Double Cross in Cairo: The True Story of the Spy Who Turned the Tide of War in the Middle East

by Nigel West

As part of the infamous Double Cross operation, Jewish double agent Renato Levi proved to be one of the Allies' most devastating weapons in World War Two. ln 1941, with the help of Ml6, Levi built an extensive spy-ring in North Africa and the Middle East. But, most remarkably, it was entirely fictitious. This network of imagined informants peddled dangerously false misinformation to Levi's unwitting German handlers. His efforts would distort any enemy estimates of Allied battle plans for the remainder of the war. His communications were infused with just enough truth to be palatable, and just enough imagination to make them irresistible. ln a vacuum of seemingly trustworthy sources, Levi's enemies not only believed in the CHEESE network, as it was codenamed, but they came to depend upon it. And, by the war's conclusion, he could boast of having helped the Allies thwart Rommel in North Africa, as well as diverting whole armies from the D-Day landing sites. He wielded great influence and, as a double agent, he was unrivalled. Until now, Levi's devilish deceptions and feats of derring-do have remained completely hidden. Using recently declassified fi les, Double Cross in Cairo uncovers the heroic exploits of one of the Second World War's most closely guarded secrets.

Genres: History, Middle East

413 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 20, 2015

Reviews

[John Gribbin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first Nigel West book I have read, and it is likely to be the last. I have read a lot about the deception activities of the allies in WW2, mostly in the books of Ben Macintyre, and expected something like that. But West's writing is as dull as ditchwater, while his narrative jumps all over the place in both time and space. He assumes the reader already knows a great deal of the history of the Mediterranean conflict, and I do, but I still found it hard to follow. Only just qualifies for two stars instead of one because it does at least contain some information new to me.

[Simon McCrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very detailed, but to my mind, a not very clear account of an extraordinary double cross operation during WWII

[Nishant Pappireddi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers a lesser known double cross system during WW2. Although the subject was exciting, it is somewhat ruined by a large fraction of the book being copies of reports. Even worse, each chapter has its own chronology, so one chapter will end with events in 1944 or 1945, and then the next will return to 1941.

[Mark Bowden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a complex story and West has chosen to tell it in a particularly complex way, not chronological but as an episodic/thematic narrative that involves much repetition, at least some of which could have been avoided. In fact it shows signs of having been re-ordered during the writing process, so that people appear without explanation. Someone called Hinz is mentioned on p91 but there is no entry for 'Hinz' in either the Dramatis Personae at the front of the book or the index at the back; it is not until p97 that we learn who Hinz is. Both the Dramatis Personae and Glossary sections are very necessary but neither is complete; the Glossary has no entries for ATSB, DMI, NID, OWI for instance, though it is possible to work some of these out. The Dramatis Personae is also missing several entries and is not helped by the fact that some people's names are spelt differently in places. I spent so much time checking back and forth between text, Dramatis Personae and index that the book, brand new, was falling apart by the time I finished reading it.

[Efguirguis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive

Highly important though difficult to read in view the vast amount of information. Though much is dedicated to CHEESE the role of espionage in the Middle East appears to have played a significant role in WWll in Europe and the Middle East. An interesting but difficult to read book.

[Richard Wright · Rating 2 out of 5]

Turgid, boring and all over the place as far as times and dates are concerned. Just a long list of "facts". And why is 1/3 of the book appendices, bibliography & index? Abandoned this book after ploughing my way through 10%. Not recommended.

[Becky Dale · Rating 2 out of 5]

As plenty of others have reviewed, the book could do with some restructuring to make it easier to follow.

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very detailed. Did not enjoy the writing style.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very complicated Times and even more so juggling roles with so much at stake? well written and laid out.