Jonna Mendez Boeken

From the spymaster and inspiration for the movie Argo: how a group of brilliant but under-supported CIA operatives developed breakthrough spy tactics that helped turn the tide of the Cold War Antonio Mendez and his future wife Jonna were CIA operatives working to spy on Moscow in the late 1970s, at one of the most dangerous moments in the Cold War. Soviets kept files on all foreigners, studied their patterns, and tapped their phones. Intelligence work was effectively impossible. The Soviet threat loomed larger than ever. The Moscow Rules tells the story of the intelligence breakthroughs that turned the odds in America's favor. As experts in disguise, Antonio and Jonna were instrumental in developing a series of tactics--Hollywood-inspired identity swaps, ingenious evasion techniques, and an armory of James Bond-style gadgets--that allowed CIA officers to outmaneuver the KGB. As Russia again rises in opposition to America, this remarkable story is a tribute to those who risked everything for their country, and to the ingenuity that allowed them to succeed.

The bestselling co-author of The Moscow Rules and Argo tells her riveting, courageous story of being a female spy at the CIA and battling against the agency's ingrained culture of sexism, all while undertaking dangerous missions for America's safety during the height of the Cold War.

From the spymaster who inspired the movie Argo comes a gripping account of how a group of under-supported CIA operatives developed groundbreaking spy tactics that shifted the balance during the Cold War. In 1976, Antonio Mendez arrived in Moscow, facing one of the most perilous periods in history, where the Soviets meticulously monitored foreigners, making intelligence work nearly impossible. The Moscow Rules narrates the intelligence breakthrough that turned the tide in favor of the U.S. As Chief of Disguise and Authentication, Mendez played a crucial role in devising innovative tactics that enabled CIA officers to outsmart the KGB. These strategies ranged from elaborate identity swaps inspired by Hollywood to deception techniques and document forgery. With new guidelines and advanced gadgets from the Office of Technical Services—like miniature cameras and suitcase release body doubles—the CIA established a foothold in Moscow and executed some of the most remarkable intelligence operations ever. As contemporary America grapples with the threat of Russian disinformation, this dramatic inside story of overcoming a formidable adversary remains profoundly relevant.