A Delicate Truth

A Delicate Truth

'With A Delicate Truth, le Carré has in a sense come home. And it's a splendid homecoming . . . the novel is the most satisfying, subtle and compelling of his recent oeuvre' The Times A counter-terror operation, codenamed Wildlife, is being mounted in Britain's most precious colony, Gibraltar. Its purpose: to capture and abduct a high-value jihadist arms-buyer. So delicate is the operation that even the Minister's Private Secretary, Toby Bell, is not cleared for it. Suspecting a disastrous conspiracy, Toby attempts to forestall it, but is promptly posted overseas. Three years on, summoned by Sir Christopher Probyn, retired British diplomat, to his decaying Cornish manor house, and closely watched by Probyn's daughter Emily, Toby must choose between his conscience and his duty to the Service. If the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing, how can he keep silent? __________________ 'No other writer has charted - pitilessly for politicians but thrillingly for readers - the public and secret histories of his times, from the Second World War to the 'War on Terror'' Guardian 'The master of the modern spy novel returns . . . John le Carré was never a spy-turned-writer, he was a writer who found his canvas in espionage' Daily Mail 'A brilliant climax, with sinister deaths, casual torture, wrecked lives and shameful compromises' Observer
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Reviews

Photo of Jan Jackson
Jan Jackson@pilgrim
5 stars
Jan 19, 2022

I don’t like John Le Carré. I don’t like him because he writes so well, and because he gives you hope, and belief in morality as a sharpened sword, delivering redemption. I don’t like him because he’s written all he has, and spoiled me for ever with his sumptuous detailing of that shadowy, necessary, twilight world. And the corruption it brings, to men, women, and countries. There is, for me, no finer writer. All else is pale and wan…. To be a Le Carré lead character, to suffer, to doubt, to fight to overcome, must be a wonderful thing. “…Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” There is anger, here. But not the blunt force of engagement, rather the appeal of the searchlight, bringing illumination to the devious self-protectionism of Governments, and those who keep them there.

Photo of Steve Parks
Steve Parks@steveparks
3 stars
Dec 26, 2023
Photo of Hannah Swithinbank
Hannah Swithinbank@hannahswiv
4 stars
Nov 27, 2023
Photo of Rohan Uddin
Rohan Uddin@thesparrowfall
4 stars
Feb 3, 2023
Photo of Manuel J. Rivera
Manuel J. Rivera@manueljrivera
3 stars
Aug 24, 2022
Photo of Gareth Kay
Gareth Kay@garethk
4 stars
Aug 12, 2021