Spy Hunter: Inside the FBI Investigation of the Walker Espionage Case [Hardcover]

Robert W. Hunter (Author), Lynn Dean Hunter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1999

An insider's account of the detection, pursuit, and capture of one of the most damaging spies in U.S. history.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

John Walker was one of the Soviet Union's most successful agents for nearly 20 years before he was finally caught in May 1985 by the author, an FBI counterintelligence agent. Hunter's story, told over a decade after the fact, remains a riveting tale. He and his fellow agents were able to capture Walker and also implicate Walker's brother and son in an espionage ring that had been operating for years out of the naval base in Norfolk, VA. Hunter does not hide his disdain for his quarry, a man who probably provided over a million pages of classified documents to the Soviets over two decades and seriously compromised U.S. defense capabilities. Hunter is not a professional writer, and his prose is stilted in spots, but this only makes the text more believable as it delves into FBI spy-breaking methods, which are at times surprisingly unsophisticated. For those who like John le Carr? novels, here is a book that is all the more chilling because it really happened. For general collections.AEdward Goedeken, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

An interesting eyewitness account. -- Booklist, Gilbert Taylor, Mar. 1, 1999

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Naval Institute Press (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557503494
• ISBN-13: 978-1557503497
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #451,419 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, accurate read!, April 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Spy Hunter: Inside the FBI Investigation of the Walker Espionage Case (Hardcover)

As a former sailor and current resident of Virginia Beach, I was stunned to learn that much of this entire story happened in familiar places surrounding me. The author spares no details and does not hesitate to give addresses, places, names, etc. to make the story come to life.

I read this book over a weekend because I simply could not put it down. I enjoy the way the story was told. Our country should thank the FBI, Bob Hunter, and his team for their professionalism in catching America's most damaging spy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Spy Thriller, February 22, 2011

By 

C. W. Emblom "Bill Emblom" (Ishpeming, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Spy Hunter: Inside the FBI Investigation of the Walker Espionage Case (Hardcover)

As with any of the spy books I have recently read greed, rather than ideology, is the motivating factor behind an individual's desire to sell out his country in exchange for ill-gotten gains to not only bail one's self out of financial difficulties, but to create an upscale in their standard of living. John Walker comes across as a pathological individual who convinced his brother, son, and best friend into joining him in stealing navy secrets and selling them to the Russians.

The book gives interesting examples on the use of the polygraph machine in determining an individual's innocence or guilt. Walker would repeatedly try to defeat the machine by providing answers he believed would vindicate him. The book also provides an interesting description of how the tracking and capture of Walker took place. While being interviewed he bragged that K-Mart has a better security system than did the navy.

Walker's son received a 25-year sentence for his involvement while Walker, his brother, and best friend were sent to prison for life. Prior to being sentenced Walker received an unsympathetic, stern rebuke from the judge for his behavior.

In addition to this book I have read books spies such as Aldrich Ames, Jonathan Pollard, and Robert Hanssen. All have been interesting and informative.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping True Spy Story, July 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Spy Hunter: Inside the FBI Investigation of the Walker Espionage Case (Hardcover)

Espionage stories like this are usually fiction! The author tells his story in a casual way, like he's talking to you personally over a glass of ale. He's a character himseld!