"Why is a book about SMERSH relevant today? As Mr. Birstein takes pains to point out, 'the present Russian government seems intent on whitewashing Stalin's atrocities and the history of the Soviet security services.'"—The Washington Times
SMERSH is primarily known to readers in English as James Bond's sinister opponent. Yet SMERSH was a real organization and was just as diabolical as its fictional counterpart. Based on Russian documents and memoirs, a critical missing piece of the history of World War II and the Soviet secret services is finally exposed to the light of day.
Vadim J. Birstein, PhD, is a historian, activist, and molecular geneticist. He lives in New York.

Every major foreign government organization has a file on British secret agent James Bond. Now, Russia's lethal SMERSH organization has targeted him for elimination. SMERSH has the perfect bait in the irresistible Tatiana Romanova, who lures 007 to Istanbul promising the top-secret Spektor cipher machine. But when Bond walks willingly into the trap, a game of cross and double-cross ensues, with Bond both the stakes and the prize.

Synopsis

SMERSH is the Soviet organ of vengeance: of interrogation, torture and death. James Bond is dedicated to the destruction of its agents wherever he finds them.
Then SMERSH focuses on Bond and, far away in Moscow, a trap is laid for him - a death trap with an enticing lure.