Mexico Set

Bernard Samson #2

by Len Deighton

On the shadowy East-West battlefield of Mexico City, a British intelligence agent must entice his opposite number, a disaffected KGB major, to take the final, dramatic step--to defect.
9 sound discs (ca. 11 hrs.)

Genres: Fiction, Espionage, Thriller, Spy Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Historical Fiction

408 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Deighton was born in Marylebone, London, in 1929. His father was a chauffeur and mechanic, and his mother was a part-time cook. After leaving school, Deighton worked as a railway clerk before performing his National Service, which he spent as a photographer for the Royal Air Force's Special Investigation Branch. After discharge from the RAF, he studied at St Martin's School of Art in London in 1949, and in 1952 won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art, graduating in 1955.

Deighton worked as an airline steward with BOAC. Before he began his writing career he worked as an illustrator in New York and, in 1960, as an art director in a London advertising agency. He is credited with creating the first British cover for Jack Kerouac's On the Road. He has since used his drawing skills to illustrate a number of his own military history books.

Following the success of his first novels, Deighton became The Observer's cookery writer and produced illustrated cookbooks. In September 1967 he wrote an article in the Sunday Times Magazine about Operation Snowdrop - an SAS attack on Benghazi during World War II. The following year David Stirling would be awarded substantial damages in libel from the article.

He also wrote travel guides and became travel editor of Playboy, before becoming a film producer. After producing a film adaption of his 1968 novel Only When I Larf, Deighton and photographer Brian Duffy bought the film rights to Joan Littlewood and Theatre Workshop's stage musical Oh, What a Lovely War! He had his name removed from the credits of the film, however, which was a move that he later described as "stupid and infantile." That was his last involvement with the cinema.

Deighton left England in 1969. He briefly resided in Blackrock, County Louth in Ireland. He has not returned to England apart from some personal visits and very few media appearances, his last one since 1985 being a 2006 interview which formed part of a "Len Deighton Night" on BBC Four. He and his wife Ysabele divide their time between homes in Portugal and Guernsey.

Reviews

[Linda McHardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember these titles: "Berlin Game" "Mexico Set" "London Match"
"Spy Hook" "Spy Line" "Spy Sinker"

All by Len Deighton. All with protagonist Bernard Samson. Read them in that order, but READ THEM!

You know those kinds of novels that you love so much you mourn the loss of them when you're done reading them? Yeah, that's what this series is. I haven't yet read the next trilogy "Faith" "Hope" and "Charity", but I'm counting on you, Len! Don't let me down!

[Bettie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Description: Now on the shadowy East-West battlefield of Mexico City. British intelligence agent Bernard Samson must entice his opposite number, a disaffected KGB major, to take the final, dramatic step -- and defect.

But the price of one Russian's freedom must be paid in blood -- blood that Samson unexpectedly and incriminatingly finds on his own hands. On every side, he becomes dangerously enmeshed in an intricate web of suspicion and hatred. Yet how can he fight when he doesn't know where to find his most determined enemies -- or even who they are?

Opening: 'Some of these people want to get killed,' said Dickie Cruyer, as he jabbed the brake pedal to avoid hitting a newsboy. The kid grinned as he slid between the slowly moving cars, flourishing his newspapers with the controlled abandon of a fan dancer. ''Six Face Firing Squad'; Veracruz.' A smudgy photo of street fighting in San Salvador covered the whole front of a tabloid.

4* Winter
4* Berlin Game
TR Mexico Set
TR London Match

3* Ipcress File
3* SS-GB
3* XPD (l

[Fergus, Weaver of Autistic Webs · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a newly inducted former military intelligence officer amid top secret anonymity goes civvie street in the mists of the Ipcress File and the avalanche of successive scenarios, starring a mere nom de plume "Harry Palmer", and gets real, for Berlin Game, in the true appelation of what was - in 1991 for me - Burnout from too much military intelligence, the hidden double image of intelligence becomes real!

For it is a world of Compromise - Mains Sales!

***

Out dammed spot, you say?

Won't wash.

***

Mexico is a nice vacation spot, if you don't drink the water. Bernard Samson is guilty by Immersion.

In just such a manner, the family member who knocked me sprawling and sliding into my commitment as a contributor to the state's cardinl sin of homophobia is the primary recipient of my prayers.

For I was cursed - then blessed - the moment I started praying. But here the KGB had friends everywhere in the sixties. Whitehall was no exception!

Or Parliament Hill.

Bernard then dutifully takes his medicine, as I did, singing in my fiery singeing -

But some damned spots are indelible -

Just like our Guilty Humanity!

For that the only cure is the Cross.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having loved, “Berlin Game,” I was keen to read the second Bernie Samson novel. “Mexico Set,” sees Bernie, and Dickie Cruyer, in Mexico. They are there to persuade a senior KGB agent, Erich Stinnes, to defect. As always, though, life is never uncomplicated in Bernie’s life and Stinnes works for Fiona, Bernie’s wife, who was found to be a KGB agent in the prevous novel.

Previously seen as an outsider, due largely to his class, and education, Bernie is now viewed with greater suspicion. Those in London suspect he knew of Fiona’s disloyalty and even suspect him of involvement. As this novel veers between London, Mexico City (‘they call it, ‘Mexico’ Bernie’ drawls Dickie, before leaving Bernie and heading off to California) and Berlin. All of the characters we met in the previous novel are her too, as well as some new names. There is Bernie’s old school friend, Werner, and his young, ambitious wife, Zerna. There are those in London – Brett and Cruyer – and there is Henry Tiptree, Dickie’s young friend, who seems to pop up all over the place.

One of the things I love about these books are the characters and the sense of realism. Although he is a spy, Bernie still has to deal with his children, financial troubles, a domineering father in law and a jealous brother in law. There are also the complicated feelings he has to Fiona and the sense that all is not quite what it seems… I cannot wait to read on and find out more of Bernie’s story.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second of the Bernard Samson novels by Len Deighton (Berlin Game, Mexico Set, and London Match). It usually takes a little while for a Len Deighton novel to get going, but once it does, it roars like a freight train until the very last page. The action moves from Mexico to London to Berlin and back to Mexico.

Bernard Samson is under suspicion because his wife Fiona, a spy like her husband, defected to the Soviets, leaving the London Central people suspicious of his own intentions. It seems that Samson is on the run not only from the KGB but his own people.

There is no way that I'm not going to read the last novel in the trilogy -- and soon!

[Maine Colonial · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the events of Berlin Game, some people back at MI6 are looking askance at Bernard. But he's still operating in the field--this time in Mexico City, a hotbed of Cold War spydom--trying to entice a KGB agent to defect. He's helped by his old friend Werner, and mostly hindered by office colleagues and Werner's grasping wife.

Bernard's life is complicated in every way: office machinations, domestic troubles, and international intrigue. The plot is slow moving and deliberate, as you'd try to move carefully through a roomful of snakes. But Bernard is a compelling character and the plot becomes mesmerizing. I'm very much looking forward to #3 in this nine-volume series.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, I started reading these out of order. However, I enjoyed this tale enough to eventually invest in the entire 9/10 parts of the story - 3 trilogies and a prequel.

Bernard Samson is a man who seems out of his depth. Tasked with arranging the defection of a KGB man from Mexico. Meanwhile Bernard is still suffering from the defection of his wife - does anybody still trust him? Will the success of this job redeem him or is it doomed to failure anyway?

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samson continues his dogged game of cloak and daggers. While one is never sure if the Oxbridge contingent or the KGB are the real foe, for world weary cynical retro cool this spy series cannot be beat.

[Nigeyb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently enjoyed Berlin Game (1983), the first book in the Bernard Samson series of nine novels (plus a tenth prequel - Winter: A Berlin Family, 1899-1945). Berlin Game is a great blend of office politics, domestic insecurity, and cold war paranoia.

Mexico Set (1984) picks up the story. Bernard Samson must convince London Central that, despite his wife's defection, he was unaware of her KGB activities. The plot takes the reader to Mexico, Berlin and London with Bernard trying to secure the defection of his wife's KGB aide Erich Stinnes.

Mexico Set is a page turner, however the compelling plot is only half the pleasure of the book. All the characters are interesting and credible and it is their development which adds a richness to the storytelling.

Berlin Game set the scene however Mexico Set takes the series to the next level. I loved it, so much so that I have to continue onto the third book without any delay. I can't wait to get stuck into London Match (1985).

If you enjoy quality espionage novels then these Bernard Samson books are essential.

5/5

[Larry Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mexico Set is book 2 of Len Deighton’s highly acclaimed Bernard Sampson British spy series. Written as a trilogy … bk1 Berlin Game … bk2 Mexico Set … bk3 London Match, and later continued to 10 books. Having read bk1 & bk2, and recently stumbled on bk2 in my kindle shelves… it seemed mandatory to complete…Game, Set & Match. And while liking Berlin & London books much, Mexico now my favorite, and has me interested in reading the series further- hopefully in the order written?

The book opens and concludes in Mexico, aka Mexico City, early 1980’s. Yet the majority of the story unfolds in London and Berlin. It is Mexico however -set in the author’s mind that takes priority of place. Here’s the author’s forward… “Berlin Game with its dénouement set the scene. After that Mexico Set used arguments, anger and confidences to reveal new sides of the characters and their shifting attitudes to each other. Many important characters arrive in subsequent volumes but by the end of this book all the stars are on the stage. Yet in this book – and I know this is going to sound corny – Mexico is the star. It is a wonderful country, its cruel landscape tormented by its amazing weather patterns.” … “most writers take manners and gestures and other bits and pieces from the people they meet, they steal slices from the landscape, relive the pain and joy of their experience. In this way the writer pushes beyond reality in pursuit of some sort of truth.” Len Deighton, 2010

I took an abundance of highlights in my reading -visible on Goodreads. I will provide a sampling below… but I encourage your reading Deighton, in some order or other. He’s really good at it.

Mexico [City] Peddlers… “flourishing his newspapers with the controlled abandon of a fan dancer. ‘Six Face Firing Squad’; the headlines were huge and shiny black. ‘Hurricane Threatens Veracruz.’ A smudgy photo of street fighting in San Salvador covered the whole front of a tabloid.” … “ six lanes of traffic crawling along the Insurgentes halted, and more newsboys danced into the road, together with a woman selling flowers and a kid with lottery tickets trailing from a roll like toilet paper.” … “It was very hot. I opened the window but the sudden stink of diesel fumes made me close it again. I held my hand against the air-conditioning outlet but the air was warm. Again the fire-eater blew a huge orange balloon of flame into the air.” — “In any town north of the border this factory-fresh car would not have drawn a second glance. But Mexico City is the place old cars go to die. Most of those around us were dented and rusty, or they were crudely repainted in bright primary colours.”

Mexican Assigned “Companion” by London office. “Dicky Cruyer was a curious mixture of scholarship and ruthless ambition, but he was insensitive, and this was often his undoing. His insensitivity to people, place and atmosphere could make him seem a clown instead of the cool sophisticate that was his own image of himself.” … ‘Muy complicado,’ — ‘Muy bloody complicado’ … Touring. “broken pottery figurines that a handwritten notice said were ancient Olmec. Dicky passed it to me and walked on. I put it back on the ground with the other junk. I had too many broken fragments in my life already.” — “carnitas?’ ‘Stewed pork. He’s serving it on chicharrones: pork crackling. You eat the meat, then eat the plate. Dicky could always surprise me. Just as I had decided he was the archetypal gringo tourist, he wanted to have lunch at a fonda.” Surroundings. “ two-stroke motorcycles and cars with broken mufflers and giant trucks – some so carefully painted up that every bolt-head, rivet and wheel-nut was picked out in different colours. Here on the city’s outskirts, the wide boulevard was lined with a chaos of broken walls, goats grazing on waste ground, adobe huts, rubbish tips, crudely painted shop-fronts in primary colours and corrugated-iron fences defaced with political slogans and ribaldry.”

Bernie meets Zena, Werner’s young East German wife. “she still had that fundamental insecurity that one bout of poverty can inflict for a lifetime, and no amount of money remedy… she showed no great interest in the plight of the hungry. And like so many poor people she had only contempt for socialism in any of its various forms, for it is only the rich and guilty who can afford the subtle delights of egalitarian philosophies. — she’d inherited a nostalgia for a Germany of long ago. It was a Protestant Germany of aristocrats and Handküsse, silvery Zeppelins and student duels. It was a kultiviertes Germany of music, industry, science and literature; an imperial Germany ruled from the great cosmopolitan city of Berlin by efficient, incorruptible Prussians. It was a Germany she’d never seen; a Germany that had never existed.”

Target - Russian Berlin lead op. “And yet, for all that, Stinnes had the quick intelligent eyes and tough self-confidence that makes a man attractive to his fellow humans. — I had the feeling he believed me and was proud to be starred by London. This was probably the right way to tackle him. It would be like a love affair; and Stinnes had reached that dangerous age when a man was only susceptible to an innocent little cutie or to an experienced floozy. And the stock-in-trade of both was flattery.”

Back to London office. ‘You’re late,’ he said. ‘Damned late.’ ‘Yes, I am,’ I said. ‘Do I rate an explanation?’ ‘I was having this wonderful dream, Bret. I dreamed I was working for this nice man who couldn’t tell the time.’

Berlin -like old times. “I heard one of her favourite records playing. It was scratchy and muffled. … No one here can love and understand me, Oh what hard-luck stories they all hand me … Lisl’s record started again. Pack up all my cares and woe. Here I go, singing low, Bye-bye, blackbird … -have the time,’ I said, ‘and you have the brandy.’ ‘I thought you were going to say: I have the time if you have the inclination, as Big Ben said to the leaning tower of Pisa. Her record was still playing and I could imagine her propped up amid a dozen lace pillows nodding her head to the music: Make my bed and light the light, I’ll arrive late tonight. Blackbird, bye-bye.”

Berlin lunch. ‘Two more Pilsener,’ Werner called to Konrad. ‘And my friend will have a schnapps with his.’ ‘Just to clean the fish from my fingers,’ I said. The boy smiled. It was an old German custom to offer schnapps with the eel and use the final drain of it to clean the fingers. But like lots of old German customs it was now conveniently discontinued. — our Pinkel and kale, a casserole dish of sausage and greens, with its wonderful smell of smoked bacon and onions. And, having decided that I was a connoisseur of fine sausage, his mother sent a small extra plate with a sample of the Kochwurst and Brägenwurst.” Nearby… “the birthday party were eating a special order of Schlesisches Himmelreich. This particular ‘Silesian paradise’ was a pork stew flavoured with dried fruit and hot spices. There was a cheer when the stew, in its big brown pot, first arrived. And another cheer for the bread dumplings that followed soon after. — toast for Konrad’s mother who every year cooked this fine meal of Silesian favourites. — ‘Our Germany has become little more than a gathering place for refugees,’ said Werner. ‘Zena’s family are just like them. They have these big family reunions and talk about the old times. They talk about the farm as if they left only yesterday. It’s another world, Bernie. We’re big-city kids. People from the country are different from us, and these Germans from the eastern lands knew a life we can’t even guess at.’ — Then they all drank to Goeth… ‘I never feel more English than when I hear someone quoting your great German poets.’ … comes “… but learn through order how to conquer time’s swift flight.”’ — ‘The point I’m making, my dear Werner, is the natural repulsion any Englishman would feel at the notion of inflicting order upon his time. Especially inflicting order upon his leisure time or, as is possibly implied here, his retirement.’ ‘For Englishmen order does not go well with leisure. They like muddle and disarray.’ — ‘look at myself and I wonder where I can really call home. Do you know what I mean, Werner?’ ‘Of course I know what you mean. I’m a Jew.’ He looked at Konrad. ‘Two coffees; two schnapps.’

London. “Feeling sorry for myself. I wandered into the nursery and fingered Sally’s ‘Joke Book’: ‘How do you catch a monkey? – Hang upside-down in a tree and make a noise like a banana.’ And in Billy’s book of children’s verse I found Kipling: Five and twenty ponies, Trotting through the dark – Brandy for the Parson, ’Baccy for the Clerk; Laces for a lady, letters for a spy, Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!”

Mexico Set. “over to the air-conditioner. I held my hand in front of the outlet but the air was still not much cooled. ‘It makes a lot of noise but doesn’t work very well,’ explained Werner. ‘The Mexicans call them “politicians”.’ —. “I’d even allowed time for the traffic jam. The traffic slowed and then came to a complete standstill. The fire-eater was still at work. He blew a fierce tongue of flame into the air. It was darker now and the flame lit up all the cars, rippled in the paintwork and shone in all the windows. ‘It’s fantastic the things some people do for a living,’ said Stinnes.”

It’s a good book, and a good ending.. read the book -por favor.

About the author. “Len Deighton was born in 1929. He worked as a railway clerk before doing his National Service in the RAF as a photographer attached to the Special Investigation Branch. After his discharge in 1949, he went to art school – first to the St Martin’s School of Art, and then to the Royal College of Art on a scholarship. His mother was a professional cook and he grew up with an interest in cookery – a subject he was later to make his own in an animated strip for the Observer and two cookery books.” Also “worked for a while as an illustrator in New York” and as an advertising art director in London… “ time to settle down, Deighton moved to the Dordogne where he started work on his first book, The Ipcress File. Published in 1962” ... and he just kept going…

“Max Hastings observed, Deighton captured a time and a mood – ‘To those of us who were in our twenties in the 1960s, his books seemed the coolest, funkiest, most sophisticated things we’d ever read’ – and his books have now deservedly become classics.”

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the defection of his wife Bernard Sampson is left to prove that he is a loyal, company man. The way he is supposed to do this is by persuading a senior KGB agent to defect. The agent is spotted in Mexico City and Bernard plus colleague is sent out there to start the process of enrolment Although Bernard grew up in Berlin and lives in London he is not particularly cosmopolitan. Len Deighton does an excellent job of having him reflect the typical English bloke of the time who doesn't like travel, foreigners or foreign food very much. He also does an excellent job of describing office politics and all the jockeying for position that goes on. Bernard clearly does not like many of his colleagues who have spent their working lives behind desk rather than in the field. I can sympathise, I recognise many of the characters from my working life and appreciate just how deadly a game it can be.

This is the middle book in a trilogy and very much feels like it. Well worth the read but best read in the correct order

[Tim Prosser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bernard Samson, a middle-aged British Intelligence Officer in the 1970’s, former field agent in Berlin but now riding a desk back in London. Nine books chart his history with vivid characterization, suspense, the occasional bit of off-beat humour, intricate plotting, betrayals, and redemptions. The same set of characters, both the good and bad guys, basically move from book to book, allowing Mr Deighton to gradually fill-in their complexities, so that the books are far deeper than many spy novels. The books concentrate on the people and not super-secret complex technology or gadgets. Seriously addictive, ironic, cleverly plotted and deeply evocative of the 70s, forget sleep and meals until you have devoured all nine novels in an orgy of reading!!! Brilliant!

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liking it so far. Not as good as the first one, Berlin Game. Like reading a book about the cold war etc so many years after the collapse of communism and no mention of mobiles or computers! This was good but a little complex, not ideal for reading as you are falling asleep as you do have to pay attention to who is on which side of communism! However it was a clever book and one which despite its complete lack of technology, well certainly not the stuff I'm used to it was in many ways timeless. Recommend it.

[DeAnna Knippling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Office politics with secrets and guns. There's something irresistibly catchy about such a low-key approach to spy fiction. It definitely feels grounded. I wasn't sure where this book could possibly go after the twists in the previous book, but it all worked out. A solid read, as long as you're not expecting a thriller.

[Catullus2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, I especially enjoyed the Mexico scenes.

[Glenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular. This Samson guy is an all-timer.

[Pietro Caliceti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un po’ più lento di Berlin Game ma sempre molto piacevole

[booksbyg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forget how easy Leighton is to read. There's a chapter where it's just a meeting and they talk and it is really well written I think - simple - but just carries the reader through a story whilst developing the readers ideas about the characters - loved it!

The story itself makes me smile as I half guess who did what or is about to do something! Although I did spot an error in the time flow (washes the glasses and then someone is still drinking out of one - oops - should have had me to proof read it!)

Looking forward to reading the last one of this Trilogy - London Match. As well as the others for the main character!

Recommended if you enjoy easy to follow, quick, snappy spy novels.

[Feliks · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who thinks Len Deighton was not as good a writer as John LeCarre; please realize you are mistaken in underestimating him. This series of three books more than shows he can stand alongside his more well-known rival. Reading this work will demonstrate that to you fully. The two authors simply work in different styles, as one might expect of two separate talents. Deighton never needed to imitate LeCarre to produce works of equal stature in this genre. And by the way, Deighton's non-espionage fiction is where he also shines.

[Pradeep Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me, until I started reading Len Deighton, no one else has come close to John Le Carre in analysing the craft of Spying, its ramification on people, societies and Nations. Reading Len Deighton takes me to streets of Berlin that I never visited, know people that I can never look at and be part of stories that I can never play part in.
Spy Fiction is my favourite genre and Len Deighton makes me realise like Le carre did, why it so!
My salute to all the spies who led life on the edge and lifted things out of brink.

[Quinn Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second installment has some breaks in the action for sure, but even in those breaks there is so much to appreciate in his writing. This time the protagonist and narrator is the one that nobody trusts, and it makes for a tense experience, but still with plenty of wit. He adds another half-layer of depth to almost every character.

I’m starting to really think Deighton is a well kept secret nowadays that deserves more attention. Let’s get some Bernie Samson movie/tv adaptions in the works!

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite kind of book, but I still liked it enough to stay with it.

[Trevor Seigler · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Spoilers for "Berlin Game" ahead, if you haven't read it yet)

Bernard Samson, left in some sort of shambles by the close betrayal he suffered at the end of "Berlin Game," is sent to Central America on a mission in order to redeem himself. It seems that a highly-placed KGB man is considering defecting to the West (this is the height of the Cold War in the early Eighties), and Bernard knows him from a run-in just across the Wall in the previous book. But is the defection real, or simply a gambit to ensnare Bernard and make him look like a double agent?

"Mexico Set" is prime Deighton at his best, and a fantastic continuation of the Bernard Samson series of novels. The suspense lies not so much in the motives of Erich Stinnes, Bernard's quarry, as they do in the motives of those close to him in British intelligence. Ever since the defection of his wife Fiona, revealed as a Russian mole, Bernard had had suspicion cast upon him for perhaps harboring an enemy agent, much less being married to her. Is he on the up and up? His bosses aren't sure, and this trek to Mexico City is as much a test of his loyalties as it is a test of Stinnes. And Bernard will have to keep on his toes to avoid getting the blame if all goes wrong.

This is a taut, suspenseful novel that also makes plenty of room for the domestic drama/comedy of a secret agent suddenly forced into single-parenthood (imagine James Bond raising two kids all on his own. You can't, can you?). Bernard gradually realizes how his superiors see him and also, through her machinations, how Fiona still has a large role in his life and career. But he still has his best friend from Berlin, Warner, at his side, and he starts to unravel the plot against him just as the clock nears midnight on his ability to stay at his job. Bernard Samson isn't a sleek super-spy; he's more akin to George Smiley, and he has to keep his wits in order to see this difficult mission to its end. Will he do so? It's up to the reader to find out.

My most recent Deighton read ("SS-GB") was a bit of a letdown, a strong premise let down by the plotting and characterization of the protagonist. "Mexico Set" is a return to form for Deighton, and a welcome addition to his shelf of complicated plots and fully realized characters. I want to see what's next for Bernard Samson, and I plan to get the third book asap. "Mexico Set" is spy fiction with some very good grounding in the humdrum real world, and it's damn entertaining.

[Jack Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mexico Set is a very good spy novel that ably picks up the many cliffhangers and dramatic conclusions left at the end of Berlin Game and spins them into their own new plots, yes. But at the same time, it's also a very straightforward and very dryly funny workplace novel, too.

The workplace just happens to be the realm of international espionage. The employee, a burnt-out, middle-aged secret agent who has to deal with all the typical stresses. He doesn't know if he has passion for what he does anymore. He hates his bosses. He's annoyed by his co-workers. He can't balance work and family. His wife is a Soviet traitor. He's forced to arrange the defection of a KGB officer. He must outmaneuver constant double-bluffs from both sides of the political spectrum — from both the Russians trying to destroy his operation and discredit him, as well as from his own country trying to entrap him as a potential double agent.

You know... just all the usual workplace stuff. At a job like that it's a wonder anyone can get anything done.

But what holds it all together is Len Deighton's mastery at keeping the story together and the tone rock solid: sardonic but not cynical, engaging but not clichéd, funny but not a parody. He has an uncanny ability to keep all his dynamic plot elements — the political intrigue, the defections, the spy games, the tradecraft, the betrayals, the murders — all present but with their melodrama hiding beneath the surface. Above the surface, always, are the characters.

[Jim Bowen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Len Deighton has written 10 books about hen-pecked British spy Bernard Samson. This book was written second in the series (and third in the chronology), and set shortly after Berlin Game.

In the aftermath of Berlin Game, Samson has had his reputation damaged, and has had his superiors on his case since. He knows he has to continue doing his job (in this case, "turning a Russian spy"), but has to deal with added pressure, as a consequence. The question is, is what he's saying true, and if it is, will he cope with the pressure he's under, and do a good job?

The problem is that the name (it really needs a match after, doesn't it?), and the fact that it's near the start of the series, means that we lose some of the imminent threat in the book, making the end more predictable.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's all kinds of fun reading these spy novels published in the 80's. In this outing, Bernie is involved with the potential defection of a Russian spy. All eyes are on him, Bernie knows his loyalty is being questioned behind closed doors due to the discovery that his wife was a KGB agent. The story begins in Mexico City with stops in West Germany and home to England. Deception, trickery and complex plotting are guaranteed with Len Deighton's writing. 3.5 deceitful stars!

[Barrowsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deighton gets to to flex his considerable story-telling skills expanding the back stories of characters first encountered in Berlin Game. It's a fascinating peek at the more everyday tribulations of a secret agent, while he tries to figure out who he can trust and who is out to finish him off.

[Craig M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this. Easy five stars.

[Ben Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deighton captures so well the reality that conversation lies at the heart of decision and action.

[Freddie Gay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slight level lower than Berlin game - yet a thoughtful spy caper