The Ipcress File (Secret File, #1) in Espionage Aficionados

Sep 30, 2016 Nooilforpacifists rated it really liked it

Shelves: thriller

It's hard to believe this was Deighton's first book. Had I written something as clever, sarcastic, and thrilling as this, I would have stopped there, and admired myself in the mirror for a decade. Good thing Len didn't--this book gets scrambled at the end. By contrast, by the time he hit his stride in the three Bernard Sampson trilogies, there wasn't a hair out of place.

Deighton didn't go to Eton; he's not an Oxbridge grad. But he read like a madman, had some Toff friends, and must have the ret ...more

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Aug 15, 2020 Michael Martz rated it liked it

I've become a Len Deighton fan since making my way through a few of his spy trilogies. He's a solid writer with great characters and a seemingly up-to-date knowledge of the spy game. I reached back nearly 60 years into his extensive catalog to check out his initial foray into the genre, 'The Ipcress File', and it was interesting to see from whence he came. It was supposedly a very hot novel when first released, but it's pretty dated language wise, the plot is confusing, and the conclusion a litt ...more

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Sep 22, 2022 Dan J Ford rated it it was amazing

There is no series quite like Len Deighton’s ‘Harry Palmer’ foursome that begins with ‘The IPCRESS File’.

The book was recently adapted into a mini series, preceded by the 1965 film starring Michael Caine, unfortunately, neither do the written original justice. Deighton’s protagonists is the perfect, tongue in cheek, cynical and witty British spy. The series is plotted like four substantial bites of a favourite meal, but it’s the dialogue that sets this series far and above so many other ‘Brit-sp ...more

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Feb 04, 2017 Andy Lancelot rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It was enjoyable but to be honest not as much as I’d thought. I’m a huge fan of the Michael Caine film and although aware that there were differences I was still looking forward to reading the book. I think it was the writing style that I didn’t quite get on with in parts, but once used to it I felt it was an enjoyable read.

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