If you loved John le Carré's George Smiley novels, as I did, you'll want to get your hands on this one.

Nick Harkaway has stepped into his father's world of espionage, and he's done a great job.

Set in 1965, some 18 months after Harkaway's previous novel, Karla's Choice, the story takes us back into the world of George Smiley and the Circus. For those of us who have read our way through le Carré's novels, it's rather wonderful to be back among these familiar characters. 

When a British agent is shot in Helsinki, Smiley finds himself investigating a Soviet operation that threatens one of Britain's most valuable intelligence sources. His search takes him to Los Angeles, while Roy Bland is working undercover in Leningrad.

And that's where you need to pay attention!

Harkaway brings the Smiley and Bland storylines together in a complicated web of secrets, double agents, and political intrigue. It's beautifully written, but certainly not a book you can read with one eye on the television.

I found myself concentrating, especially as the two stories developed and the connections slowly became clearer. But that's exactly what I enjoy about this sort of novel. I don't want everything handed to me on a plate.

What impressed me most was how comfortably Harkaway slipped into his father's world. The characters, the atmosphere, the conversations, and the complicated business of spying all felt wonderfully familiar.

He's not simply borrowing George Smiley and writing another spy adventure. He's captured much of what made his father's books so enjoyable in the first place.

This isn't a light, easy read, and I wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for a quick holiday thriller. But for those of us who love a good, complicated espionage story, it's well worth the concentration.

The king is dead, long live the king! Nick Harkaway certainly has his father's talent, and I can't wait to see where he takes George Smiley next.

Our Rating: 5/5

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