Karla's Choice

Karla's Choice by John le Carré and Nick Harkaway is an electrifying novel that resurrects the intricate and enigmatic world of George Smiley, le Carré's illustrious spy. Set in the tumultuous spring of 1963, Smiley has ostensibly left behind the murky waters of espionage to pursue a more tranquil existence. Following the wreckage of the West's espionage battles with the Soviets, his focus appears to be on a calmer life—a life in which his marriage is flourishing, and there are even murmurs in Whitehall about George Smiley's happiness, a notion almost scandalous in its rarity.

However, his peaceful retirement is short-lived as Control, his old superior, draws him back into the fray with an unusual assignment. A Russian agent has defected under peculiar and astonishing circumstances, leaving the man targeted for assassination in London unaccounted for. Smiley's simple mission is to interview Susanna, a Hungarian émigré and the employee of the missing man, to uncover any leads.

Yet nothing in the world of espionage is ever simple. As Smiley delves deeper, he finds himself once again ensnared in the shadowy intrigues of Moscow. His journey becomes perilous, forcing him to confront a mystery that will reshape the contours of the ongoing spy wars and confront him with his most formidable adversary.

Set in the elusive gap between two of George Smiley's renowned adventures, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Karla's Choice offers a compelling narrative that masterfully bridges this missing decade. Nick Harkaway's collaboration with John le Carré delivers a riveting exploration of loyalty, betrayal, and the never-ending complexities of the Cold War. Fans of le Carré's spy universe will find this novel to be an extraordinary and thrilling return to the subterfuge and shadows that define George Smiley’s world.