The Spy Who Came in From the Cold

by John Le Carré

In Brief

In Cold War Berlin, British Intelligence is losing all its best agents. A complex deception is called for to turn the tide, a plot that will claim lives on both sides of the Iron Curtain. This is the book that redefined the spy thriller, replacing the glamour of Bond with the hard-bitten realism and betrayal of George Smiley’s bleak world.

Why you should read it

Fine plotting and a tight narrative style ensure a tense read from start to finish. John le Carré’s well-drawn characters may not be likeable, but they cannot fail to evoke sympathy and understanding. Time magazine declared it one of the top 100 novels in the English language.