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The Deceiver (novel)
The Deceiver is a novel by English writer Frederick Forsyth, about a retiring agent of the British SIS named Sam McCready. He is the head of Deception, Disinformation and Psychological Operations, and his maverick but brilliant successes have led to his nickname "The Deceiver." The stories had previously been filmed as Frederick Forsyth Presents, a miniseries for British television, in 1989 and 1990, with McCready played by Alan Howard. The book followed in 1991. It appeared in The New York Times's list of the best-selling books for eight weeks, and its peak was #6.
It is discreetly explained to the Chief of British Intelligence that, in the new atmosphere of détente, and the warming of relations with the Soviet Union, that the SIS's role will have to be redefined, and some of its more aggressive agents will have to be taught a lesson. The Chief is ordered to make an example of a maverick officer, and Sam McCready is suggested.
McCready's deputy is unwilling to let his mentor retire without a fight, and insists on a hearing, during which four of McCready's most celebrated cases are recalled.
The SIS is approached by a high-ranking Soviet general, offering to turn over documents with crucial details of Soviet military plans. The meeting is to take place in East Germany. McCready is in charge of the operation, but he is too well known by the Soviets to risk going himself. So, he recruits his old ally, ageing BND agent Bruno Morenz. As a favour to his old friend, and in stark violation of his BND employment rules, Morenz agrees to enter East Germany, where he manages to get hold of the documents.
However, Morenz is on the verge of nervous collapse due to earlier events in West Germany, where he had been having an affair with a prostitute who later insulted him, which led to him killing her and her pimp boyfriend. He also steals some covert tapes she had made of herself in compromising positions with influential people. In making his escape he becomes rashly involved in a minor traffic accident. A man-hunt ensues, with the result that the East German security services eventually realise that they have a substantial spy case on their hands. McCready comes to realise that Morenz is in deep trouble and digging into his past, locates a potential hiding place. Against all orders he assumes a false identity, and making use of old friends succeeds in crossing the border and locating Morenz without being noticed. Since the security search is closing in on them, and Morenz is in no state to make an escape, Sam kills him with poisoned alcohol, and takes the documents and manages to escape by slipping through the border again, thus protecting the general from exposure, saving Morenz from an uglier fate, and succeeding in retrieving the sought-after documents. Sam tries to retrieve the tapes but is found by the East German Stasi who retrieve the holdall and escorts him onto the plane unaware of the more important cargo he carries.
During a visit by the Soviet Military Intelligence Corps (GRU) to Britain, a Corps member phones the Central Intelligence Agency's London outpost, and defects to the US, introducing himself as KGB Colonel Pyotr Orlov.
Orlov's information proves to be highly valuable, leading to the arrest of Soviet spies in many countries, and providing important information on Soviet military planning. While the CIA is delighted to have such a valuable asset, Sam McCready has a gut feeling that something might be wrong with Orlov; his suspicion is confirmed by the head of the KGB's London residency, who secretly works for McCready (Codename Keepsake). Keepsake claims that Orlov is not a defector, but a plant, tasked with denouncing the CIA's Deputy Director (Operations), Calvin Bailey, as a Soviet mole in an attempt to bring chaos and distrust to the entire agency.
At this point, the co-operation between the US and the British turns into mutual distrust, with both sides vouching for their own sources. Events accelerate when Orlov finally succeeds, indirectly, in identifying the supposed CIA traitor, followed by Keepsake suddenly departing for Moscow, making it look as if Sam is wrong.
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The Deceiver (novel)
The Deceiver is a novel by English writer Frederick Forsyth, about a retiring agent of the British SIS named Sam McCready. He is the head of Deception, Disinformation and Psychological Operations, and his maverick but brilliant successes have led to his nickname "The Deceiver." The stories had previously been filmed as Frederick Forsyth Presents, a miniseries for British television, in 1989 and 1990, with McCready played by Alan Howard. The book followed in 1991. It appeared in The New York Times's list of the best-selling books for eight weeks, and its peak was #6.
It is discreetly explained to the Chief of British Intelligence that, in the new atmosphere of détente, and the warming of relations with the Soviet Union, that the SIS's role will have to be redefined, and some of its more aggressive agents will have to be taught a lesson. The Chief is ordered to make an example of a maverick officer, and Sam McCready is suggested.
McCready's deputy is unwilling to let his mentor retire without a fight, and insists on a hearing, during which four of McCready's most celebrated cases are recalled.
The SIS is approached by a high-ranking Soviet general, offering to turn over documents with crucial details of Soviet military plans. The meeting is to take place in East Germany. McCready is in charge of the operation, but he is too well known by the Soviets to risk going himself. So, he recruits his old ally, ageing BND agent Bruno Morenz. As a favour to his old friend, and in stark violation of his BND employment rules, Morenz agrees to enter East Germany, where he manages to get hold of the documents.
However, Morenz is on the verge of nervous collapse due to earlier events in West Germany, where he had been having an affair with a prostitute who later insulted him, which led to him killing her and her pimp boyfriend. He also steals some covert tapes she had made of herself in compromising positions with influential people. In making his escape he becomes rashly involved in a minor traffic accident. A man-hunt ensues, with the result that the East German security services eventually realise that they have a substantial spy case on their hands. McCready comes to realise that Morenz is in deep trouble and digging into his past, locates a potential hiding place. Against all orders he assumes a false identity, and making use of old friends succeeds in crossing the border and locating Morenz without being noticed. Since the security search is closing in on them, and Morenz is in no state to make an escape, Sam kills him with poisoned alcohol, and takes the documents and manages to escape by slipping through the border again, thus protecting the general from exposure, saving Morenz from an uglier fate, and succeeding in retrieving the sought-after documents. Sam tries to retrieve the tapes but is found by the East German Stasi who retrieve the holdall and escorts him onto the plane unaware of the more important cargo he carries.
During a visit by the Soviet Military Intelligence Corps (GRU) to Britain, a Corps member phones the Central Intelligence Agency's London outpost, and defects to the US, introducing himself as KGB Colonel Pyotr Orlov.
Orlov's information proves to be highly valuable, leading to the arrest of Soviet spies in many countries, and providing important information on Soviet military planning. While the CIA is delighted to have such a valuable asset, Sam McCready has a gut feeling that something might be wrong with Orlov; his suspicion is confirmed by the head of the KGB's London residency, who secretly works for McCready (Codename Keepsake). Keepsake claims that Orlov is not a defector, but a plant, tasked with denouncing the CIA's Deputy Director (Operations), Calvin Bailey, as a Soviet mole in an attempt to bring chaos and distrust to the entire agency.
At this point, the co-operation between the US and the British turns into mutual distrust, with both sides vouching for their own sources. Events accelerate when Orlov finally succeeds, indirectly, in identifying the supposed CIA traitor, followed by Keepsake suddenly departing for Moscow, making it look as if Sam is wrong.