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The Terminal Spy
- A True Story of Espionage, Betrayal and Murder
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, True Crime
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Summary
On November 1, 2006, Alexander Litvinenko sipped tea in London's Millennium Hotel. Hours later, the Russian former intelligence officer, who was sharply critical of Russian president Vladimir Putin, fell ill, and within days was rushed to the hospital. Fatally poisoned by a rare radioactive isotope slipped into his drink, Litvinenko issued a dramatic deathbed statement accusing Putin himself of engineering his murder.
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- Alex
- 29-08-17
Interesting topic and well researched
I enjoyed the topic but felt it went on a bit too much for me. This is a well researched audiobook/book with lots of detail. If you are looking for a deep and in depth analysis of the topic then look no further. If you have a passing interest then perhaps look elsewhere.
1 person found this helpful
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- Eileen
- 23-09-18
Spies
This is an excellent audio book on the life and death of Litvinenko. I could not put it down. I highly recommend it.
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- Stuart Woodward
- 23-10-11
Slow but gets there in the end.
The initial part of the book is detailed and slow going but the story picks up when it gets to the hunt for the Polonium around London and into Europe. While it covers Russian politics and intrigue in great depth we are never really sure, even at the end, who, if anyone, authorized the poisoning but with such a full exposition of the background and facts the listener is well equipped to come to their own conclusion and realize why we may never know the full details of the story.
The chapters regarding Polonium should be required reading for anyone involved in public safety.
2 people found this helpful
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- Bluestramp
- 09-01-17
Great news story
A 5 star behind the scenes investigation on Russian politics. A well researched well narrated expose on Putin era assassination. How the billionaire oligarchs bought up England's prime real estate and put down roots while criticizing Putin's thug-like diplomacy.
But one former KGB star spy just talked too much and was poisoned with a potent radioactive agent triggering an international murder investigation.
Terrific tale.
1 person found this helpful
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- Jason Buneo
- 07-03-17
Polonium 210
I did enjoy the story, but the narrative seemed to all over the place. The instance of Litvinenko's death is foreshadowed more than a dozen times. This made the book seem really repetitive. Also the narrator's instance of calling Polonium 210 "two, one , oh" really got annoying. I have never heard it called that.
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- Michelle
- 13-08-13
Excellent
If you could sum up The Terminal Spy in three words, what would they be?
I enjoyed the book very much. I like listening to Vance, he always does a great job.
Have you listened to any of Simon Vance’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I have listened to many of his performances. This is an excellent one.
Any additional comments?
Great book, great performance. Definitely recommend.
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- gc dunn
- 29-05-16
Don't purchase this book
The only reason I even finished listening was because I paid $25 for it. If you decide to give it a try skip staight to chapter 11. Before that it's a boring, pointless history that only marginally has to do with the story.
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- Martin
- 28-11-13
SLOOOOOWWWW
What would have made The Terminal Spy better?
Too much explaining and it is like a history - which it probably is. No real spy stuff here, unless it is undercover :-).
Has The Terminal Spy turned you off from other books in this genre?
No
Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Simon Vance?
NA
What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
Author is not so good