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The Umbrella Murder

Observer Book of the Week and Shortlisted for Fingerprint Crime Awards

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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

London, September 1978: exiled Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov is murdered in broad daylight on Waterloo Bridge with what appears to be a poison-tipped umbrella. It would become the most infamous unsolved killing of the Cold War.

Many years later, young journalist Ulrik Skotte is approached with explosive new information about a man alleged to be responsible for Markov’s death – a spy code-named Piccadilly who worked for the Bulgarian secret service. This meeting launched Skotte into a hunt for the killer lasting more than a quarter of a century, bringing him face to face with eccentric conspiracy theorists, a washed-up former dictator, ageing Danish spooks – and, ultimately, with Agent Piccadilly himself.

Drawing on an incredible cache of original documents, interviews and archive material, The Umbrella Murder provides jaw-dropping answers to questions that have persisted for nearly five decades: who killed Georgi Markov? And who has been protecting the assassin ever since?

©2024 Ulrik Skotte (P)2024 Penguin Audio

 20th Century Espionage Freedom & Security Military Modern Murder Politics & Government True Crime Inspiring Cold War

Critic reviews

'This masterly investigation, spanning 30 years, into the assassination of a cold war dissident, Georgi Markov, in London in 1978 exposes an assassin worthy of James Bond'
The value of The Umbrella Murder lies in Skotte having known many of those caught up in the killing, its fascination in his psychologically astute portraits of them… Sebastian Faulks once lamented that the failing of biography is that the author never quite gets in the room with their subject. Skotte’s great coup is that, undeterred by official silence, he does do that, tracking down Gullino in 2021 to a squalid flat in Austria... A month later, he was dead.
An engaging account... a description of the author’s 30-year search for Markov’s killer, culminating in a confession on camera. It is a model for every would-be investigative journalist, a triumph of teamwork, persistence and essential record-keeping.
All stars
Most relevant
As a Bulgarian I am very interested in knowing the truth about Georgi Markov's murder. It was a common knowledge that the Bulgarian secret service was behind it. However this book gives a lot of detail on the subject.
Very well written and read.

A real story, told as interesting as a novel.

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This is an extraordinary story, well told that grips the imagination from the very beginning. Markov's murder stood out amongst the many crimes, committed by both sides, in the cold war, brazen and ruthless yet also mysterious. Bulgaria I know well, and this book captures the atmosphere of a post cold war Sofia, struggling against having to deal with its past. Whatever the equivalent of a page turner is in Audible, this is it.

Totally Gripping

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This is a masterpiece. The writing and the narration are outstanding. I wish all audiobooks were this well narrated. The story is gripping and wonderfully written. A must listen. This is one that I will listen to over and over. Simply superb.

In my top three audiobooks of all time.

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Excellent book about a strange murder. I was a kid when it happened - but have always remembered it. It was interesting to know more of the circumstances surrounding it.

Excellent

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An astounding feat of research and dogged determination in the pursuit of truth. A remarkable thriller, all the more so as so many readers will remember the incident and the mystery surrounding the assination of Georgi Markov.

A gripping tale, perfect narration an insight to the murky world of espionage

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