The IPCRESS File cover art

The IPCRESS File

Penguin Modern Classics

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The IPCRESS File

By: Len Deighton
Narrated by: James Lailey
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Now a new six-part ITV drama starring Joe Cole, as iconic spy Harry Palmer, Lucy Boynton and Tom Hollander.

A high-ranking scientist has been kidnapped. A secret British intelligence agency must find out why. But as the quarry is pursued from grimy Soho to the other side of the world, what seemed a straightforward mission turns into something far more sinister. With its sardonic, cool, working-class hero, Len Deighton's sensational debut The IPCRESS File rewrote the spy thriller and became the defining novel of 1960s London.

©1962 Len Deighton (P)2021 Penguin Audio Espionage Genre Fiction Military Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense War & Military Fiction Witty

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Critic reviews

"A stone-cold Cold War classic." (Toby Litt, Guardian)

"Changed the shape of the espionage thriller...there is an infectious energy about this book which makes it a joy to read." (Daily Telegraph)
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Just magnificent in every way. This has to be an essential read (or listen, if consumed as an audiobook.

Magnificent

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I first read this story as a teenager, and enjoyed reading all this series over the years. It's interesting now to realise how different Britain was in 1962 from the one around us today.
Good narration by James Lailey, who isn't quite imitating Michael Caine! Given the character's own reference to going to school in Blackburn, it might have been interesting to hear it narrated with a suitable accent.

Good version of a classic story

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Very, very good and extremely well narrated. different from the story told in the film version and TV version so well worth a read. charecterisation and plot are wonderful and the sense of time and place beautifully created.

Very, very good and extremely well narrated.

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Seen and love the film, seen the ITV TV series and liked it and now I have the audiobook. I can imagine the Micheal Caine portrayal in my had when James Lailey narrators. Nothing like the usual spy thrillers, with less action with the lack of action but is still damm good.

My Name Is Palmer, Harry Palmer

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the performance is very good, the storyline is convoluted in the middle and doesn't add anything but that said enjoyed it

very different to the film

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