Call For The Dead by John LeCarre

John leCarre is an undisputed master of the spy genre having written The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, among many others.

Call For The Dead, which introduces his most famous continuing character George Smiley is the perfect place to start.

I was expecting a rather dry MI5 spy story, and was pleasantly surprised to find a rich classic mystery set amongst Cold War characters.

Short, heavy, and older, Smiley finds himself shut out of the more interesting jobs of the Secret Service, relegated to checking clearance. After a benign and routine introduction, the man in question goes home and commutes suicide, and Smiley is called in to answer for it. The case becomes more puzzling as the facts of the evening are revealed - he left a signed suicide note, but made plans for the next day, his wife has odd habits she can't explain away - raising flags for Smiley and his co-investigator Mendel. One of the nice things I found about meeting Smiley was the strong friendship he strikes up with Mendel, whom he meets long after Smiley's wife has left him. It's not easy making friends, at his age and especially in his line of business. Following a classic set up of detection novels, witnesses spill secrets, inconsistencies are revealed and reviewed, leading up to a dynamite finale.

I found this an almost perfect mystery within the world of undercover spies. I'd love to continue reading leCarre (a pseudonym) and plan to get the next of his series. There was a great balance of intrigue, unanswered questions and character development - which is I guess why leCarre has remained at the top of his game. Smiley has been portrayed by several actors including Alec Guiness, but for me the perfect Smiley would be Toby Jones.

I didn't find a flaw, was happy to finally discover leCarre, and it was hugely enjoyable, so I give it my highest rating.

1961 / Tradeback / 157 pages