First book in a great spy saga!
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First in a series of nine books about the life and career of a SIS spy, Bernard Samson. After spending five years behind a desk in London, Bernie is asked by Brahms Four (a high ranking source in East Berlin), to help him come over to the West. With him, he will bring evidence of a high ranking mole, located within the SIS. Will Bernie manage to succeed in his mission, before the mole succeeds in it's?
Once again, we have another great spy thriller from Len Deighton. His story writing skills weave an enthralling tale of treachery, action, mystery and humour. I enjoyed the way his characters interact with one another. Especially Samson's dry wit and humour!
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The first and best cold war novelist
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A recent unsuccessful quest for Len Deighton novels, in several large chain bookstores, reminded me what a crucial service Amazon provides to the book-buying public nowadays. While bookstores squeeze publishers' margins in return for promoting second-rate titles, the quality books are left languishing in the back of the store or not stocked at all. Like several other reviewers here, I am re-reading the Bernard Samson series, and will undoubtedly do so again. With Russian emigrés being assassinated in London, the suppression of Russia's free press, and economic blackmail of former Eastern Bloc states, the cold-war genre is suddenly relevant again. My wife does not even like spy fiction, but could not put this series down until reading all three trilogies. We are now planning a trip to Berlin to identify all the locations we have read about! The genius of Len Deighton is that his novels are compulsive page-turners, with more ingenious plots and better characterizations than Le Carré's, but without the heavy intellectual style.
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A brill read, again and again and again .....
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There's only one thing better than a really good book - and that is when it's part of a series. Bernie Samson, his family, friends, colleagues and enemies appear in 10, page-turning novels. There is so much I enjoy in these novels, that every 3-4 years or so I re-read them and enjoy them all over again. There's the complex plot, that leads you up and down the proverbial garden path. That's one reason to read again, to pick up any clues missed the first time. The characters are believeable, particularly Bernie's colleagues, embroiled in office politics. I think it's the interaction of the characters that makes the book so absorbing for me. Initially its a good escapism read, but then Deighton subtly offers a storyline that could be based on true events, and valid explanations as to why his characters might have acted as they did. A tale of contrasts, from life threatening situations, to the minutae of daily life; from being light hearted and witty, to very thought provoking; a very satisfying read.
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Faith Hope and Charity
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I have just finished reading all the Bernard Sampson Books.The nine book series plus Winter A Berlin Family . I enjoyed every single book and I am sorry to come to the end of the series, I envy people who have not yet read them, they
are in for a real treat.They are full of great characters, terrific story lines and vivid portayals of life at this time. With his words
he paints memorable pictures of Berlin, Germany and Poland. Please do not miss this exiting experience of life with Bernard and his friends ,colleagues and enimies.
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Thrilling suspense
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This was just as good now as when first read nearly 20 years ago. An excellent journey back in time to the Cold War conflicts between East and West, highlighted by the sardonic wit of spymaster Bernard Samson.
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