The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, by John le Carre

[Elise]

This is my choice for week 16, a top 100 mystery novel. I love crime fiction/mysteries/thrillers, and have never read a book by this author, but have wanted to for years.

In this classic, John le Carre's third novel and the first to earn him international acclaim, he created a world unlike any previously experienced in suspense fiction. With unsurpassed knowledge culled from his years in British Intelligence, le Carre brings to light the shadowy dealings of international espionage in the tale of a British agent who longs to end his career but undertakes one final, bone-chilling assignment. When the last agent under his command is killed and Alec Leamas is called back to London, he hopes to come in from the cold for good. His spymaster, Control, however, has other plans. Determined to bring down the head of East German Intelligence and topple his organization, Control once more sends Leamas into the fray -- this time to play the part of the dishonored spy and lure the enemy to his ultimate defeat

[Sophie]

I've also wanted to read Le Carré for years, I really need to get to it soon! Can't wait for your thoughts about this book.

[Elise]

I loved it - after refreshing my knowledge on Germany and Berlin immediately post-world war 2 - I started reading it and was like - West Germany? East Germany? It had been a while since high school Modern History!

I wasn't sure if I started reading his books in the right place though - on Goodreads it's listed as #3 in the George Smiley series - he's only a peripheral character in this book, but I'm not sure if the espionage world would have felt more familiar, and the book mean more, if I had read them in order...Having said that, I'm definitely going to read another one, it was such an interesting historical setting...and a good twist at the end:)