Books like Agent Zigzag by Ben Macintyre

Eddie Chapman—nicknamed “Agent Zigzag”—was a charming criminal whose talent for deception made him one of Britain’s most remarkable double agents during World War II. Beginning as a German‑trained spy in occupied France, Chapman was parachuted into Britain in 1941 with orders to destroy an airplane factory. Instead he turned to MI5 and began operating alone inside the German Secret Service for four years. He orchestrated espionage across Europe, spreading disinformation, and even threatened to assassinate Hitler for Britain. While the Nazis honored him with the Iron Cross, British authorities pardoned him after the war, ensuring his family and mistress received care. Fifty‑plus years later, MI5 declassified more than 1,800 pages of top‑secret files, allowing Chapman's full story to surface. The book offers a gripping, psychologically nuanced look at the thin line between loyalty and betrayal inherent in espionage.

First publish date: 2007