Deep Undercover

My Secret Life and Tangled Allegiances as a KGB Spy in America

De: Jack Barsky, Cindy Coloma

Narrado por: Stephen Bowlby

One decision can end everything...or lead to unlikely redemption.

Millions watched the CBS 60 Minutes special on Jack Barsky in 2015. Now, in this fascinating memoir, the Soviet KGB agent tells his story of gut-wrenching choices, appalling betrayals, his turbulent inner world, and the secret life he lived for years without getting caught.

On October 8, 1978, a Canadian national by the name of William Dyson stepped off a plane at O'Hare International Airport and proceeded toward customs and immigration.

Two days later, William Dyson ceased to exist.

The identity was a KGB forgery, used to get one of their own - a young, ambitious East German agent - into the United States.

The plan succeeded, and the spy's new identity was born: Jack Barsky. He would work undercover for the next decade, carrying out secret operations during the Cold War years - until a surprising shift in his allegiance challenged everything he thought he believed.

Deep Undercover reveals the secret life of this man without a country and tells the story no one ever expected him to tell.

©2017 Jack Barsky (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Loved it!

Would you consider the audio edition of Deep Undercover to be better than the print version?

Wonderful true story, I learned a lot and enjoyed every twist and turn taken.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the contrast between how the Soviet's treat their people and how the US treated this former spy. I'm even more proud to be an American!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes!

Interesting, not thrilling

A good and interesting account of a KGB “illegal,” the riskiest type of spy. The hope of the KGB was that their obviously bright and talented recruit would make it to the top echelons of western society. That never happened, and so it’s not really a page-turner, but those interested in the genre will like it nonetheless.

Best book I've read in a long time!

The narrator was engaging and did all of the accents which really made me listen more eagerly. The story itself was incredibly well told and the end wrapped everything up so neatly it was as if I had been reading fiction. I am in awe that THIS was his life and he lived to tell about it. His daughter was such a key part in the story. I could feel the love and affection he feels for his children and they for him and each other. Thank you, thank you for telling your story.

So fascinating, gripping, til the God crap

Stayed up super late reading this book. I love reading about totalitarian regimes, as an American it is fascinating to understand places very different from my own home country. I actually like the fact that there's so much about his childhood and life in Germany before all the spy stuff starts.
The God stuff at the end was baffling and resulted, as any religious discussion for me, in me scoffing and rolling my eyes. I can't understand how anyone as clearly brilliant and educated as the author, in such a dark and messed up world, can believe in a God, pulling all the strings.
Still recommend this book very highly.

Intense, gripping, intelligent...

This was an amazing book. The story line was intense and I enjoyed every bit of it. Each next chapter was better than the last. My best book so far this year....

perfect narrator, intriguing life

narrator is excellent. not over dramatic rather even and clearly great performance throughout.

very interesting and well written biography.
I had no idea the work the KGB put in to developing an agent. Extremely intelligent man that endured many close calls with authorities until a defecting Russian gave up a list with Jack's name on it.

conversion to Christianity was quite the surprise.

Enjoyable

I appreciate the way the author tried to answer the underlying questions of "why"
The ending was a wonderful surprise.

Great book and powerful epilogue

Wanted to read these book for a couple of years. It did not disappoint. Great story. Great information. Great transformation of a life.

A gripping true story… With only one little complaint

The story of Jack Barski is utterly fascinating — I love a good spy story, and this one does not disappoint. And it’s true! It’s old-school, Cold War with dead drops, subterfuge, lies, sneaking into foreign countries, close calls, etc. It also involves the problems with families and relationships when you happen to be a spy. Jack sounds like a good guy and a really intelligent person. My only complaint is at the end he hits you over the head with the Jesus stuff a little bit too much. I get that it really saved him and turned his life around, but I felt I was proselytized to a little bit. Anyway, despite this it is definitely worth a listen.

Wow!

Cold war history meets Christian testimony! LOVED IT!! I thought i was just getting a 1st person spy tale, but with Jack's journey from atheist to born again Christian , his tale of love and sacrifice.....just wow!