The Bureau and the Mole: The Unmasking of Robert Philip Hanssen, the Most Dangerous Double Agent in FBI History

What an awful mentally unstable parody of a human being. The story portends the final decadence and politicization of the F. B .I. and other agencies. Hanssen is a personification of the leadership in the department which has been proved to be highly political, pretentious and inept. It seems the last of the good guys have left the station.

I had a great time reading this book, but I have one issue why did you include the Clinton's here? I mean it's just totally unrelated.

There are two mysteries described in this book. One begins on October 1, 1985, the other ends on February 18, 2001. The first date marks the beginning of Robert Hanssen's career as a mole in the FBI, the second marks the end of that career. The mysteries are why Hanssen-devout Catholic, flag waver, ardent denouncer of Communists-turned to spying for the Soviets and later the Russians, and why it took so long to unearth this mole.David Vise faced a tough assignment when he attempted to resolve these mysteries, and his effort to do so is only partially successful. Ferreting out material from government sources is never an easy task. In such a sensitive matter as this one, the problems are bound to be much greater. Even so, the author should have done more with what he had. Despite interesting asides, as in the description of the Opus Dei cult, too much of the material is "on background," and too much of what is left is inept padding-unnecessary appendices, long descriptions of William Freeh's career-which has little bearing on the core issues.For someone who knows little about the Hannsen debacle, these pages will be an eye-opener, even though the story should have been condensed into a brief New Yorker article. For those familiar with the broad outline of what happened, this will turn out to be a disappointing book about a fascinating and still unexplained subject-what made Robert Hanssen tick, and why it took the FBI fifteen years to discover the ticking.

It was hard for me to put it down and finished it in two days which is to say a lot. I'm a very slow reader. Some critics say the book is poorly researched. I may have to agree. How can any writer (Pulitzer Prize winner or not) come up with the story of the most dangerous double agent in US history in a year and a half? I also found many paragraphs and ideas repeated here and there. No justification may be found except for fast money ready to be cashed. Putting that aside, the read makes you wonder how the mighty FBI let this happen. In comparison, this new NSA "traitor" is a rookie.By chance the book arrived the day before President Obama nominated the new FBI director in a ceremony at the Rose Garden on June 21, 2013. I obviously had no idea. By intertwining the life of the mole and of then director Freeh, Vise reminds me of the beautiful depicted "weeds among the wheat" parable from a long time ago writer (St. Matthew) and how good and evil co-exist. It is indeed a mystery. Freeh left humiliated despite his efforts. But between him and Hanssen the choice is easy. And anyone who did not agree with Clinton's ways has my utmost respect.

Very interesting. I really liked the detailed situations. Hanssen displayed classic signs that were obviously missed because no one looked at the entire person or spoke to each other about him.

Fascinating book about the Hanssen spy case, as well as the triumphs and embarrassments the FBI went through during that time. I found the emails in the end of the book particularly revealing about Hanssen and the Clinton administration.

This book is good, not only because tells the complete tale on Robert Hansson's spying but it also gives the history of theFBI and the Russians. It is worth reading

Such a good book. Well written and definitely gives the terrible cost of betrayal. Nice amount of pictures to put faces behind the names.

I really enjoyed this book! I saw the film "Breach" and wanted to find out more about the events it was based on. This book didn't disappoint! It is written in a very readable way and really expands on the lives and characters of the main players in this extraordinary story.

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