The Spy and the Traitor | cinematic, historic, thriller

Review: 3 stars

I’ve been on a book-buying binge recently, and picked up “The Spy and the Traitor” recently at the Indigo Spirit at First Canadian Place during Black Friday,. A guaranteed read by Heather Reisman, Indigo’s Chief Book Lover, I was intrigued by the promise of ‘the best true spy story”.

This book is a non-fiction account of Oleg Gordievsky, a Soviet KGB officer turned MI6 undercover spy, and his distinctive place in Cold War history. A man of duelling loyalties with a strong KGB heritage, events such as the Berlin Wall and the Russian quashing of Czech protests orient him increasingly towards the West. His posting to Denmark brings his oppressive Soviet life into stark contrast with the bustling, colourful richesse of the West, and a chance outreach by MI6 confirms his full conversion to covert spy.

Ego and fear rule Soviet bureaucracy and the espionage machinery - which results in a number of lucky breaks for Gordievsky as he climbs through the ranks of the KGB, becoming the Resident-Designate of the London cell. The inability to admit fault and a culture of alcoholism and sloth were surprising to me, given the dominant reputation of the KGB. As Gordievsky increasingly gains access to national secrets, and divulges them line by line to the British, the stakes climb ever higher, making the far-fetched PIMLICO evacuation plan for Gordievsky ever more important.

The narrative moves at a quick pace, spending sufficient time setting up Gordievsky’s childhood, his influential friendships, his marriages (which were themselves an art in deception) and the coincidences and tight orchestration that led to his unique role in the Cold War. I found myself restraining from scanning the rest of the page during key moment of betrayal or potential exposure. I also found myself in deep admiration for the dedication the MI6 apparatus had towards maintaining Gordievsky’s safety - for example - staking the evacuation signal sight for weeks before and after Gordievsky’s visits back to Moscow.

I did wish for less repetition about Gordievsky’s upbringing (i.e., religious grandmother, militant KGB father) and about his role in diverting all-out nuclear war between U.S. and the Soviet Union (which felt overblown in proportion). That said, it is undeniable that the Queen of England, Margaret Thatcher and other key world leaders were influenced by the intel imparted by Gordievsky’s efforts. There is also some poetic elegance in the parallel stories of the CIA mole and Gordievsky, and how despite our sympathies for the latter, both in fact betrayed multiple countrymen in pursuit of what each sought as “justice”.

Lots in here for fans of spy novels, conspiracies and non-fiction adventure. I would recommend ‘The Spy and the Traitor’ to those who want a light, true-story read, and how may have a keen interest in learning more about the Soviet Union.

Macbeth | clever, bloodthirsty, corruptive

Review: 3 stars

My good friend Patrick, with whom I exchange books every Christmas, recently became a father! In advance of being sucked into the black hole of parenthood, he gifted me ‘Macbeth’, a very apt selection given I’m a fan of Nesbo’s “Harry Hole” series.

‘Macbeth’ is a modern day retelling of Shakespeare’s tragic classic - this time set in a drug-plagued 1970s small Norwegian town. The main players are all present, from Macbeth (a high-performing “SWAT” team leader), Banquo (his “trusty” sidekick), to Duncan (head of the police force). Nesbo makes clever reference to the original cast and circumstances, while ensuring his own story maintains its fidelity. For example, Hecate is now recast as the lord of a mysterious drug ring, selling “brew”, and his workforce is comprised of blind Chinese workers - an interpretation on the other blind witches who cast Macbeth’s fate. Lady Macbeth, assumes the mononym “Lady”, and as the fiery proprietor of a high-end casino in town, propels her lover Macbeth to maddening heights of power.

I last studied Macbeth in ninth-grade English class, so it was truly nostalgic to read Nesbo’s version. His elaboration on each character’s back stories created much rounder characters of the secondary cast - Duff, Lady and Banquo are each imbued with noble ambitions and self-destructive flaws. I found myself constantly shifting allegiances to the characters as I learned more about the regrets and motivations that defined each. This made it difficult sustain my sense of “true North”, which Nesbo offers to define as the betterment of the town and its people. The novel also poses the central question of what does “good” truly look like, when leaders trade one gang for another and claim victory for one population while sacrificing another. A question of democracy and transparency vs. efficient autocracy also arises - when is it rational for a leader who can truly effect change, to turn to mercenary means to achieve them? Does that in and of itself negate that leader’s progress towards good?

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. As always, Nesbo delivers high-octane plot development and careless bloodshed in this “game of thrones” thriller. HIs descriptive writing heightens the readers’ senses - placing us firmly in the rain-drenched chill of the Fife container yard, or in the backyard after a family’s massacre; the wet laundry still listing in the breeze, pockmarked with bullet holes. There are a few flaws - for example, the positioning of the various antagonists in the final battle scene is difficult to render, the interjections of the supernatural feel tangential, and the repeated missteps of a modern, well-equipped police force are not credible. However, by in large, ‘Macbeth’ gave me several days of engrossed, page turning escape, which was exactly what I was looking for.