Karla's Choice

A John le Carré Novel

By: Nick Harkaway

Narrated by: Simon Russell Beale, Nick Harkaway

The instant international bestseller set in the world of John le Carré's most iconic spy, George Smiley, written by acclaimed novelist Nick Harkaway

It is spring in 1963 and George Smiley has left the Circus. With the wreckage of the West’s spy war against the Soviets strewn across Europe, he has eyes only for a more peaceful life. And indeed, with his marriage more secure than ever, there is a rumor that George Smiley might almost be happy.

But Control has other plans. A Russian agent has defected in the most unusual of circumstances, and the man he was sent to kill in London is nowhere to be found. Smiley reluctantly agrees to one last simple task: interview Szusanna, a Hungarian émigré and employee of the missing man, and sniff out a lead.

But in his absence, the shadows of Moscow have lengthened. Smiley soon finds himself entangled in a perilous mystery that will define the battles to come and set him on a collision course with the greatest enemy he will ever make.

Set in the missing decade between two iconic instalments in John le Carré's George Smiley saga, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Karla’s Choice marks a momentous return to the world of spy fiction's greatest writer.

Simply perfect

Like stepping back into a world you thought had gone forever. It hasn’t left, it’s better than ever

Great Read

Enjoyed the story well written and beautifully narrated. I would recommend any Le carre fans to give it a listen

Riveting!

Excellent plot development —everything you would hope for. I hope there will be a sequel. The narrator was also spot on. Bravo!

A match to his father’s mastery.

I grew up savoring LeCarre’s well-crafted characters and real-politik view of Cold War struggles. What a rich treat to once again be drawn into the world of 60’s spy craft and my favorite “Circus” people by the son of the master of the medium. What a loving gift of a remarkably talented son to his dad - and to us.

Commendable

The book was interesting in many ways. We got to see Smiley being operational as opposed to exclusively managing an op. We got much more about Control than any other book. More background about Karla. Why no one really knows his name.

Beale hits Smiley as good as Guinness. Possibly better. Couldn’t ask for more.

The dialog was not the usual LeCarre. No “poison dwarfs” or “your little cabaret” idioms. Sometimes the LeCarre dialogue could come off staccato in the banter. This was not present in this novel.

More characters were flushed out. Connie and the Dark Aunts. They came off more like the Weird Sisters. Which was good. Toby was seen more in action and with strength as opposed to “running between parties like a poodle” in other novels.

I listened to the book twice to pick up on more nuances.

The first time it was “ok”. After I had listened to it the second time understanding it was Smiley by a different hand than I had always been accustomed, I appreciated it much more.

It was a good contribution to the body of Smiley works.