A spy book? Yes. I need to read…fiction or non-fiction. I will read either. Colonel Charles Howard "Dick" Ellis CMG CBE TD was an Australian-born British intelligence officer who had a significant influence on the healing plan of the Office of Strategic Services, which would become the CIA. But who was he spying for? This book is very much “Part biography, part forensic jigsaw puzzle, part cold-case detective investigation” that was promised—an excellent book for anyone who wants to read a good spy story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books | Citadel, for the ARC!

Know that this does take a bit of patience and likely will appeal to those who are looking for an in-depth examination of the conundrum of Dick Ellis. It's not a casual read but it's well researched and thoughtful. Some might think Fink is advocating a position on whether Ellis was loyal or not but he's certainly presented the facts as he can find them. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. An interesting read.

DNF. This is an interesting story, but there are way too many names to keep straight that aren't relevant to the story. Super well-researched, but it feels more like an outline turned into sentences than a cohesive narrative.

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC copy.

I had difficulty reading the book the first two times. Once I got past all the numerous and strong historical events and stories (I felt like I was back in history class), it became much easier to read once I started my third try.
Jesse Fink does a great job with his research from the 30’s – 60’s controversy of who is and is not a “spy”. Jesse creates a great in-depth investigative approach to discovering the truth about Charles Howard ‘Dick’ Ellis, the mysterious spy.
If you like in-depth spy stories, this is a great read. You will get a good insight into who “Ellis” is and how he spent his life hiding in the shadows.

The Eagle in the Mirror by Jesse Fink is an engrossing read that reconstructs the mysterious spymaster Charles Howard 'Dick' Ellis with authority and clarity. It addresses the disturbing questions surrounding Ellis’s life and death, such as whether he was a double agent for both the German Abwehr and the Russians and if he ever actually confessed to the crimes alleged against him.

Although many books have been written about Ellis, Fink's book stands out for its meticulous research and compelling narrative. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in Cold War politics, the world of spies, and the enigmatic figure of Dick Ellis, the James Bond that history conspired to bury deep.

Interestingly, Fink's search for truth is an arduous journey that began the day his father asked him if he had ever heard of Dick Ellis.

I’ve tried several times to read this non-fiction investigation into the life of British intelligence officer “Dick” Ellis. Unfortunately, it’s just not for me.

I had been expecting a biography. What I encountered seemed more a legal brief attempting to prove that Ellis was not a double agent for the Nazis and/or the Soviet Union. Those interested in the question of whether he was or wasn’t will probably find “The Eagle in the Mirror” thoroughly researched and very well-written. Unfortunately, knowing very little about the topic, I found the book disjointed, confusing, and somewhat overwhelming, skipping, as it does, amongst the years and stations of Ellis’s service, the many contacts he made, and the plethora of sources upon which the author relies. 20% of the way through, I finally gave up.

My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Kensington Books, Citadel for an advance copy of this biography of a man who worked in the shadows spying on the enemies of his nation, one who was almost Zelig-like in being around the most important people and players, and yet a man with secrets, and even worse maybe a traitor.

The incomparable Bruce Campbell on the show Burn Notice, a story of a spy betrayed by his agency, who works to help others, has a comment about people who work in the intelligence game. "You know spies—a bunch of (a word that rhymes with witchy) little girls". Even a light skimming of books about espionage will show these. Spy agencies spend just as much time going after each other as they do rival forces. MI5 hates MI6, entire libraries have been written about the battles between CIA and the FBI. Even inside agencies, there are battles, for credit, for blame. Especially for blame. Success might have many parents, failure means the child is made an orphan, tossed out in the cold, and destroyed in thousands of ways. Agencies are old school, chums, with the same background, same education, and same mindset. An outsider, has few chances, no matter what that person does. Dick Ellis was one of the longest serving intelligence officers in MI5, but doubts arose about his loyalties, not helped by the fact that Ellis was hiding a few things. However was he a traitor? The Eagle in the Mirror by Jesse Fink is a biography, well as much as one can write about a man who dealt in secrets, a history of the intelligence landscape from World War II, and the secrets that people keep, secrets that be little white lies, up to betrayal in a grand sense.

Dick Ellis was born in Australia, though the date has changed for reasons unknown. His mother died early, leaving a father who was very much older, and a family that soon grew fractured. Ellis was very good at learning on his terms, and soon fell in love with the idea of England. Ellis came to England and soon joined the Army to serve in World War I, actions which haunted him the rest of his life. After time in France, he was transferred to India where he soon learned a few languages that would help him in his new career in intelligence. Ellis was soon in the Great Game working in Russia to fight the Communists, where his first touch with infamy happened. Ellis married, but not well the marriage ended, and Ellis did his best to pretend this marriage never happened, as his brother-in-law had ties to Russian intelligence. During the lead up to World War II, Ellis made many contacts with German agents, agents who might also have had ties to Russia. Which years later came to haunt Ellis, and tainted his entire career.

A riveting read not only about intelligence, and reputations can be made and destroyed, but on how even important people can be lost to history. Dick Ellis was a fascinating man, a real life agent who found himself close to important events in history, and yet so little is known about him. Jesse Fink discusses this in the opening chapter, just trying to get information from his family was difficult. Even finding photographs was arduous. The book is a big history of the behind the scenes dealing inside the agencies while fighting first the Axis, than the Cold War. Fink is very fair pointing out a lot of odd inconsistencies in Ellis story, but also pointing out the wrong information being used against him. Being a spy means being a liar. So truth is not just bendable it is broken constantly. Fink has done incredible research in trying to get to the real story, and an amazing story it is.

A spy book that is less about spying and more about humans being humans. Jealous, envious, greedy, evil, honorable, and trying to do the best for one's country. A whodunit and a whydunit, all with a touch of espionage. And maybe truth. A really good book for true espionage fans.

An exceptionally well-researched and well-documented work. Fink does well to present numerous historical events, stories, and anecdotes from various positions, allowing the reader to glean from the historical facts presented what most likely happened, either pro- or con-Ellis. The author does not shy away from the truth, whether it vindicates or condemns Ellis, nor does he attempt to put his own spin on the story. Instead, this book takes a truly investigative journalism approach toward discovering and uncovering the truth. Some of it is damning, and some of it is simply expositional The truth behind the many books written about Dick Ellis AND the men who wrote them, how Ellis's career body of work fits into the history and current geopolitical landscape of post-war Intelligence, and presenting a more substantive picture of the events that transpired during the 20th century are all objectives clearly defined and achieved in this work.

A special thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Very detailed and in depth story of spies in 20th century. Strong research focus with detailed notes and references. Good read for those like intricate true spy stories. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.