The Imperfect Spy: The Many Lives of Vladimiro Montesinos

by Sally Bowen, Jane Holligan

One of the best books EVER. It helps to be married to a Peruvian so that you can look at him and say, "My God, this happened in YOUR city? In YOUR country?" Absolutely fascinating.

Genres: Politics

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Mauricio Paredes Tuesta · Rating 5 out of 5]

El libro más completo que he leído sobre el controversial Vladimiro Montesinos. Lleno de interesantes datos sobre este siniestro y trascendental personaje de la historia peruana reciente. Me pregunto, como muchos, que hubiera sido de él y del Perú si su inteligencia la hubiera volcado a fines loables y no perversos.
No es fácil de conseguir el libro, pero vale la pena buscarlo.

[Néstor Luciano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Estupendo libro que detalla con precisión y objetividad una de las mentes más siniestras del Perú

[Pete · Rating 4 out of 5]

While in Peru I was interested in learning about all things Peru, of course with an emphasis on recent political history. Before reading 'The Imperfect Spy' I really had no idea how interesting and how maniacal the life of Vladimiro Montesinos has been. I remember listening to BBC reports back in 2000-2001 about the extraordinary international hunt on for the most powerful but certainly unelected man in Peru. He had no loyalities other than to enriching himself. He was a bona fide drug lord as well as a trusted ally of the DEA and CIA, he brought down both of Peru's ultra-violent terrorist organizations yet he was responsible for the deaths and disappearances of thousands of innocent Peruvians and he was a man who had bank accounts with hundreds of millions of dollars yet many aspects of his life were lived frugally. This book exhaustively tells the many stories of this fascinating and truly evil man while providing a riveting account of Peruvian society over the last fifty years. You won't get many answers here, just incredibly detailed reporting (the two authors are British journalists who were based in Peru on and off for many years).

[Nicolas Bello · Rating 4 out of 5]

The research by journalists Sally Bowen and Jane Holligan — Financial Times and BBC’s correspondents in Peru — is the most important biography of former presidential adviser, Alberto Fujimori’s right hand Vladimiro Montesinos. Rising up from the ranks of the Peruvian Army, Montesinos became one of the most influential men in the government during the 90’s, until his fall in the spring of 2000. A must-read book to understand corruption and power in the last decade of the 90’s in Peru.

[Alejandro Salem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una lectura un poco tediosa pero muy valiosa para conocer un poco más de cerca el narcoestado de mierda que gobierna mi país. Mi principal conclusión es que tenemos que legalizar la cocaína con carácter de urgencia para cortarle el caño a mafiosos como Montesinos y financiar, mal que bien, un ápice de desarrollo para este país. Vladi era un auténtico conchasumadre como pocos, aunque este libro se enfoca tanto en él y sus manipulaciones que hace ver a Fujimori como un sonso inocentón. Creo que solo cuenta un lado del dúo dinámico y falta la otra parte para conocer mejor la historia. Le pondría 3.5 estrellas si este app de mierda me lo permitiera, pero 3 me parece mezquino para lo valioso que me es aprender más sobre mi historia.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most comprehensive book about Montesinos yet it was still very readable and entertaining. It also happens to be his only biography in English! The authors were both eminent reporters in Peru during the relevant period with an exceptional knowledge of local politics and are not just outsiders who went on a "fact finding mission" for 3 months.

[Renato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo lei con mi papá, me gusto bastante el punto de vista del autor con respecto a las diferentes "conspiraciones" del tio vladi

[Rodrigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

¿Cuántos de estos Vladis habrán en el México actual? Nexos entre drogas y poder.