Agent Zigzag: The True Story of the World War II Double Agent by Ben Macintyre

PRG: This amazing true story of a triple agent during WWII is awesome. Better than s novel. Probably my favorite book. I’ve now enjoyed every Ben Macintyre book since!

United States on Oct 19, 2023

Derek: Another incredibly well written and researched book from Ben Macintyre. It's hard to believe this is true it's so extreme. Eddie Chapman might have been a career criminal but he was incredibly patriotic and deserved more from the government of the day and the justice system.

United Kingdom on Sep 27, 2023

KTB: I bought this and Nicholas Booths' ZigZag at the same time and read them together, roughly chapter next to chapter and the differences that come out from the 2 authors is very interesting. Neither shows any particular bias as to whether they believe the autobiographical parts, but both books leave you with the distinct impression that there is an awful lot more hidden or gone missing from the records, who knows if it will ever come out, but what there is out already makes this book a fantastic read.

United Kingdom on Sep 07, 2023

saltbrook: Before reading this book I had never heard of Eddie Chapman and his WW2 exploits as a double agent. An absolutely fascinating story of an extremely brave, true British hero who probably did more than anyone (in the spy game) to advance the Allies cause. A must read
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

United Kingdom on Aug 16, 2023

T. WAKEHAM: This is a great little story of an old fashioned bounder. Zigzag appears to be in the spy game to make money and be a Casanova. However, he was certainly a fascinating character and worked the system. The story isn't fast paced but ticks along nicely

United Kingdom on Apr 19, 2023

Kindle Customer: This is the second book I have read by Ben McIntyre (the first was “A Spy Among Friends”, about Kim Philby) and I continue to be impressed. There exists a genre called ‘historical fiction’ in which an author writes a story that takes place sometime in the past, maybe in the same time frame as an important event, or maybe about some important historical figure. There are various levels of accuracy – sometimes there is nothing historical whatsoever other than the story takes place in the past. Or sometimes a story is a reenactment of actual events, grounded in reality and with evidence of significant research. Then there are the books written by masters of the genre who create highly readable, thoroughly engaging accounts of actual historical events that transport the reader into the era and read like the best modern day thriller (Steven Pressfield, Robert Harris, and David L. Robbins come to mind).

Ben McIntyre is one such author whose works are at the very top level of the genre. He has the rare ability to turn the results of his exhaustive, stunningly complete research into a book that reads like a top shelf novel but drips with authenticity at every turn. In...

United States on Nov 20, 2018

Kiki_Kaninchen: This was my first Kindle purchase, so the new experience perhaps taints slightly any clear opinion of the book itself. That said, I did enjoy it and I read it within 4 days which is very quick for me.

Pros,
1) Very detailed research.
The author has obvious spent a long time trawling the exploits of Eddie Chapman to the smallest detail. Almost to the point where one has to question how he learnt of the exact facial expressions or spoken-word that Eddie Chapman had witnessed without being there. I hope he has not elaborated on the facts or memoirs he collected. The picture I get of Eddie Chapman from this book suggests that he could be responsible for any elaboration though. Credit to the author for this richly researched work and for weaving it together well. Plus the notes in the back are interesting for those wanting more but it isn't ideal on the Kindle to flick backwards and forward to these.

2) Well written.
It is well written and kept me interested but it felt like it began to drag towards the end slightly as the author was running out of steam or resources.

3) Character analysis.
I like the author's attempt at trying to understand who Chapman...

United Kingdom on Jan 06, 2012

David Island: "Agent Zig Zag" is a far better book than "Zig Zag," the other book about Eddie Chapman, the extraordinary WWII double agent with loyalties to the Brits. However, for all the hype about these two books, neither is a "thriller," per se, and both tell what is mostly an interesting (sometimes fascinating) "period piece" story about the unlikely thief-criminal-womanizer-sociopath who became a famous -- if barely trusted -- spy for Britain. "Agent Zig Zag" is more of a psychological accounting of Chapman than anything, and yet the story does give a very well crafted "insider" view of WWII, a perspective that few other novels or books about WWII espionage ever have done -- and I've read most of them! One is left with a (though possibly quite biased) clear insight into the workings of the Abwehr and also its counter part, the British Intelligence Service. How anything ever got done by either is a small miracle. Eddie Chapman, the spy in question, is thoroughly unlikeable and wholly unsympathetic. One can admire his heroics, his risk-taking, and his sheer "bon vivant" style of being a spy and of living his life in general. He was smart, that I can give him. My criticism of the other book...

United States on Nov 22, 2007