Customer Rating: 
Summary: A lament for a lost world.
Comment: This book has everything you've probably come to expect from Le Carre - great characters, finely drawn, and a convuluted plot that twists and turns as well as anything that he's written before - but the ending jars. Or at least I thought it did until I considered it further. Having been delighted with the sheer poetic elegance of "Tinker Tailor," "Smiley's People," "The Perfect Spy" and "The Russia House," I felt somewhat uncomfortable with "The Tailor of Panama" and "The Constant Gardener." There seemed to me a discordant note in these later works. "The Tailor of Panama," though written with Le Carre's usual verve, was almost a farce, while "The Constant Gardener" was deeply disturbing. This latest offering, too, is disturbing and, at times, seems almost farcical.
And that is where the real power of this novel lies. What it does is take all the subtle "British" elements that made Le Carre such a joy to read in previous novels and juxtaposes them with the "Die Hard" mentality that characterises most modern "thrillers" and, one suspects, the western intelligence community under the influence of Bush's America. Le Carre is not only lamenting the gradual extinction of the fine story telling of which he is the absolute master, but also, perhaps, the sublety that once characterised western intelligence operations. It is truely a lament for a lost world - a place that once had room for stories that were both poetic and inspiring, a place that once had room for Smiley but now only has room for John McCain.
This is not just a clever book - it is sublime.
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Summary: a chilling explanation of why the terror will never end
Comment: Le Carre redeems himself with this book. After reading his dull post-Berlin books (Gardener, Tailor, etc.) I had given up Le Carre. But he returns in a spectacular way with his vision of post 9-11 world. His knowledge of the lives of Islamic people in western world, and his respect for their beliefs makes the book valuable. The main character Issa is unique in his portrayal.
After reading this book, you will understand why the terror will never end, thanks to the inhuman, stupid and greedy secret service people.
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Summary: A challenge to bullying swaggering power
Comment: 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 it in one long gulp. The pleasure would have been even greater: it is a superbly written story that shrieks out a challenge to injustice and double-dealing and the swaggering, bullying use of power.
In terms of execution, there are sentences and 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 and 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.
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Summary: Excellent "War on Terror" thriller
Comment: 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 and infiltration).
Highly recommended (4.5 stars, but I'm feeling generous so let's call it 5!).
Customer Rating:
Summary: As good a novel as he has written.
Comment: There will be those who dislike the controlled anger of this book and 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 and 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 and a welcome addition to his collection of stunning novels.
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