First published 1964
Alec Leamas is a weary British spy, ready to defect from the shadows of the Cold War. But his masters have one last mission: pose as a turncoat and help engineer the downfall of a formidable East German intelligence chief. As Leamas infiltrates the enemy and gains the trust of his targets, he's torn between his loyalty to his country and a dangerous empathy for the very people he must betray. In this tense chess match of deception, Leamas must risk everything to pull off the ultimate double-cross.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, thriller, espionage
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: deception, enemies-to-lovers
Setting: Great Britain, Berlin, Germany, England
Period: 1960s
223 pages · Hardcover · Bloomsbury USA