John le Carré books can be divided into four main thematic categories:
The George Smiley series
These are the novels that feature George Smiley or his associates, such as Peter Guillam, Toby Esterhase and Jim Prideaux.
They are mostly spy thrillers that deal with the Cold War, the mole hunt, the rivalry with Karla, and the moral compromises of espionage. They include:
- Call for the Dead (1961)
- A Murder of Quality (1962)
- The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963)
- The Looking Glass War (1965)
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974)
- The Honourable Schoolboy (1977)
- Smiley’s People (1979)
- The Secret Pilgrim (1990)
- A Legacy of Spies (2017)
The standalone spy novels
These are the novels that do not feature George Smiley or his associates, but are still spy thrillers that deal with various aspects of espionage, such as defection, betrayal, manipulation, loyalty and identity. They include:
- A Small Town in Germany (1968)
- The Little Drummer Girl (1983)
- A Perfect Spy (1986)
- The Russia House (1989)
- The Night Manager (1993)
- Our Game (1995)
- Single & Single (1999)
- The Mission Song (2006)
- A Most Wanted Man (2008)
- Our Kind of Traitor (2010)
- A Delicate Truth (2013)
- Agent Running in the Field (2019)
The post-Cold War novels
These are the novels that deal with the aftermath of the Cold War and the new challenges and threats of the globalized world, such as terrorism, corruption, corporate greed, human rights and environmental issues. They include:
- The Tailor of Panama (1996)
- The Constant Gardener (2001)
- Absolute Friends (2003)
The non-spy novels
These are the novels that do not belong to the spy genre, but are rather literary or experimental works that explore different themes and styles. They include:
- The Naïve and Sentimental Lover (1971) – a psychological novel about a love triangle
- Silverview (2021) – a posthumous novel about a bookseller who inherits a mysterious manuscript
What are some other spy novelists?
There are many spy novelists to consider if you enjoy reading spy thrillers. Some of the recommended authors include:
- Dame Stella Rimington, the former director-general of MI5, who writes realistic and suspenseful novels featuring Liz Carlyle, a female intelligence officer. Her books include At Risk (2004), The Geneva Trap (2012), and Breaking Cover (2016).
- Robert Harris, a bestselling historical fiction writer who also writes gripping spy novels set in different eras, such as Fatherland (1992), a dystopian thriller set in a world where Nazi Germany won World War II, Enigma (1995), a code-breaking mystery set during World War II, and An Officer and a Spy (2013), a historical thriller based on the Dreyfus affair.
- Jacqueline Winspear, a British-American author who writes the Maisie Dobbs series, featuring a female private investigator and former spy in post-World War I London. Her books include Maisie Dobbs (2003), A Dangerous Place (2015), and The Consequences of Fear (2021).
- Alex Berenson, a former New York Times reporter who writes the John Wells series, featuring a CIA operative who infiltrated al-Qaeda and struggles with his loyalty and identity. His books include The Faithful Spy (2006), The Midnight House (2010), and The Power Couple (2021).
You can also check out some of the classic spy novelists who shaped the genre, such as:
- John le Carré, the undisputed master of spy fiction, who wrote complex and nuanced novels about the moral ambiguities and ethical dilemmas of espionage, often featuring his iconic creation, George Smiley, a British intelligence officer who battled his Soviet counterpart, Karla, in a series of Cold War thrillers. His books include The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1974), and The Night Manager (1993).
- Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, the most famous spy in literature and film, who wrote fast-paced and glamorous novels about the adventures of 007, a suave and sophisticated British secret agent who faced various villains and seduced various women. His books include Casino Royale (1953), Goldfinger (1959), and You Only Live Twice (1964).
- Len Deighton, a British author who wrote realistic and gritty novels about the exploits of an unnamed British spy, later known as Harry Palmer in the film adaptations, who worked for a bureaucratic and cynical intelligence service. His books include The Ipcress File (1962), Funeral in Berlin (1964), and SS-GB (1978).
These are just some of the many spy novelists you can explore. You can also find more suggestions and reviews on websites like Mal Warwick On Books, Spybrary, and Reedsy Discovery.
Conclusion
John le Carré was a master storyteller who created some of the most memorable and influential novels of our time.
