Book info

• Title The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
• Author John le Carré
• Year 1963
• Genre Mystery

Alex Leamas is tired. It's the 1960s, he's been out in the cold for years, spying in Berlin for his British masters, and has seen too many good agents murdered for their troubles. Now Control wants to bring him in at last - but only after one final assignment. He must travel deep into the heart of Communist Germany and betray his country, a job that he will do with his usual cynical professionalism. But when George Smiley tries to help a young woman Leamas has befriended, Leamas's mission may prove to be the worst thing he could ever have done.

Thoughts

Le Carre books vex me because they are so good, I know they’re good, they’re really well written and engaging but for whatever reason I just find them very hard to follow. It’s all the double crossing and back and forth and who’s side are they on anyway. But somehow I still love it. This one was great, because you knew (or thought you knew) that what was happening wasn’t real as it went along… but then there was a whole other layer under that. And the end, wow, it all happened so quickly and left me reeling a bit!

Rating: 3 / 5