Patricia S. (patsto) reviewed on + 33 more book reviews
Another tautly written, well-researched spy novel from LeCarre. The Cold War is over. The
Russians are our friends. Consequently, spy handler Tim "Timbo" Cranmer and his specially
groomed double agent, Larry Pettifer, are put out to pasture. Tim, a somewhat stolid and
unimaginative civil-servant type, has removed himself and his much younger mistress, Emma,
to his late uncle's vineyard in Somerset, while the idealistic Larry is uncomfortably
ensconced as a professor at Bath University. Then Larry and Emma disappear. They have
apparently run off together. They have also apparently relieved the Russians of more than 30
million pounds. The British police, guessing at Tim's previous occupation, and the Russians,
knowing it, suspect Tim's active participation in, or at least knowledge of, the scheme. All
parties concerned attempt to force him to reveal the whereabouts of the fugitives, which he
honestly does not know. He does, however, still possess some of the skills of his former
profession, and in a suspenseful journey through England, France, and finally Russia, he
tracks down his friends while eluding his followers. In the process, readers learn much
about the dissident Russian regions and some pre-and post-Stalinist history. An engrossing,
exciting spy story.
Russians are our friends. Consequently, spy handler Tim "Timbo" Cranmer and his specially
groomed double agent, Larry Pettifer, are put out to pasture. Tim, a somewhat stolid and
unimaginative civil-servant type, has removed himself and his much younger mistress, Emma,
to his late uncle's vineyard in Somerset, while the idealistic Larry is uncomfortably
ensconced as a professor at Bath University. Then Larry and Emma disappear. They have
apparently run off together. They have also apparently relieved the Russians of more than 30
million pounds. The British police, guessing at Tim's previous occupation, and the Russians,
knowing it, suspect Tim's active participation in, or at least knowledge of, the scheme. All
parties concerned attempt to force him to reveal the whereabouts of the fugitives, which he
honestly does not know. He does, however, still possess some of the skills of his former
profession, and in a suspenseful journey through England, France, and finally Russia, he
tracks down his friends while eluding his followers. In the process, readers learn much
about the dissident Russian regions and some pre-and post-Stalinist history. An engrossing,
exciting spy story.
