Absolutely Fantastic Plot

Michael Jayston has the perfect gritty voice for a spy novel, the tone and pace was perfect all the way through this story.

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook. A very well thought out plot that kept me engaged, interested and a very exciting pace that kept me trying to figure out what was going to happen.

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Brilliant Listen

Michael Jayston was an excellent narrator, I am looking forward to getting more of John le Carre's series.

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Call for the Dead...

Not a dead book; very good story line that kept you wanting more and it was well narrated......Buy It!!

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Enjoyable

Up to scratch for Mr le Carre, I had a problem with the last of his I read - but really enjoyed this one, it sets the scene for the character and thoughts of Smiley, I feel very fond of the man. Still a little complicated in parts and I had to rewind when my attention was caught elsewhere. Very good though!

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A good start to the series

I quite enjoyed this although a lot of it was developing George Smiley's character. Nicely paced most of the time with a good story line, so I am hopeful for the rest of the series.

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A must read for spy buffs

The narrator is just superb, perfect for the genre.
Pour yourself a large drink, sit back, and enjoy!

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Dated but interesting and intelligent

Tales from another time, interesting insight into the murky world we don’t normally see. Makes you want to know more!

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Le Carré at his best (and his first)

Would you consider the audio edition of Call for the Dead to be better than the print version?

I read the print version so long ago I don't really remember the atmosphere which is totally Smiley! It's hard to believe that it's the first. All the melancholy and anxt is there while it's now - over fifty years later - full of wonderful period detail. The book is very short (something of a blessing as much of Le Carré's work is a bit long) but it encapsulates the paranoia of the period and the general panic around spies with such elegance that one can hardly believe it is his first (published) book.

What does Michael Jayston bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Jayston has become the voice of Le Carré (except when it's the man himself) and he reads all the books with a gentle slowness which reflects the mood of the books - his restrained reading exactly mirrors Smiley's character.

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The beginnings of Cold War antics

Spy thrillers are not my usual read. So much so that this was my first excursion Did it entertain me? Well yes it did. As an introduction to the genre, it was perfect. Under five hours in listening time meant the story went at a good pace and I was still able to keep a track of characters.
This is the introduction of a character that appears in subsequent Le Carre novels and here he is developed nicely making the reader wanting more.
I look forward to more Le Carre novels and would recommend this if you have the slightest interest in spy thrillers.

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Quality writing

Great story, well told. I never tire, of this character and look forward to the next.

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