Book Review - Agent Sonya by Ben Macintyre

Agent Sonya: Moscow's Most Daring Wartime Spy by Ben Macintyre
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

You should read this if: You're a fan of spy movies or shows, and are interested in one of the most important spies of WWII. You should read Macintyre if you think you don't like non-fiction - he'll change your mind!

You should not read this if: You haven't read The Traitor and the Spy yet!

Summary: Ben Macintyre is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Like "The Traitor and the Spy", Agent Sonya reads is intriguing, compelling, and reads like fiction. Macintyre skill at weaving in important historical context without breaking narrative flow is on impressive display in this book, especially as he described the dynamics of the rise of facism and communism around the world and the subsequent complex global geo-politics.

The book mirrors Ursula's life - fast-paced, constantly changing, and frantic at times. The characters, of which there are many, are compelling and larger-than-life. The grooming process to become Soviet spies was particularly fascinating as we witness the transition from political beliefs to a full-life sacrifice. Spies are often portrayed as simple cartoon characters, so it was enlightening to consider the truly difficult life decisions that had to be made. It also cannot be understated the significance the Agent Sonya was a woman, which was a unique and critical contributor to both her success and challenges. Unfortunately for the US, she was underestimated and overlooked repeatedly - imagine how different the last half century would have been if the MI6 / FBI had been less sexist!

This all said, I enjoyed "The Traitor and the Spy" more than this book, likely because the story itself was simpler and easier to follow - that should be your first read :)

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