Reviews

I wanted to like this book, I really did. The fact is there's really two stories going on in this novel, one centered around Smiley and the other around Westerby. Both are good stories but they do not complement each other. Instead they clash and fight for space and break up each other's momentum. The result is a book that's definitely worth reading for Le Carre fans, but ultimately a let-down; certainly nowhere near as good as it could've or should've been.

elmst13's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

simplyselicia's review against another edition

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3.0

I listened to the dramatized audio version of this book after it was recommended to me and theu really flew through it! Really liked the atmosphere. It's not something I would have picked on my own so it was enjoyable to listen to. About a 3.5 almost 4 from me

duparker's review against another edition

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3.0

A good overall thriller. More conventionally written than Tinker Tailor. I liked the pace and the resolution. The book has both a matter of fact manner and a clear genre darkness to it.

thisisstephenbetts's review against another edition

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4.0

A slightly strange Le Carré, this. Actually felt like the most James Bondish of the ones that I've read to date - there are the exotic locations, a damsel in sort-of-voluntary distress involved with the villains, the main character even chooses to carry a small Walther handgun (that must have been a deliberate reference!) Basically it just felt more glamorous, exotic and adventure-filled than earlier books.

There was also a lot of politics, and one or two rogue operators - reminded me a bit more of James Ellroy novels (pleasantly - not always a given with Ellroy).

There's still plenty of the digging away in the vaults by the eccentric characters at the Circus, and lots of political jockeying in London. Smiley is still as engaging as ever, but I didn't have the same through and through enjoyment of earlier LeCarrés. Looking forward to Smiley's People though.

stevenyenzer's review against another edition

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2.0

Ugh, why did you make me do this, John le Carré? After the brilliant, genre-defining Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, le Carré inexplicably chose to give us a deep dive into Gerald Westerby and sideline George Smiley and crew.

There is no doubt that Westerby serves as a great example of how the characteristics that make someone a great spy also make them unreliable and disobedient. I was reminded of the British spy Eddie Chapman, whose exploits are chronicled in Ben Macintyre's Agent Zigzag. Chapman was an incredible spy, but he was also erratic and impossible to control. I imagine that le Carré wanted to show this aspect of espionage -- but he didn't need to build a whole book around it.

It's hard to overstate how little I cared about Westerby. His comrades in Hong Kong were flat and cartoonish (including Luke, whose death I could not care less about) and his obsession with Lizzie is boring. I was freshly irritated every time the narration returned to his point of view and glad when it was over. Hoping this one was an aberration.

nath234's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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