From Russia with Blood, Heidi Blake
From Russia with Blood, Heidi Blake
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From Russia with Blood
The Kremlin's Ruthless Assassination Program and Vladimir Putin's Secret War on the West

Author: Heidi Blake

Narrator: Marisa Calin

Unabridged: 10 hr 37 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 11/19/2019

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

The untold story of how Russia refined the art and science of targeted assassination abroad: “A compelling rendering of Putin’s frightening extensions of power into Europe and the United States” (Associated Press). 

They thought they had found a safe haven in the green hills of England. They were wrong. One by one, the Russian oligarchs, dissidents, and gangsters who fled to Britain after Vladimir Putin came to power dropped dead in strange or suspicious circumstances. One by one, their British lawyers and fixers met similarly grisly ends. Yet, one by one, the British authorities shut down every investigation — and carried on courting the Kremlin.

The spies in the riverside headquarters of MI6 looked on with horror as the scope of the Kremlin's global killing campaign became all too clear. And, across the Atlantic, American intelligence officials watched with mounting alarm as the bodies piled up, concerned that the tide of death could spread to the United States. Those fears intensified when a one-time Kremlin henchman was found bludgeoned to death in a Washington, D.C. penthouse. But it wasn't until Putin's assassins unleashed a deadly chemical weapon on the streets of Britain, endangering hundreds of members of the public in a failed attempt to slay the double agent Sergei Skripal, that Western governments were finally forced to admit that the killing had spun out of control.

Unflinchingly documenting the growing web of death on British and American soil, Heidi Blake bravely exposes the Kremlin's assassination campaign as part of Putin's ruthless pursuit of global dominance — and reveals why Western governments have failed to stop the bloodshed. The unforgettable story that emerges whisks us from London's high-end night clubs to Miami's million-dollar hideouts ultimately renders a bone-chilling portrait of money, betrayal, and murder, written with the pace and propulsive power of a thriller.

Based on a vast trove of unpublished documents, bags of discarded police evidence, and interviews with hundreds of insiders, this heart-stopping international investigation uncovers one of the most important — and terrifying — geopolitical stories of our time.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Lori on November 30, 2019

Absolutely terrifying. It is chilling to know how far Putin will go to silence his critics, but the real danger is the British and US governments allowing it and covering it up because they buy oil from Russia or need Putin’s help with Iran and Syria. Thank god for journalists like Heidi Blake. Pray......more

Goodreads review by Mike on August 01, 2023

What a coincidence. Recently picked up 3 books from local Charity shop all related to theme of spying. One on Guy Burgess. One on Klaus Fuchs ( lent to my dad) and this one on essentially Putin and Berezovsky and the trail of mysterious related deaths. Must be a Sleeper cell in my village. Coincidenc......more

Goodreads review by Daniel on September 30, 2019

(I received an ARC of this in a Goodreads giveaway and appreciate the opportunity to review this title and give my thoughts on it.) A deep dive into the dirty world of Russia's seemingly relentless campaign to wipe out perceived enemies of the state, "From Russia with Blood," will definitely make you......more

Goodreads review by Michael on November 27, 2019

Excellent book. Very interesting, consuming. Hard to put the book down. Although I remember some of this in the news it is most shocking when the events of all the assassinations are put together in one story, one time line and directed by one person. More shocking is the muted response from leaders......more


Quotes

Featured on NPR's Fresh Air As seen on Morning Joe

"[Blake's] gripping descriptions of intrigue and violence brim with details about the grotesque lifestyles of the über-rich."

New York Times Book Review

"A compelling rendering of Putin's frightening extensions of power into Europe and the United States."— Associated Press

"A well-written and well-researched book that reads like a thriller."—Washington Times

"The author's brave foray into this dangerous scenario is the reason much of this information is known. She covers the entire trail, including details on how enemies of the Kremlin end up missing or dead. . . . Fans of Blake's work, along with readers curious about spymasters across the globe and the ways in which Russia tries to infiltrate other governments, will be astonished at the level of detail provided here."— Library Journal, starred review

"Demonstrating a keen understanding of the art of espionage, Blake describes the Kremlin's ruthless attacks on its enemies both inside Russia and in the UK, skillfully unravelling a trail of assassinations and political intrigue. Exceptional attention to detail, superbly written, a must read for citizens and policymakers alike."—DanielHoffman, former CIA Station Chief

"With groundbreaking reporting, riveting stories, and layers of intrigue, From Russia With Blood unravels Vladimir Putin's web of violence and intimidation, and adds essential detail to our understanding of the lengths the Russian government will go to silence its critics "
Ben Rhodes, author of the New York Times bestseller The World As It Is

"I could not put it down. It is a compelling read from start to finish and a brilliant piece of investigative journalism. This is state sponsored murder on an industrial scale, and it took brave journalists to piece together the jigsaw and tell the world. The detail in the book is extraordinary, the individual events thrilling. This book is a must read."—ChrisPhillips, former head of the British government's National Counter TerrorismSecurity Office

"A spellbinding and heart-in-your-throat true story of Russian money and serial killing by agents of the Russian state in London. Heidi Blake peels the onion and makes a damning case that the British government allowed and covered up multiple murders to keep Russian money flowing into London. In addition to be an unputdownable story, her shocking expose will hopefully change the way the British authorities act on crimes emanating from Russia in the future."—Bill Browder, author of Red Notice: A True Story of High Finance, Murder, and One Man's Fight for Justice

"A real life thriller, packed with characters that even John le Carré couldn't dream of. If this doesn't scare you, then you're not paying attention."—Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland and The Last Man In Russia