After Reilly's death there were various rumours about his survival; Reilly's wife Pepita Bobadilla claimed to possess evidence indicating that Reilly was still alive as late as 1932. Others speculated that the unscrupulous Reilly had defected to the opposition, becoming an adviser to Soviet intelligence. Despite such unfavourable rumours the international press quickly turned Reilly into a household name, lauding him as a masterful spy and chronicling his many espionage adventures with numerous embellishments. Contemporary newspapers dubbed him "the greatest spy in history" and "the Scarlet Pimpernel of Red Russia". In May 1931, The "London Evening Standard" published an illustrated serial headlined "Master Spy" which sensationalised his many exploits as well as outright invented others.