1.99k reviews for:

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold

John le Carré

3.99 AVERAGE

niksen's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Diverse cast of characters: No

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 George Smiley #3, with not that much George Smiley in it. Read for genre fiction book club

Really good spy thriller with double crosses that double cross. Set in divided Germany. The muddled line between us and them makes this a standout. 

refu86's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

uncommonbirb's review against another edition

3.75

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mamaza1963's review against another edition

2.5

dark sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

victorianabigail's review against another edition

3.0

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I find Le Carre's books very hard to follow--I don't know if it's simply his style or if it's because I lack a lot of the Cold War context that readers at the time would have had. That said, I really liked the last two chapters of this one.

pilsom's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

hcantread's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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The machinations in full view at the end of this book are horrifying. The imagery is really enjoyable but it’s almost too bleak. also, to unfortunately compare it to the film, you need someone like Richard Burton to sell Liz falling in love. I can’t really believe it with just Leamas on the page

envinat's review against another edition

4.0

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The story centered around the spies' powers of deception, which made it a good, fast read.

jamessmith82's review against another edition

5.0

mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

helkur's review against another edition

4.5

dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced