Review: The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John Le Carré

I can see why this novel is so highly regarded. First, it’s actually a novel about spies, unlike the first two books in the George Smiley series, which are mostly murder mysteries (that said, George Smiley himself barely has any role in this book). Second, it shows the gritty, nasty, dirty, messy life of spies, which feels much more realistic than what you might see in a James Bond movie. Third, it has a pretty good twist. Fourth, it makes an important larger point about the morality of spy tactics.

It’s not a perfect book—it can be a bit slow at times, and the twist is definitely convoluted and seems a little implausible—but as far as realistic Cold War spy books goes, it’s definitely a good one.

Rating: 5 stars