Spies of the Deep: The Untold Truth About the Most Terrifying Incident in Submarine Naval History and How Putin Used The Tragedy To Ignite a New Cold War

W. Craig Reed

Jul 2020 · Permuted Press

About this ebook

A decade after the Cold War and just a few months after Vladimir Putin came to power, a violent explosion sent the Russian submarine Kursk to the bottom of the Barents Sea. The Russians claimed an outdated torpedo caused the incident and refused help from the West while twenty-three survivors died before they could be rescued. When Russian naval officers revealed evidence of a collision with a U.S. spy sub, Putin squelched the allegations and fired the officers. In Spies of the Deep, the New York Times bestselling author of Red November shatters the lies told by both Russian and U.S. officials and exposes several shocking truths. Included are never-before-revealed facts and firsthand accounts from deep sea rescue divers, U.S. submariners, government officials, Russian naval officers, and expert witnesses. Not to mention unveiled evidence of a secret deal between Putin and U.S. President Bill Clinton to avert a nuclear war. Discover how the Kursk propelled Putin to power and how he used its demise to muzzle oligarchs, wrest control of energy firms, rebuild Russia’s military, and dominate Arctic resources and sea routes.

Spies of the Deep explores how the Kursk incident will be remembered as a pivotal historical event that propelled the world’s superpowers into another, far more dangerous Cold War, sparked conflicts in the Arctic, and fueled a resource war that could create an economic nightmare not seen since the Great Depression. Are U.S. and NATO navies already too far behind to deal with new threats from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, and if so, how might that impact each of us?

Ratings and reviews

Spies of the Deep is riveting and timely because it has so much to do with today's political climate and current tensions with Russia. When Valdimir Putin came to power a torpedo sends a Russian submarine to the bottom of the Barents sea. All of this occurs a decade after the cold war. Twenty three people survived but were not rescued and ended up dying after the incident. The Russians refused to get aid from the west. Evidence of collusion with a spy submarine from the United States revealed by Russian naval officers eventually lead to them being fired. This all leads to rising tensions between adversarial governments. W. Craig Reed reveals a little known naval incident and unveils it with an impressive understanding of the events. There are different facts and opinions that the author bring into light, but the manner with which the information unfolds made me feel like I was listening to a true crime story podcast. The story is told with a sense of intrigue that permeates the entire book. I had to double check to ensure this was indeed a nonfiction book. The story itself is absolutely captivating, but the way in which author W. Craig Reed presents the information makes it feel like we are reading an international espionage novel by Tom Clancy. While international relations between superpowers that don't trust each other can be complicated, W. Craig Reed ensures that everything is easy to understand and fairly straight forward. I found the Russians deeply interesting in this book and I appreciated the depth of the authors knowledge on the subject and found myself feeling better educated, not only on this subject, but about Russian and international politics as well. I also found myself terrified by the superiority of Russian and Chinese torpedo technology. While I heartily enjoyed reading this book, and felt that it was well researched overall, I felt that sometimes the book dipped into conspiracy theory territory that, while fascinating, pulled me out of the deep trench of reality the author places readers in. Spies of the Deep is an enthralling military history book detailing a grim event in naval military history that changed the world. The skill with which the story is told will appeal to any fan of political thrillers or anyone seeking to expand their knowledge on history and politics.

About the author

W. Craig Reed is the New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning Red November, The 7 Secrets of Neuron-Leadership, and Tarzan, My Father, co-written with the late Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. Reed served as a U.S. Navy submariner and diver during the Cold War and earned commendations for completing secret missions, some in concert with SEAL Team One. Reed’s military experience and inside contacts help infuse his writing with intrigue and realism and inspired his latest novel, STATUS-6. Reed holds an MBA in Marketing and is the cofounder of Us4Warriors, an award-winning Veterans Non-Profit. Reed serves on the Board of Aretanium, an employee productivity firm that leverages the neuroscience research in the The 7 Secrets of Neuron Leadership.