Library Journal Review

Mendez (Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History), the inspiration for Ben Affleck's character in the film Argo, and his wife, Jonna Mendez (Spy Dust: Two Masters of Disguise Reveal the Tools and Operations That Helped Win the Cold War), share their experiences as spies in Moscow during the height of the Cold War in the mid-1980s. Collaborating with best-selling author Matt Baglio, who previously worked with Antonio on Argo, the authors begin with the initial list of the Moscow Rules and continue to discuss briefly the current state of affairs in Russia under Vladimir Putin, and how they interfered with the 2016 U.S. election. The Moscow Rules started as a list of guidelines for CIA spies to follow when in the Soviet Union, particularly the capital of Moscow, and included technological advancements as well as preferred disguises. The authors share the history of spy activity between the United States and the USSR and move on to outline the Mendezs' unbelievable experiences. VERDICT Those interested in the history of espionage and the Cold War will learn from these firsthand accounts about the bravery of the men and women who spied in Moscow; a thrilling read.--Jason L. Steagall, formerly with Gateway Technical Coll. Lib., Elkhorn, WI