Author: Bryan Denson
This story was featured on the “Snap Judgement” podcast and I was riveted by the tale. Jim Nicholson is one of the highest ranking CIA officers who was convicted as a Russian spy. That by itself would have made a good story. What got my jaw to drop was how he manipulated his son to help him continue to provide the Russians with information.
This is a real-life spy story so it doesn’t have the plot twists and action of a fictional one. Since Jim Nicholson is behind bars for a good portion of the book, I learnt a lot of prison slang. Killing birds is a euphemism for serving a long stretch and killing time one day at a time. When you get out of prison you “kill your number” and you “share your house” with your cell-mate. There were a few other words I picked up like “swankienda” which refers to a large mansion or house. It is most likely a combination of swanky and hacienda and and was popularized in Houston before spreading to the rest of the US.
Overall, this is a well researched and well written book. It is a great read and I came away feeling sorry for the entire Nicholson family whose lives were turned upside down more than once.
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