Content warning: this book contains a scene implying rape, as well as descriptions of Nazi atrocities during the Second World War.

West Berlin, the 1960s: Quiller is a spy for “The Bureau” whose main task is to unmask and take down neo-Nazis. During the war, he infiltrated concentration camps and liberated as many prisoners as he could. He is haunted by what he saw in the camps and single-minded in the pursuit of his work. He insists on working without cover from the Bureau, even if this means his death.

This is a grittier sort of thriller. It felt a bit more violent than le Carré or Deighton, but shared their disillusionment with the world at large. In that sense this book is definitely not like James Bond. It was certainly gripping (I read it in maybe 24 hours), but it’s not the sort of thing I’m routinely seeking out in my reading, mainly for the items in the content warning above. Also, there is only one female character in the whole book, sadly typical of a 1960s thriller.

Interesting fact: this book was written by Elleston “Flight of the Phoenix” Trevor under a pen name. So if you liked that book, you might like this one. And if you like this one there are 18 more books in the series to keep you busy. I’ll stop with this one, though. ( )

3.5 stars. It moves and I like the 60s world weary vibe. But it didn't rise much above that. The dated psychology lost me. ( )

Sort of a mixed effect clouds this novel. Adam Hall/Elleston Trevor certainly produces the unexpected. The book is built around a continual number of reveals. Each reveal, in turn, provides a separate level of truth--or, as it may be, self-deception. In many ways, it creates mystery through the notion of exploring "mystery" itself. Hall's truncated writing style contributes to this effect. Also the increasing descent into the minutiae of spycraft plays into the reveal, plot-wise as well as psychologically. So, at this level, The Berlin Memorandum, aka The Quiller Memorandum is quite an impressive piece of work.

But many times you come to a work with other expectations. A Cold War spy novel set in West Berlin is among the most expectation laden stories you can try to create. And I suppose I wanted to see atmosphere. But there is very little of it. Perhaps because to load the story with atmosphere would interfere with the psychological reveals mentioned above, it may have been impossible to carry this out. At any rate, the Cold War Berlin that I knew personally doesn't exist in this novel. It's hidden behind mists, clouds, and a clutter of streets--as Quiller engages, loses, and re-engages with his "tags." Just as a sidenote, the film version of the novel does impart enormous atmosphere into its production. But it does so at the cost of the layering of the reveals. The movie also tidies up the plot, too. Perhaps in a way the author would not have approved??? For confusion and clarity were never meant to be the end result of a spy game conducted between conspiring ex-Nazis and British secret service agents in an occupied city under the control of four different countries. ( )

A taut spy procedural in the head of a middle aged German working for Britain, trying to uncover a sizable Nazi enterprise. This works better as a book. ( )

Adam Hall (one of Elleston Trevor' many pseudonyms) wrote many classic spy stories, and this one is considered one of his best. Apparently, it was made into a classic movie and there is even a website compiled by Trevor devotees. He was the author of [book:Flight of the Phoenix] which became a really great movie. His Quiller books have been compared favorably to Le Carre' novels although the first was written before Le Carre' Trevor himself has noted the similarity but claims his Quiller is much less intellectual. Quiller is a secret agent, a spy, and in this early work he has been assigned to track down a neo-Nazi organization (this was written in the sixties) called Phoenix that is directed by Heinrich Zossen. Quiller is familiar with Zossen whom he last saw at an execution pit. During the war, Quiller had operated under cover as a German soldier and attempted to save the lives of Jews. He considered his mission a failure. Indeed, much of what we know about Quiller comes from negatives. He doesn' smoke or drink, has no relatives, apparently owns nothing, and his relationship with his controllers could best be described as untrusting. He knows they manipulate him, but he must put up with it because they are his only entree into the shadowy moral never-never-land that he thrives in. He despises fools and dilettantes, priding himself in his professionalism. He also refuses to carry a gun, claiming that not having one gives him a substantial psychological edge over his enemies. There' a great explanation of his rationale that I can' resist quoting in its entirety because it accurately reflects my own position. Quiller has been drugged and captured by the Phoenix group and is being held for interrogation. There are about four men in the room and he explains why not having a weapon provides him with an advantage. " you have the advantage unarmed providing the enemy knows that you are....Knowing you have no gun they' not afraid of you. There is a natural spur to alertness. Unarmed you disarm them. . . .A gun is psychologically a penis substitute and a symbol of power, the age range of toy shop clientele begins at about six or seven, rises sharply just before puberty and declines rapidly soon after the discovery of the phallus and its power. From then on guns are for kids and the effete freaks and misfits who must seek psycho-orgasmic relief shooting pheasants." Great line. So Quiller must rely on his wits (refreshing change). ( )