The book which is credited with bringing John Le Carre to the forefront of spy literature.
Considered widely to be amongst his best works, this is a great introduction to his style of spy thrillers.
For those who are used to the high octane, action filled pages of Tom Clancy, Forsyth, Archer or more
recently the likes of Harlan Coben, the slow burning, strategic, nuanced world occupied by unfashionable
heroes like George Smiley may not seem fashionable or even feel downright boring. But if you are willing
to be a bit patient, and want a slightly more realistic take on the world of international espionage, then
you can't get better than Le Carre!
John Le Carre is a prolific author, and The Spy Who Came In From the Cold is a wonderful first book to
get introduced into his brand of spy thrillers. The story - set in Cold War era Europe follows the fortunes
of Alec Leamas - a disgraced British Intelligence Officer and his attempt at redemption and revenge against
his adversaries in the East German side. The character development is fantastic and the plot keeps you
guessing at all times, and just like the characters in the novel, you quickly understand that not everything
is as it seems. The book also sets up the intriguing world of Control, George Smiley, Peter Guillam that a
lot of Le Carre's future works revolve around.
Not a book that can be recommended to everyone though - as this style of thriller with a lot of focus on
characters and the absence of what many consider heroism today and a relatively slow pace, will not be
to everyone's liking. But if you are willing to try something different, and like good literature that doesn't
insult your intelligence in the name of artistic liberty, then you can't go wrong with John Le Carre's writing.