Milton Bearden

This story is about the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. It's about the KGB and CIA, plenty of spies and counter-intelligence. Which makes it all a bit dated, but still entertaining.

To me, the most interesting plot line revolved around former-CIA agent Alexander Fannin and his wife's cousin Tolya who works for the KGB. Their family and political loyalties interweave as Alexander helps Tolya's mother to defect.

The author worked for the CIA and this has helped him write a fast-paced book that never streteches credibility beyond reasonable limits.… (more)

It's a bit daunting at first trying to remember all the Russian names, never mind all the American names and secret spy code names, and to keep track of all the connections. But once you get used to the rhythm of the book it is a thrilling series of episodes in the recent history of KGB and CIA espionage. I keep thinking about where I was and what I was doing, while all these secret events were taking place far away, since the exact dates and times are provided. An inside look at the last days of the Soviet Union and beyond.… (more)