A Delicate Truth

A Novel

By: John le Carré

Narrated by: John le Carré

Length: 10 hrs and 31 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.

A counter-terrorist operation, code-named Wildlife, is being mounted on the British crown colony of Gibraltar. Its purpose: To capture and abduct a high-value jihadist arms buyer. Its authors: An ambitious Foreign Office Minister, a private defense contractor who is also his bosom friend, and a shady American CIA operative of the evangelical far-right. So delicate is the operation that even the Minister’s personal private secretary, Toby Bell, is not cleared for it. Three years later, a disgraced Special Forces Soldier delivers a message from the dead. Was Operation Wildlife the success it was cracked up to be - or a human tragedy that was ruthlessly covered up? Summoned by Sir Christopher “Kit” Probyn, retired British diplomat, to his decaying Cornish manor house, and closely observed by Kit’s daughter, Emily, Toby must choose between his conscience and duty to his service. If the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing, how can he keep silent?

©2013 John le Carré (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A novel that beckons us beyond any and all expectations." (Jonathan Yardley, The Washington Post)

Classic

The writing is great - the characters are easy to.visualize and it all comes together with a masterful.performance by the author - easily one of my top ten for the year

Delicate Truth, Solid Novel

I've been through about eight LeCarre audiobooks, which, let's face it, are at best a grim, jaundiced, interesting, well-written and informative ride. And let's not forget: confusing. I was amazed to find that I liked this one best of all. It was accessible and entertaining, and it achieved the top rung of audiobookhood: I looked forward to rejoining it every time I got in the car.

Peripherally, I also think LeCarre does an amazingly great job of reading his own stuff--he's sadly missed. I hope Michael Jayston returns to the narration fold in case there are any unpublished works left.

He used f--- so many times. Offensive!!

Would you try another book from John le Carre and/or John le Carre?

I've read all of his books. If he leaves out f___ in his next book, I'll get it. If not, I won't.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

This one looks like he just discovered 'f___', he used it so many times. I lost track of how many. The story could have been told just fine without it. I don't swear and I don't read books that are filled with swear words. I wish he had left it out.

Have you listened to any of John le Carre’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I love the Smiley books. I wish he would write more. This one doesn't compare at all with them.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No. I saw 'The Constant Gardener'. I think if a person hadn't read the book first, they wouldn't have a clue about the story.

Any additional comments?

Give me old fashioned spy novels!!

possibly the best audio book ever

tight storyline and superb reading by the author make this audio book a must listen. worth every penny. highly recommended.

Great performance frustrating end

The reading was well done - different voicing but not so much as to be annoying. The story ending... not great Carrie - terminates rather than ends

Wrestling With Right & Wrong in a Postmodern World

In order to accurately reflect the current state of global affairs, this is the novel Le Carre had to write. We live in a postmodern world where the word 'truth' itself must be deconstructed into 'my truth' or 'according to the Judeo-Christian tradition' in order to be clear as to exactly what's being discussed. Postmodernism is here to stay and with it, the moral confusion that has brought western foreign policy (almost) grinding to a halt. Le Carre doesn't flinch from this reality and he's crafted an enthralling tale that 'shows rather than tells' what happens when moral ambiguity creeps in to mess with everything we thought was right or wrong. It's not a comfortable tale and that's the point. One can't help but wonder if Le Carre misses Smiley's Circus and the simplicity of the Cold War as much as we do.There are no simple answers anymore. And yet, Smiley's legacy is seen in the courage and conscience shown by the novel's protagonists as they fight to expose and redeem evil within the system. The fact that they are fighting at all gives hope that corruption, once exposed, will ignite public passion for transparency and restraint. After finishing "A Delicate Truth" I'm not sure if Le Carre believes redemption is possible. But one thing is obvious, he does exhort those confronted with what their conscience knows is evil, to strengthen their resolve and go down swinging.

Another great one with a touch more modernity.

John le Carré has done a great job penning another amazing novel! Really loved it, but am so dashed about the ending. Really hope we get a chance to deal with the aftermath in another book to follow!

Great perspective, enjoyed all of the characters, and really cool to have the book read by the author, extra special opportunity there!

Beautifully written and rad by John LeCarre

The problem with LeCarre's books is their relentless gloominess, and uniformly unhappy about - no, soul-crushing - endings. This book is somewhat different, but I unhesitatingly recommend it because of its beautiful prose, and the author's fantastic narration.

His best in recent years

He makes a point, in his signature style, which some may find too unpleasant to acknowledge as truth.

Loved the story. Loved the Narrator.

Would you listen to A Delicate Truth again? Why?

I have already listened to it twice. It's like visiting friends. A good story is worth hearing more than once. I'll be ready to listen to it again in about a year... just long enough for the details of the story to get a bit fuzzy in my memory. There are not many authors that I re-read, but John le Carre is one that I do.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I couldn't stop listening. Had to choose tasks to do that allowed me to listen... both times.

What does John le Carré bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He knows how he meant the people to speak and the atmosphere he meant to convey.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted to listen to it all in one setting, but I had to go to bed and start again the next day.

Any additional comments?

John le Carre is one of my favorite authors. I read The Little Drummer Girl in my late teens, then I got hooked on Smiley and look forward to each book. As I've said, I've read a few of them more than once. I think it's time I went back and visited Smiley again. It's been a while.