John le Carré

John le Carré — 10 titles in the rankings, first published between 1961 and 2001. They average 7.7, below the 7.8 the whole catalogue averages. One series has a reading order worth keeping to.

Editor’s note The spy novel at its most serious: betrayal, bureaucracy and moral cost rather than gadgets. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, about a British agent sent on one last mission into East Germany, is his most read and best rated book, and the best start. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy opens the trilogy in which George Smiley hunts a Soviet mole; Smiley’s People closes it and rates higher. His first two books are more conventional mysteries and rate lowest.

Ranked titles

10 books

Average score

7.7

Total ratings

1.7K

First published

1961–2001

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