Firebird: The Spy Thriller of the 1960s
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Firebird: The Spy Thriller of the 1960s Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Noel Hynd (Author), George Kuch (Narrator), Red Cat Tales LLC (Publisher)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 920 ratings
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"Noel Hynd knows the ins and outs of Washington's agencies both public and secret." (Publishers Weekly)

From Noel Hynd, author of Flowers from Berlin comes Firebird, an intricate true-to-life spy story that spans half a century.

It is 1968, one of the most tumultuous years of the 20th century. Frank Cooper, a former star investigative reporter now writes obituaries for a popular New York City tabloid. He hears the confession of a dying man named Leonard Rudawski, a former American diplomat, who bitterly questions the fate of Pavel Lukashenko, a would-be Soviet defector in Paris in 1965. Lukashenko promised to expose the espionage secret of a generation if he could get to the West. But the defector, code named “Firebird”, vanished.

Or did he?

Cooper teams with Lauren Richie, a young, Latina reporter from the same tabloid. They prowl into the dying man’s confession. Soon they are onto the story of their lifetimes, reviving a dangerous once-cold trail of back channel/back-alley CIA and KGB intrigue and tradeoffs, all of which factor into the three-way racially tinged American election of that year: Nixon vs. Humphry vs. the segregationist George Wallace.

Murder, espionage, romance, betrayal, and conspiracy intertwine. Listeners will meet and recognize dozens of memorable “real life" characters: reporters, gangsters, diplomats, call girls, spy masters, politicians, and assassins. The story is tough, large, sprawling, and historically precise. "Russians sabotage and destabilize the west", says one experienced reporter with KGB knowledge. "It's not just what they do. It's what they do best."

The story straddles the decades from World War II to 2018, even throwing a cynical light on Russian-American relations of today.

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  1. Listening Length
    16 hours and 46 minutes
  2. Author
    Noel Hynd
  3. Narrator
    George Kuch
  4. Audible release date
    March 12, 2019
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Red Cat Tales LLC
  7. ASIN
    B07PLNDQM9
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 16 hours and 46 minutes
Author Noel Hynd
Narrator George Kuch
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date March 12, 2019
Publisher Red Cat Tales LLC
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B07PLNDQM9
Best Sellers Rank #319,233 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1,215 in Political Thrillers (Audible Books & Originals)
#2,545 in Espionage Thrillers (Audible Books & Originals)
#8,728 in Espionage Thrillers (Books)

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
920 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

LfritzW
5.0 out of 5 stars A masterful job of blending factual happenings and fiction.
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2023
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Having lived through this era I was well aware of all the events, players, conspiracy theories and the fiction wove its way through them, creating a fully plausible plot. Very well done!
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Terence D.
4.0 out of 5 stars Revisiting the Mystery of the Ages
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2022
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One of those novels that unearths some of the lingering horrific things and memories for those of us who lived through the 1960s. More specifically for some readers will be the joy and fond memories of new york, its common and historic locations, restaurants, night clubs, bars, etc. As a returning VN vet whose 1st job in wall street area, the time span of the novel was truly a trip down memory lane. Intriguing story line and spy mystery wrapped in continuing doubts. Thank you.
3 people found this helpful
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PAUL STADLER
5.0 out of 5 stars Firebird
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2023
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Another great story from the author. As I write this review I have to recall the recent news on the JFK assassination. A SecretService agent finally came out about the pristine built found on JFK’s stretcher. This falls in line with a second or even third shooter. The historical references of those tumultuous years came back to life for me I was 13 in 1968 bt much of this I remember well. Great read!

Thi
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honest Abe
5.0 out of 5 stars Mesmerizing
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2018
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I can't say it any better than the reviewer Batroun. I was mesmerized by the story. It is enhanced greatly by the presence of multiple historical figures especially James Angleton and the Russian defectors. The account of "the greatest secret of the 60's" develops from the investigative reporting Of Frank Cooper. He re-dons his investigative hat and temporarily sets aside his entertaining obituaries to follow a story that emerges on the death bed of a former American diplomat. The diplomat's dying request is for Cooper to ascertain the truth behind a Russian defector and the biggest story perhaps of post World War 11. Obsessed by what he learns, both Cooper and the reader seek the truth; for Cooper it's much more dangerous. The story encompasses several conspiracy theories which all seem to be rational. The story is played out in the context of the 1968 election, but the reader can see parallels to the 2016 election, the demagoguery in fascist tones, and the overbearing presence of the Russian bear. Could the 1963 tragedy be traced to a foreign power? Were witnesses deliberately eliminated and by whom? Sometimes even a free press is no match for the powers aligned to stop the truth from seeing the light of day. A great book and a superb homage to the old print reporters of yesteryear.
6 people found this helpful
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KO6JW
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read.
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2018
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I think I've read all of Noel Hynd's books. This one is an excellent read. Much better than some of the earlier efforts. Amusing parallels between the Wallace campaign of the 1960's and Trump. Deliberate on Hynd's part, I'm sure. Story centers around a conspiracy to hide the real facts of the Kennedy assassination. Don't expect any revelations or new theories, but does a fine job of depicting a fictional cover up and the collateral damage that results. Great stories about alternative theories and inconsistencies in the investigations. Also, give an excellent portrait of late 1960's politics and the 1968 presidential campaign. (I'm old enough to remember all this.) Very entertaining, but ends without any new answers, but it is a work of fiction so what do we expect?
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dennis barron
5.0 out of 5 stars Firebird. Noel Hynd
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2021
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Being born in 1950, I'm very aware of the historical events mentioned in this book. This is an excellent read!!I I remember in junior high when Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas like it happened five minutes ago. My teacher received a phone call, began to cry and we were sent home. I never thought Lee Harvey Oswald actually shot Kennedy. I believe there was more Then one shooter. Then Jack Ruby kills Oswald in a secure building he should not have been able to enter.Then the other incidents were people die and very little investigation is done.As the author state, "I've built a fiction around a truth." All governments hide truths. Again this is a magnificent read! ! I enjoyed it immensely!! My highest recommendation!!
2 people found this helpful
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Sandy O'Seay
3.0 out of 5 stars firebird
Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2022
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Way over the top on Wallace and his supporters. No understanding of the American South and Southern culture. Ending is inconclusive although there is little doubt that Oswald acted alone. I liked the premise but the novel was too convoluted and too long.
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Kate List
5.0 out of 5 stars Spot on ... scary stuff!
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2019
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I eat up my Hynd's writing. This book just sin speaks to the r
Times at hand . I feel helpless as an American and ashamed of ignorance a and very sad for Hilllary, she could have really lead us out of this mess. We elected trump for all thecsamecreasomns we hated her (actually her hisband). Our country is even more sexist than it is racists. The election has left me discouraged and defeated andcfrustratedcto my very core. No one (especially men) do not read any more ... reading something with a littllecreal history helps. OR America is basically illiterate. I can't even talk to my friends anymore. Many conspiracy theories are the real thing, but how do u get that ball organized into something that works against the powers that be. The powers that have all the POWER AND THE MONEY??? I AM SO ANGRY N FRUSTRATED N I THINK trump just laughs in our face. Nothing wrong with some humanity,. Why is the right thing so difficult to do? Malignant NARCISSISM is overtaking America. "De ja vue" (sp)
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Raymond Giles
5.0 out of 5 stars Firebird
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2023
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Brilliant. Honestly, couldn't put it down!
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Bambi
5.0 out of 5 stars Thriller
Reviewed in Australia on September 12, 2023
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This is the second book I have read by this author.The amount of detail and fact in the book is amazing.
Can’t wait to read his next book.
Some of the best books I have ever read.
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Evelyn S
4.0 out of 5 stars Firebird: Spy thriller of the 1960s.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 6, 2018
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I have docked one Star for the many spelling/left out words. In another book, this would have really annoyed me. However, this spy thriller had so many turns, it kept me interested. Also the scene changes to the presidential elections, and insights kept me thinking about things going in at the time. How much if it is true, not sure but it felt like an expose of the period. Well written page turner.
Evelyn S.
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Phillip Kerrigan
4.0 out of 5 stars America in the 60s, who knew?
Reviewed in Australia on February 15, 2021
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The author does a good job of bringing back those times and the headlines they created. Being of the age I watched from afar finding the American political scene fascinating as always. The CIA running rampant and Nixon's paranoia taking hold not to mention a 60's version of Trump in George Wallace who ran for President but luckily failed.
But Hynd draws some interesting parallels with the 60's and the present day without laboring the point and highlights the deep problems the country faced then and now with its incipient racism and extreme politics.
My take on the Kennedy assassination? It was the Mafia!
Overall a good story and very entertaining.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars More please
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 28, 2023
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I'm not really into spy books but thoroughly enjoyed this one which took me back to the 60'is and was mostly about Britain then. The news of Jack Kennedy was one of shock as I was returning home after a night out. I knew little about American politics even less about Wallace...I knew he was confined to a wheel chair but that was it. I suppose most of us are confined in the history of our own country. A good read with well characterized the central characters a d the USA characters of that time
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