Our Kind of Traitor

A Novel

By: John le Carré

Narrated by: Robin Sachs

Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of A Legacy of Spies. John le Carré’s new novel, Agent Running in the Field, is coming October 2019. In this exquisitely told novel, John le Carré shows us once again his acute understanding of the world we live in and where power really lies.

In the wake of the collapse of Lehman Brothers and with Britain on the brink of economic ruin, a young English couple takes a vacation in Antigua. There they meet Dima, a Russian who styles himself the world’s number one money launderer and who wants, among other things, a game of tennis. Back in London, the couple is subjected to an interrogation by the British Secret Service, who also need their help. Their acquiescence will lead them on a precarious journey through Paris to a safe house in Switzerland, helpless pawns in a game of nations that reveals the unholy alliances between the Russian mafia, the City of London, the government, and the competing factions of the British Secret Service.

©2010 John le Carre (P)2010 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Those readers who have found post–cold war le Carré too cerebral will have much to cheer about with this Russian mafia spy thriller…Le Carré ratchets up the tension step-by-step …His most accessible work in years, this novel shows once again why his name is the one to which all others in the field are compared.” ( Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)

“le Carré's signature stark prose, pitch-perfect dialogue, authentic characters, and moral indignation have stood the test of time…Intriguing and tense, Traitor shines a blinding, angry, and welcome light on shady international finances and underhanded intelligence agents.” ( Bookmarks Magazine)

“The venerable spy master is back with an intriguing story about a pair of novice spies who are aiding intelligence efforts to bring in a Russian businessman. Robin Sachs paints a fine portrait of the couple and shines even brighter for the host of British operatives. But it is as Dima--the Russian with a past--that he excels. The bellowing, likable, and commanding Russian is such a unique personality that he demands a distinctive voice, and Sachs comes through.” ( AudioFile)

Oh so teddibly boring

I started this book about 10 times. I finally made it to 2 hours and then asked myself why am I doing this? It is so awful, George Smiley would say Mr. LeCarre has reached the time to retire.

Not horrible, but...

The book was... different. I guess that is good. It seemed to be about 90% tedious dialougue and 10% storyline though. Oddly, I think the story could have been really good, it just kind of stalled before it got goig. I did not hate this book, but it never really grabbed me either. I probably would not get another by le Carre.

BORING

This book is so boring I could not even finish it and I've never not finished a book before - don't waste your time.

Try another book!

I agree with many of the other reviewers that this book was boring, hard to follow and had an unsatisfactory ending. There are a lot more entertaining books out there to spend your time on.

Hard to listen to

This is a tough review to write. I've always admired le Carre's work (though nothing has ever approached his George Smiley books). And much of what distinguishes his writing is evident in this book too. My problem with it is that the story is so full of detail and complexity and diversions that I found myself losing track of the characters, getting lost in the plot lines, and ultimately losing interest. The main story is fairly straightforward and could have been spun out effectively in a much shorter, crisper book. But le Carre encumbers it with so many ornaments that it nearly falls over from the weight.

Robin Sachs's narration is quite good and well paced. He does an especially effective job with the characters' voices. In the end, though, I had the sense that I might have enjoyed this book more if I had read it rather than listened to it. Maybe that is true of all le Carre's books -- his painstakingly crafted prose and tightly drawn plots may simply be unsuitable for audio presentation.

Be Prepared - Read at your own risk

Book: typical le Carre. Builds slow and you have pay attention to get the players right. Once you do, it gets good. Then you get excited. Then you get nervous. Then you anticipate disaster. Then he builds tension. Then you cannot wait to see what happens to each of the ten or so characters the author has developed for you and to whom you have become attached or at least interested. Can't say more without spoiling.

Then you will want to pitch a brick through your PC or trash your iPod or what have you as for some unknown reason, the author simply ends the stupid book leaving you absolutely not knowing what happened to eight of those ten characters! For some idiotic reason, he is leaving them stranded and vulnerable. Then Audible thanks you for listening! I was soooo irritated! There is NO resolution to all the characters you have come to know. I HATE books that have open endings, but I NOW know I hate even more any book that simply drops you cold with no conclusion whatsoever as to ending OR characters. I am not speaking of a "this could happen" endings... I am saying you are dropped with no knowledge of anything. Just Terrible - Grade D

Reader: Solid. Bit of an issue distinguishing voices, but overall grade good B

Want my money back

I would like a refund from the author. I found this one of the most boring, pointless, and tedious books I have read in years. The story jumps all over the place and the action never really happens. The reader sounds like he was bored with the story as well. Overall, I felt like this was a total waste of my money and time.