Books: Karla’s Choice

I just finished reading Karla’s Choice by Nick Harkaway.

The cover identifies this as “A John Le Carré Novel”, though Le Carré — who passed away in 2020 — did not write it. Harkaway, an established novelist in his own right, is also the son of the late spy novelist John Le Carré. Karla’s Choice is set in the world of British agent George Smiley — the world that Le Carré created — and slots in between The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963) and The Looking Glass War (1965).

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is considered by some to be the greatest espionage novel ever written. I finally read it a year or two ago and while I enjoyed it I am not prepared to make that grand a claim. Nevertheless, I have planned to read more in the series, especially Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley’s People. But there had been much anticipation for Harkaway’s new novel, and I have seen it on several “best books” lists. So, I thought I’d give it a go.

I’m glad that I did.

The story opens in London in 1963. In the wake of the events related in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, middle-aged George Smiley has left the British intelligence service (aka “the Circus”) and is preparing to vacation with his wife. But he reluctantly agrees to first spend a couple days interviewing a young woman unwittingly involved in a possible defection. Of course, as the situation unwinds it proves to be a little more… complicated.

This is not the stereotypical action-packed super-agent novel. If you want lots of gunplay and high body counts, this is not the novel you’re looking for; perhaps Mark Greaney’s Gray Man series is more to your taste. But there is constant danger, as Smiley and his associates hopscotch around Europe in an attempt to uncover all the facts and players surrounding a defecting assassin, his intended victim (now missing), and the shadowy Soviet puppet-master behind them.

Goodreads currently gives Karla’s Choice an average rating of 4.14 and that works for me. I thought it was an enjoyable and intelligent spy story and I think Nick Harkaway’s father would approve.