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yousless's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
Such an engaging story with some great twists at the end. This was my first espionage novel and was thoroughly enjoyable. It’s not how I expected it to be at all (in a good way). It’s very much not James Bond in a book! It’s challenging and gritty and you piece together the arc as the story progresses. It’s brilliant!
anandazhu's review
5.0
a real slow-burner - the first half feels a little meandering, but the build up to all the incredible twists and turns in the second half is so rewarding. admittedly i’m not totally familiar with the historical context, but i found the characters’ pontifications - about morality, right and wrong, sacrifices for the “greater good” / ideology, etc. - to be actually quite moving.
e_lli_e's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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
5.0
bhartis's review
4.0
An espionage tale cannot get better than this one coming from Le Carre, one of the best for this genre. The fact that he actually did work for MI6 adds so much authenticity to his work. Came highly recommended from few friends and I must say it was everything they described. I am a fan and next on list is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
marndt91's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
brig_berthold's review
4.0
Some found the conclusion of this novel disappointing. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the finale. This is a dubious, twisting tale of betrayal, mistrust, deception, and offensive espionage. Simple yet intricate, all while avoiding wildly esoteric elements. John le Carré in fine form.