Stephen Tall

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, John Le Carré

I blame Radio 4. The Spy Who Came In From The Cold was one of the most taut, gripping, electrifying adaptations I’ve heard. So I felt I had to devour the famed Smiley trilogy, beginning with Tinker Tailor.

But boy is it hard work. ‘Who’s the mole?’ should create a fascinating, pacy narrative; yet it never quite clicked for me. I get that the character of George Smiley is intentionally anonymous, understated, shadowy. I get that the atmosphere is meant to be drab, grey, uninspiring. But I kind of think a thriller should, well, thrill at some level.

I persevered. Eventually, I finished it. But am I going to read the whole trilogy? No, sorry. I’m going to catch up with the Radio 4 version instead.