A Most Wanted Man in Around the World in 80 Books

Nov 04, 2009 Tony rated it it was ok

Shelves: novels

I have to admit I haven't read any Le Carré in years -- and after this book, I doubt I will for years to come. In simple terms, it's the story of a half-Chechen illegal immigrant in Hamburg who is trying to lay claim on the considerable loot his dead father (a Russian military officer) salted away in a private bank. He manages to find legal aid in the form of a humorless, well-connected female lawyer, who acts as his intermediary in discussions with the 60ish English banker who controls this "di I have to admit I haven't read any Le Carré in years -- and after this book, I doubt I will for years to come. In simple terms, it's the story of a half-Chechen illegal immigrant in Hamburg who is trying to lay claim on the considerable loot his dead father (a Russian military officer) salted away in a private bank. He manages to find legal aid in the form of a humorless, well-connected female lawyer, who acts as his intermediary in discussions with the 60ish English banker who controls this "dirty" account. At the same time, it tells a parallel story of competing German intelligence agencies seeking the Chechen as a possible terrorist, and the eventual involvement of British and American espionage agencies.

Actually, that description probably makes the book sound better than it is. The big flaw is that several of the key characters, especially the lawyer and the Chechen claimant, are both thinly drawn and really annoying. For the majority of the book, the Chechen is erratic and enigmatic, and I kept waiting for Le Carré to do a big reveal and let us in on what his true nature is -- alas, this never happens. That's kind of the problem with the whole book -- it builds very very slowly, almost teasing the reader with its deliberate pace and shadowy corners, only to climax in an incredibly weak ending.

Which is not to say the book is totally without bright spots. The banker character is reasonably sympathetic and compelling, as is the main German intelligence agent (both are assisted by coolly able women, who are fun supporting cast members in their own right). And despite the thinness of many characters, Le Carré still manages to do a nice job getting at the psychology of the post-9/11 intelligence community. One insight that's particularly striking is how quickly our principles can be dismantled by cynical and efficient state security apparatus. And the workings of that apparatus are fairly interesting to observe, in a procedural way. Unfortunately, since we never care about the characters, it's not that dramatically compelling when they are levered away from their principles.

The book's other major flaw -- the ending -- is difficult to discuss in a way that won't spoil the book. Some have complained about the abruptness of it -- but for me the jarring lack of narrative closure it imposes is actually a canny choice. The real problem is that while it's an ending that is true to the reality of some of the worst excesses (crimes even) perpetrated under the guise of national security in the post 9/11 era, it's also a gratuitous and unsophisticated one. You could argue that the contrast in tone between the body of the book and the ending is a deliberate one, but it all feels more rushed than anything else. ...more

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Sep 19, 2013 Rachel N. rated it did not like it

A totally pointless book. I kept waiting for something to happen but nothing did and then the book just randomly ends. Issa may or may not be a Chechneyan terrorist. He obtains a lawyer Annabel Richter to help him become a German citizen and obtain an education to become a doctor. Then Annabel and the banker Brue become involved with German and English spies. I have no idea what the point of this book was suppsoed to be. A waste of my time.

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May 31, 2010 Kay rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: espionage, fiction, modern-fiction

It all ends badly. How could it otherwise? I found the world-weariness got to be rather oppressive, albeit true to life. The character of Anabelle annoyed me.

On the plus side, I liked the reader for this audiobook. I think that's the main reason I kept listening, in fact. ...more

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