Go Deep Undercover with a KGB Spy

Deep Undercover

By Jack Barsky

The tension and intrigue of a thriller, spy novel is irresistible for so many of us. What about reading a spy memoir?  Can real life spying stand up to artistic license to kill?  In this case, yes.  I enjoyed reading all about the life of a real German, Russian spy in America during the 1970’s and 1980’s.  You’ll find his spying skills were very different from today’s Russian hacking accusations.

The author was born in 1949 in East Germany, into a small family suffering the impacts of the end of World War II.  This very East German Albrecht Dittrich had no idea he would grow up to take on an American name and life.  He describes in painful recollection the destitute life he lived with his brother and parents, the lack of love, and the early and continued indoctrination into Marxism, Leninism, and the glory of a future with international Communism.  The indoctrination included villainizing Germans living on the other side of the Berlin wall.  How the 0ppression affects the different members of this family during the slow rebuilding from the War is a sobering story.

Brilliant in school, Albrecht caught the attention of KGB.  The recruitment process is a fascinating read.  The skills that he learns, and the tests he’s put through are meant to prepare him for assignments that are at first well understood by his KGB mentors.  Later it’s interesting how they try to prepare him for spying in America, which is an environment they really knew very little about.

When Albrecht is sent to America to spy, he has to leave his entire life behind as if it never existed.  He had to find an American identity he could become, and so he became Jack Barsky.  His family and friends were given a made up cover story and could not contact him at all for years at a time.  As a young, idealistic and fully indoctrinated man, he was able to successfully become a totally different person with a new history and a mission he believed in.  This book allows you to see how he did it.  As time goes on you see how this decision wears on him.  It’s amazing to watch first the strength of his commitment to do his duty, and then it’s spellbinding to watch how the pent up emotion, regret, and discovery of love penetrate his plans and change them.

When Jack Barsky turned his back on the KGB, it was suspenseful to see if they would come after him.  I really enjoyed this book, including the part where the FBI catches him. The FBI agent’s Afterword is also very good at the end of the book.  I have to admit, the last few chapters when the author describes settling into a “normal” American life, I quickly lost interest.  Guess I was really into it for the old fashioned intrigue, and I’m glad there was plenty of that.

Ghost Man by Roger Hobbs

Ghostman

By Roger Hobbs

A casino robbery in Atlantic City goes horribly sideways, despite all appearances of its intricate planning.  The brain behind the operation needs to repair the damage and make it go away.  He calls in an old favor from a Ghostman.  Occasionally called Jack, Ghostman lives completely off the grid and cannot be found when he doesn’t want to be.  He makes himself invisible to society and lives without any ties or associations with people.  You’re introduced to this curious personality, who has a high intellect, and ethics he’s created for himself.  When inclined, he’s an expert fixer who cleans up crimes and makes them disappear.

This time the Ghostman is up against an explosive 48 hour clock, as well as more bad guys.  His analysis of the situation, as well as the stories he hears and sees played out before him, is compelling.  It’s a refreshingly intelligent crime story.  Your page turning will grow faster and faster as you can’t wait to find out what happens next.  No guarantees that anyone is as they seem.  And most fascinating of all is the Ghostman himself.  Incredible the smart ways he keeps himself unknown, fully disguised, in the shadows.  Seeing his personality at work through his own thoughts and actions is a real education.  Woven through the story the Ghostman mentally relives the inciting crime when he created this life for himself, and reasons why he did it.  The psychology is frightening, and at the same time fantastic.

This genius author created shadowy and criminal characters that not only come to life, but demand a true and thought provoking presence.  The smart plot appears to be moving in a specified direction, when the Ghostman improvises, and reimprovises a new ending right before your eyes.

When this novel was written, it received high acclaim from critics as a reinvention of the crime novel.  The excellent, descriptive writing in this debut novel led him to be named one of the best writers in his field.  In 2014 he was nominated for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American Author.  He went on to author Vanishing Games which I look forward to reading.  Tragically he died far too young, near the end of 2016.  This legacy that he’s left his readers is meant to be grabbed tightly and devoured whole.  You’ll fully enjoy this tense ride.