Confessions of a Spy: The Real Story of Aldrich Ames
Ames was a top CIA officer with a great deal of knowledge about U.S. spies in the Soviet Union when he was arrested for espionage in 1994. Because of his treachery, a number of spies for the agency were arrested and several killed. Earley (Family of Spies: Inside the John Walker Spy Ring, LJ 11/15/88) spent 50 hours interviewing Ames and talked with his KGB handlers and the CIA mole hunters who tracked him down. The result is a thoroughly researched, detailed account of Ames's secret activities and the U.S. counterintelligence team's frustrating but ultimately successful investigative efforts. The narrative is interspersed with quotations from people involved in the case or lengthy statements by Ames, some of which are very self-serving. Why did Ames do it? Greed and personal insecurity seem to be good answers. This is interesting and fast reading, but it needs an index. Recommended.?Daniel Blewett, Loyola Univ. Lib., ChicagoCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.