Agent Running in the Field

282 pages

English language

Published Sept. 20, 2019

ISBN:: 978-1-9848-7887-8
Goodreads:: 43904017

(2 reviews)

Nat, a 47 year-old veteran of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, believes his years as an agent runner are over. He is back in London with his wife, the long-suffering Prue. But with the growing threat from Moscow Centre, the office has one more job for him. Nat is to take over The Haven, a defunct substation of London General with a rag-tag band of spies. The only bright light on the team is young Florence, who has her eye on Russia Department and a Ukrainian oligarch with a finger in the Russia pie.

Nat is not only a spy, he is a passionate badminton player. His regular Monday evening opponent is half his age: the introspective and solitary Ed. Ed hates Brexit, hates Trump and hates his job at some soulless media agency. And it is Ed, of all unlikely people, who will take Prue, Florence and Nat himself down …

Nat, a 47 year-old veteran of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, believes his years as an agent runner are over. He is back in London with his wife, the long-suffering Prue. But with the growing threat from Moscow Centre, the office has one more job for him. Nat is to take over The Haven, a defunct substation of London General with a rag-tag band of spies. The only bright light on the team is young Florence, who has her eye on Russia Department and a Ukrainian oligarch with a finger in the Russia pie.

Nat is not only a spy, he is a passionate badminton player. His regular Monday evening opponent is half his age: the introspective and solitary Ed. Ed hates Brexit, hates Trump and hates his job at some soulless media agency. And it is Ed, of all unlikely people, who will take Prue, Florence and Nat himself down the path of political anger that will ensnare them all.

4 editions

Thom reviewed Agent Running in the Field by John le Carré

Review of 'Agent running in the field' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

His last complete novel, this covers a middle-aged spy who feels likely to be moved out of active service soon. Events fall into place around him (both locally and internationally), resulting in this tale.

I've seen a few of le Carré's films - The Constant Gardner most recently - but have never read his novels. I liked the prose, the details, and hints of future events. I plan to read more, probably starting at the beginning. Many say he transitioned from Cold War to Capitalism (company war?) to this novel, where the anti-Nationalist views of the main characters mirror the author.

The narrative took a while to develop. Without spoilers, the turn was predictable, though it was 180 pages in before we got to that point. Some of the groundwork was both good and necessary, but far from all. I was surprised to have only 20 pages left in the …

His last complete novel, this covers a middle-aged spy who feels likely to be moved out of active service soon. Events fall into place around him (both locally and internationally), resulting in this tale.

I've seen a few of le Carré's films - The Constant Gardner most recently - but have never read his novels. I liked the prose, the details, and hints of future events. I plan to read more, probably starting at the beginning. Many say he transitioned from Cold War to Capitalism (company war?) to this novel, where the anti-Nationalist views of the main characters mirror the author.

The narrative took a while to develop. Without spoilers, the turn was predictable, though it was 180 pages in before we got to that point. Some of the groundwork was both good and necessary, but far from all. I was surprised to have only 20 pages left in the midst of the concluding operation - the ending felt VERY quick.

Rating this in genre, it is a shade over 3 stars. As I read more le Carré and discuss this novel with friends, that rating may round up to 4. Time will tell...

Kalle Kniivilä

rated it

Nov. 7, 2019