The Illegals

Russia's Most Audacious Spies and the Plot to Infiltrate the West

By: Shaun Walker

Write A Review

Paperback | 9 April 2026

At a Glance

Paperback
448 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
19.8 x 12.8 x 2.31

Paperback

RRP $29.99

$24.75

17%OFF

or 4 interest-free payments of $6.19 with

In Stock and Ships next day

A pacy, character-driven history of the KGB's deepest cover spies in the West, a system that took decades to unravel

'Absolutely fascinating' Andrew Marr

AN ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025 AN i PAPER BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025

'A brilliant historical investigation that's as gripping as a Le Carre novel' Tom Burgis

In 2010, two decades after the Cold War had ended, ten Russian spies were arrested in America, having hidden their true identities from their friends, neighbours and even their children. They were part of a spy programme that had begun nearly a century earlier.

These deep-cover missions - some remarkable feats of espionage, others high-profile failures - could last for decades. Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews, and newly-discovered archival material, The Illegals is a page-turning tour de force, that shines new light on the long arc of the Soviet experiment and its messy aftermath - and on how that hidden history shaped Russia and the West.

About the Author

Shaun Walker is a foreign correspondent for The Guardian, currently covering central and eastern Europe. He was the Guardian's Moscow Correspondent between 2013 and 2018, prior to which he spent six years as Moscow Correspondent for The Independent. He studied Russian and Soviet History at Oxford University.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $49.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.