book was published in the 90’s, I am assuming after vetting by the CIA. It is worth the read.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Spy Wore Red,” “The Spy Went Dancing” and “The Spy Wore Silk” is a trilogy written by Aline Griffith, Countess of Romanones. Doña Aline was a graduate of College of Mount St. Vincent (my alma mater!) who was recruited after graduation to be a spy. She was sent to Madrid, Spain in
1943. There she met her future husband, the Duke of Romanones.
These books chronicle her exploits and are highly entertaining reading. The author moved in high society and was a valuable asset for America and its allies.

[Jennifer Nagy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The entire trilogy is very interesting and exciting. This takes place before the CIA and FBI. It was then the OSS and this is about one of the female spies and what all she went through. It seems like a movie as you read it.

Personally, if the producer stuck strictly to the books, the trilogy would a great movie.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book, even more than her first one. The plot flowed well and it was fascinating and full of intrigue. I am amazed at the bravery of Aline and how she trusts her instincts. I am so glad I loved this book!

[nancy deegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

DONT RUN FOR OFFICE IN MOROCCO

I loved the suspense and drama, the great writing and geographical info. all of the characters were foreign names and at times confusing if one didn’t have a notepad and pen nearby. Otherwise a brilliant trilogy

[Jeanne Hedge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Travelog of Morocco

This book is decent enough entertainment, but comes across as a travelog. The Countess moves in some politically interesting circles.

[Tania Hubmayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

More High Society espionage fun in this book.

[Jane Darby-Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoying this series so much. The author just doesn’t disappoint.

[Barb Friedrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this series, (3 books) very intriguing with lots of twists and turns. Learning about spys and the beautiful people made for a good read.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite in the series. I think I like tiger less in each book - and I for sure don't like her husband, Luis.

[Maegan Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read. Makes me want to visit Morocco. Amazing that it is a true story.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a true story of an American spy who is married to a Spanish Count. She was one of the very first CIA agents ever, and has written a few different books about her experiences.

This one takes place after she has "given things up," since she has a husband and children, but is called back into service to try and foil a coup attempt on the king of Morocco. (If you have read Stolen Lives, you will really find this interesting!! I know I loved the book more than I would have because of this other perspective on what was taking place.)

It was exciting, adventurous, and I kept reminding myself that it was a true story. I also loved that it is very clean, and no foul language.

PS. Be careful when looking for it that you don't mix it up with another novel by the same name.

[Sheree · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Spy Wore Silk" if nothing else is a reminder of the importance of our intelligence community. The Countess scurries about the coast of Morocco, Las Vegas, New York and DC constantly under surveillance herself. KGB operatives are everywhere and it is her job to find moles and others infiltrating our senesitive intelligence community. This woman is amazing and is really more of a hero than those scripted ones in Ludlum's books or on the hollywood big screen. The funny thing is that she often kept her husband in the dark of her CIA spying and this created alot of drama in her life. If you've read The Countess of Romanones' other books, this too will be a quick read and you will run out to find another of her books.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The OSS became the CIA. That glamorous elite women can shoot guns. That being an undercover agent in her case was glamorous. She in my opinion failed to make the right connections and decisions to avoid the assassination attempt on the King of Morocco.He saved himself.

At first I thought this was a thinly veiled novel,but I realized after asking some questions to my Moroccan friends that she was actually speaking factual narratives of the late 1940's feuding.

It was pleasant reading to me because I have a background since youth in reading about rich kingdoms and the European and Middle Eastern elite. Stories in Town and Country or the international socialites have always been a wonderful getaway from the mundane life.

She truly has lived a richly rewarding full life.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the series is my favorite. This experience happened to her years after her other missions she writes about and she is out of practice of being a spy. She is trying to uncover the mastermind behind a plot to kill the Moroccan president. I felt like Aline wasn't on top of her game in this novel of uncovering the person which I attribute to her being out of practice. Nonetheless, it was still an interesting read because it really did happen to her and she came by a lot of close calls that were not directed at her. I knew something had to be up with the sisters because she warned us in the beginning that she changed their names to protect them. She told their story well to set us up for the end, which leaves everyone guessing, which I really liked.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of four spy novels, based on fact, by Aline Griffith, a young American girl who was recruited by the OSS(early CIA) in 1943 and operated within the highest levels of Spanish society. This is a true story of a plot to assassinate Morocco's King Hassan. Parts of the story take place in Marrakech, Casablanca and Rabat.
Resonated with me because, as a child during the war, the names and places were familiar, and although romanticized by movies like Notorious and Casablanca, having followed the news of the day as it happened, and having six uncles in uniform all over the world, I knew few of the dangers were exaggerated.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost rated this book lower than the earlier books in the series but I didn't because I found the Countess's description of the attempted overthrow of King Hassan II of Morocco far more interesting than reading about it in the newspaper when it happened in 1971.

What I didn't like about this book was the relationships and angst that had nothing to do with espionage. There were sections of the book that made me think it's possible that Kim Kardashian is actually working undercover for the CIA.

[Jessica Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one just as well as the first two books. It takes place in Morocco and I enjoyed learning more about the culture there and also about some events that took place there I didn't know about. I have found this series to be a real page turner, but maybe not written as well as it could be since she is writing many years after it happened and had to change some things to protect identities.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the 3rd book of hers about her true adventures as a spy. She is also a countess which enables her to hobnob in prestegious circles. this book was about the attemped coup of the Morrocan King Hussein. The book reads like a fiction and is very interesting. It's hard to believe this stuff is real.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I liked this one the best of the three books. It's not cut and dried and neatly packaged at the end. The mission essentially failed, but the other things that were accomplished far outweighed the failure to reach the primary goal. I would like to meet the Countess. She sounds like a remarkable woman who would be interesting to get to know.

[LuAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third in a series of stories by Aline Countess of Romanones - I haven't read the second one yet - but didn't enjoy this one as much as her first book. Not sure why, perhaps it just moved a little too slow for me or because I knew who the mastermind of the coup was. I'll still go back and read the second book in the series because I do find the subject manner fascinating.

[Briony · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one had a slightly different flavor than the other two, maybe because it mostly takes place in Morocco. Also it's a little more risque than the other two, but once again it's difficult to remember that it's not fiction. Scary the things that go on in this world.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book I really want to go to Morocco! Aline definitely leads a very interesting life. This book was good and interesting. I like reading the history from the view of someone that actually experienced it.

[Robbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Same review as the first two: Excellent book; lots of critics that went through her old OSS/CIA file after-the-fact and stated she embellished on the books. Do you REALLY think intelligence agencies document EVERYTHING in a file? Great book!