Karla's Choice
A Novel of John le Carré's Circus
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4.3 • 163 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
The instant international bestseller set in the world of John le Carré's most iconic spy, George Smiley, written by acclaimed novelist Nick Harkaway
It is spring in 1963 and George Smiley has left the Circus. With the wreckage of the West’s spy war against the Soviets strewn across Europe, he has eyes only for a more peaceful life. And indeed, with his marriage more secure than ever, there is a rumor that George Smiley might almost be happy.
But Control has other plans. A Russian agent has defected in the most unusual of circumstances, and the man he was sent to kill in London is nowhere to be found. Smiley reluctantly agrees to one last simple task: interview Szusanna, a Hungarian émigré and employee of the missing man, and sniff out a lead.
But in his absence, the shadows of Moscow have lengthened. Smiley soon finds himself entangled in a perilous mystery that will define the battles to come and set him on a collision course with the greatest enemy he will ever make.
Set in the missing decade between two iconic instalments in John le Carré's George Smiley saga, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Karla’s Choice marks a momentous return to the world of spy fiction's greatest writer.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
A hero returns from retirement to take on his greatest nemesis in this smart Cold War–era espionage novel based on the works of John le Carré. George Smiley has left the spy game and settled into a normal, happy life with his wife, Ann, but when a Russian assassin turns himself in, Smiley’s former boss calls on him to assist in the investigation. As Smiley begins to takes a deep dive into the life of the assassin’s intended target, he finds himself in an intricate cat-and-mouse game with a figure from his past, the elusive Soviet spymaster Karla. Nick Harkaway, son of the late John le Carré, picks up the reins of his father’s greatest creation without missing a beat. Whether you’re already a fan of George Smiley’s morally grey exploits or just love tales of international intrigue, Karla’s Choice is one you just can’t miss.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
George Smiley returns in this terrific spy saga from John Le Carré's son, Titanium Noir author Nicholas Cornwell (writing under the Harkaway pseudonym). In 1963, Hungarian publisher Laszlo Bánáti fails to show up at his office in London. Instead, a Soviet assassin arrives, telling Bánáti's assistant, Susanna Gero, "I am here to kill your Mr. Bánáti... but I have changed my mind." Gero cleverly manages to bring the would-be assassin to British intelligence, who task the happily retired Smiley with finding Bánáti and figuring out why the Soviets want him dead. Smiley plunges behind Soviet lines, launching a labyrinthine mission that puts him back on the trail of his old nemesis, Karla, head of the KGB, and fills in narrative gaps between Le Carré's The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Longtime Smiley fans will delight in the enormous cast of familiar characters, the thoughtful meditations on the morality of espionage, and the lived-in tradecraft. Harkaway brilliantly channels his late father's voice, and in the process delivers an essential new chapter for Smiley and Karla.
Customer Reviews
My First Smiley Book
I think it would have helped to have read previous Smiley books. I thoroughly enjoyed this, but had to circle back often to help me understand who the characters were. I also had trouble grasping some of the spy craft references. Having said all that, the last 3rd of the book is riveting. And all through the book the issue of balancing morality with political expediency is a challenging exercise. I am more familiar with Le Carre’s later books, but am now motivated to go back and read the earlier ones because of this excellent effort by Nick Harkaway. And I look forward to reading more by him.
Better than Dad’s
Wonderful plotting, well rounded characters, great pace, clever, and satisfying. Smiley at the top of his game.
Enjoyable Yarn
I enjoyed the story and becoming further acquainted with Smiley and his colleagues. Kudos to Nick Harkaway on taking this on and succeeding.