Tag: spy novels
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Review: Knecht’s Who Is Vera Kelly
Who Is Vera Kelly Rosalie Knecht A clever spy novel that doubles as a coming out story, while also being an disection of gender and sexuality in 1950-60s American and is an subtle exposition of the catastrophic effects of U.S. involvement in Latin America. Many spy novelists are ostensibly liberals (LeCarre, Steinhauer come to mind)…
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Review: Ignatius’s the Increment
The Increment: A Novel David Ignatius David Ignatius is a true beltway insider. He writes for the Washington Post and he is a regular guest on Sunday morning talk show. However, unlike most beltway reporters, when he turns his hand to fiction, he can write a better than average spy thriller. By far Ignatius’ best…
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Review: McCarry’s Miernik Dossier
The Miernik Dossier Charles McCarry A clever spy novel written as a series of dossiers from the various spies and spy agencies tied up in a confused cold war battle for influence. All the classic spy novel motifs are here: betrayals both political and personal, glamourous and troubled women, troubled and glamorous men, sex, booze,…
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Review: Steinhauer’s All the Old Knives
All the Old Knives: A Novel Olen Steinhauer Steinhauer is one of the best espionage writers working today. Maybe the best, actually. His books hit the sweet spot of fast-paced plotting with well-drawn characters and top-notch writing. This little book goes in a somewhat different direction from the action packed Tourist books. The concept is that…
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Review: Lynd’s the Last Spymaster
The Last Spymaster Gayle Lynds A poorly constructed and dreadfully written second rate spy novel. As I have said on many occasions, I have no taste. If a book’s plot moves along at a good clip and is engaging, I’ll overlook clumsy writing. If a book is beautifully written, I’ll overlook a lackluster plot. But…
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Review: Le Carre’s Tailor of Panama
A version of this review originally appeared on a now long defunct livejournal account. The Tailor of Panama John Le Carre Le Carre, is in my opinion, the best espionage novelist of all time. If you’re fan of the genre, you’ve probably read at least some of his books. If not, you should. The Tailor…
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The Books I Read in 2012
Attention conservation notice: this post is long and has nothing to do with working out. I have kept a list of every book I have read I have read since I was thirteen years old. Yeah, obsessive record keeping didn’t start with my running log. Below is a list of every book I read this…
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Review: Littell’s The Company
The Company: A Novel of the CIA Robert Littell A better than average page-turner spy novel tracing the history of the agency through the stories of a group of men who come into it as it was being formed and end up in the upper reaches of the organization. Clearly based on real guys, some…
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Review: LeCarre’s Spy Who Came In From The Cold
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold: A George Smiley Novel (George Smiley Novels) John LeCarre This is the one that made LeCarre’s name. It is a dark look at the horrible machinations of the KGB and MI6 at the height of the cold war, and the price that a number of foot soliders…
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Review: Le Carre’s Our Game
Our Game John LeCarre Perhaps the best of LeCarre’s non-Smiley novels this one centers on the relationship of a fellow traveler socialist turned British Cold War spy and his longtime handler and what happens in their broken lives when the Cold War that framed their identities ends. Like most Le Carre novels, the plot is…
Milo and the Calf 