Product Description

A ferociously cool Cold War thriller from the author of The Ipcress File. Len Deighton's third novel has become a classic, as compelling and suspenseful now as when it first exploded on to the bestseller lists. In Berlin, where neither side of the wall is safe, Colonel Stok of Red Army Security is prepared to sell an important Russian scientist to the West -- for a price. British intelligence are willing to pay, providing their own top secret agent is in Berlin to act as go-between. But it soon becomes apparent that behind the facade of an elaborate mock funeral lies a game of deadly manoeuvres and ruthless tactics. A game in which the blood-stained legacy of Nazi Germany is enmeshed in the intricate moves of cold war espionage!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36654 in Books
• Published on: 1978-08-31
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
'A most impressive book in which the tension, more like a chronic ache than a sharp stab of pain, never lets go.' Evening Standard 'A ferociously cool fable, even better than The Spy Who Came In From the Cold.' New York Times 'Brilliant, bright and wicked.' Vogue 'A master of fictional espionage.' Daily Mail 'The poet of the spy story.' Sunday Times 'Deighton is so far in the front of other writers in the field that they are not even in sight' Sunday Times 'Nobody now seriously doubts that Deighton is the most credible of all the spysmiths' The Scotsman

About the Author
Born in London, Len Deighton served in the RAF before graduating from the Royal College of Art (which recently elected him a Senior Fellow). While in New York City working as a magazine illustrator he began writing his first novel, The Ipcress File, which was published in 1962. He is now the author of more than thirty books of fiction and non-fiction. At present living in Europe, he has, over the years, lived with his family in ten different countries from Austria to Portugal.

Customer Reviews

one of the best books of the spy master
Welcome to the dark realm of betrayals, double cross and intrigue. Nobody is who they seem to be. Epigraphs to each part are simplest chess rules - at the first chapter, for instance, it states that in chess players go one after another. Closer to the middle of the book one feels the urge to go back and check with previous rules, 'cos suddenly they are important! The period and topic is thoroughly researched - even from my post-"Empire of Evil" background. Pity there are only 5 stars - I would give more to this book! If you do not like spy novels - try this one. I know - I hooked my girlfriend via this novel (she used to consider spy novels as an inferior sub-literature before :)

Vintage Deighton
This is one of Deighton's best; the plot is superb and full of the usual twists that are his trademark. This book is thoroughly researched and a tremendous read. I thoroughly recommend it.

Am I reviewing the story or the book?
Cracking good read. Fast paced and timeless characters. Especially enjoyable to read whilst on a trip to modern day Berlin.