Customer Reviews
A challenge to bullying swaggering power - By: Barton Keyes, 02 Nov 2008 
I have just finished reading "A Most Wanted Man". It took me a couple of days of after-work reading but I really wish that I had taken itin one long gulp. The pleasure would have been even greater: it is a superbly written story that shrieks out a challenge to injustice & double-dealing & the swaggering, bullying use of power.
In terms of execution, there are sentences & phrases that pull you up short while you register the absolute exactitude of the description of the emotion or experience that Le Carre has put on paper. In terms of plotting it couldn't be better - taught, not a step misplaced, just enough to let the reader see the path without revealing the destination. In terms of finale, although you know early on &in the way of the world, it's not going to turn out well for someone, the ending is so unexpected (but so right) that it's one of the few books that I have ever read that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Excellent "War on Terror" thriller - By: Mr. S. Harris, 30 Oct 2008 It's great that Le Carre, at 76, has been able to write a "War on Terror" thriller that ranks with his Cold War thrillers. The old master can still construct a cracking plot. And there's important insight here into where our intelligence agencies, under pressure from their political masters, are going wrong (lack of human intelligence & infiltration).
Highly recommended (4.5 stars, but I'm feeling generous so let's call it 5!).
As good a novel as he has written. - By: Drambuster, 27 Oct 2008 There will be those who dislike the controlled anger of this book & those who wish for a nostalgic return to the likes of 'Tinker, Tailor..'. Well you would be missing out.
This is a stunning novel by le Carre, superbly constructed, strong plot, well drawn characters & I would defy anyone to take issue with the message behind the story.
This is vintage le Carre. As well written as anything he has ever done before & a welcome addition to his collection of stunning novels.
Espionage through the eyes of the Master - By: Julia Flyte, 24 Oct 2008 Afficiandos of the John le Carre spy novel comein at least three basic types. There are many who savor a contemporary, stylish & intriguing plot with fully drawn (and inevitably fallible) characters. There are those who simply appreciate good writing. And then some who expect both.
None will be disappointed by A Most Wanted Man.
In this, his 21st novel, Le Carre returns to his roots: to a post-Cold War Germany & the internecine warfare of competing intelligence agencies (both domestic & international), balancing the conflicting consequences of illegal immigration, religion & the War on Terror.
Le Carre's unique literary style - long, complex, descriptive word paintings (the antithesis of modern, crisp journalism & airport potboiler novels) - draws the readerin from the first page. All his characters, whether principal players or bit parts, emerge fully roundedin all their capabilities & flaws. Each is human, realistic & memorable.
The plot is tantalising. Who is "this most wanted man"? Whom are we to like? Whom to trust? Apparently innocent bystanders, struggling to survivein the new Europe & wanting to believein their future, are drawn into the action & suffer collateral damagein a contest that is superficially about terrorism butin reality between competing, morally corrupt intelligence agencies - the cream of the espiocracy.
Le Carre slowly, carefully unpeels his onion, layer by layer, to expose its inevitable, venal core. Howeverin his world of deceit, disillusion & bureaucratic testosterone there are ultimately no winners, no solutions, no happy endings. Le Carre's world is not like that.
Entertaining - By: Ethan Cooper, 16 Oct 2008 
A MOST WANTED MAN shares many qualities with other le Carre novels. These include a brisk & involving narrative, sly humor, & a plot shaded with lots of bureaucratic menace & heavy handedness. Furthermore, it features characters who, yet again, push back against the intelligence community. This time, they are Annanbel, an idealistic young lawyer, & Gunther, a wily mid-level intelligence veteran. Within character, each is trying to make the intelligence systems of Germany, England, & America act honorably & effectively as they address the situation of Issa, a hapless & stateless Chechen who big shots view as a terrorist. As is commonin so many le Carre novels, Annabel & Gunther also operate on a level where they can't counter the actions of the big players, who achieve a ruthless & surprising denouement.
AMWM is more high-caliber work from le Carre. Still, I deduct one star for the clouds of infatuation enveloping Annabel & the banker Tommy Brue. These seemed unnecessary & didn't ring true. Otherwise, AMWM is a very fast & entertaining read.
