Scan barcode
fatigue's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
In a post-9/11 world, a young boy finds himself in Hamburg illegally and seeks refuge with a Turkish boxer and his mother. He's a Muslim Chechen, who has been in prison numerous times, escaped to Hamburg, and only wants to be a doctor. He figures that his best bet to reach his end goal is to find the banker that has access to his father's fortune, his father being part of the Russian mafia. He gets in touch with a human rights lawyer whose family is highly connected (diplomatically) but she tries to pave her own path largely with idealism. A former client of hers was shipped off unceremoniously from Hamburg and she never heard from him again. She doesn't want a repeat. Meanwhile the banker, largely estranged from his daughter and in a crumbling marriage, resents his father for dealing with the Russian mafia, and wants to help this lawyer.
German, British, and American intelligence assume the boy is part of the Islamic jihadi movement, and attempt to figure out who he's working for. While the Germans and Brits attempt to use him to get to a Muslim scholar who they suspect funds a lot of terrorist attacks, the Americans have a different plan (extraordinary rendition ).
Unlike most spy thrillers, this isn't a rollercoaster filled with action. It focuses more on the strategic and the long game and the politics between various factions of law enforcement, both within a country and across countries.
German, British, and American intelligence assume the boy is part of the Islamic jihadi movement, and attempt to figure out who he's working for. While the Germans and Brits attempt to use him to get to a Muslim scholar who they suspect funds a lot of terrorist attacks, the Americans have a different plan (
Unlike most spy thrillers, this isn't a rollercoaster filled with action. It focuses more on the strategic and the long game and the politics between various factions of law enforcement, both within a country and across countries.
heylook's review against another edition
3.0
Not his best, but still an intriguing look at both the current state of the War on Terror and how the global shakeups of the past continue to effect the world today
tintinintibet's review against another edition
3.0
A quick read. Not much happens in this book -- probably intended to be more of a character development piece. I've read a couple le Carre books and now that I think about it most of them are character driven -- but this one particularly so. He was pretty heavy handed with his political commentary in 'Absolute Friends' which I found distracting since it appeared throughout the book; here it is a bit more constrained. I'm between 2 and 3 stars, but giving le Carre the benefit of the doubt.
slichto3's review against another edition
3.0
A mysterious Muslim man arrives at a doorstep in Hamburg, desperate for a place to stay. He evades questions about his past, but there is something not quite right about him. The people taking him in suspect it, but aid him all the same, until German anti-terrorism groups become interested in him. What follows is a gradual investigation and attempted ensnarement that culminates in a fascinating way.
The story itself is quite interesting. The characters are easy to empathize with, although their layers make them difficult to understand in an engaging way. The book does take quite a bit of time to get where it's going, though. I felt hooked early on, but later my attention began to drift. Even the ending, which was excellently and fascinatingly plotted, feels like it could have been more taut. Overall, I liked A Most Wanted Man, but I was far from loving it.
The story itself is quite interesting. The characters are easy to empathize with, although their layers make them difficult to understand in an engaging way. The book does take quite a bit of time to get where it's going, though. I felt hooked early on, but later my attention began to drift. Even the ending, which was excellently and fascinatingly plotted, feels like it could have been more taut. Overall, I liked A Most Wanted Man, but I was far from loving it.
stephanie1b's review against another edition
2.0
Didn't finish it. The story didn't draw me in. I tried - gave it 150 pages or so.
wintermute9's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
duparker's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 Stars. So always le Carre produced an enjoyable and complex spy novel. I enjoyed the pace, a slow burn until the end, then in 5 pages more action then the proceeding 400.
lauraxbakker's review
2.0
The book itself, is very good. But spionage, mystery stuff like this, just is not for me. The pace was so slow, and at one point I just didn't want to pick it up anymore. I loved the movie so I hoped that would motivate me to read it but it didn't. I don't think I will be reading more books like this any time soon.
bluestarfish's review against another edition
4.0
le Carré books inhabit bleak worlds where there is no clarity in morality, professional duty, relationships, patriotism, personal loyalty and the characters are trying to make choices in a post-9/11 environment. Bleak and sad and very well written.