First published 1977
In the aftermath of a devastating mole hunt, disgraced spy George Smiley is tasked with rebuilding the Circus, Britain's shattered intelligence service. His last chance at redemption lies in a daring operation to track down the elusive Karla, Smiley's long-time adversary. With the future of the Circus hanging by a thread, Smiley must navigate a web of old alliances and new enemies in the far reaches of Southeast Asia, where the stakes couldn't be higher. In a world of shifting loyalties and hidden agendas, can Smiley outwit Karla and salvage what's left of the Circus?
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, mystery, espionage
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, redemption, rival-spies
Setting: Great Britain, Southeast Asia
Period: 20th-century
543 pages · Paperback · Pan Books