Mexico Set

This trilogy keeps getting better and better. In this book, the second in the series, Bernard Samson is still fighting the demons brought about by the desertion and defection of his wife. Not only has she deserted him but she has defected to the Russians and this casts doubts on all aspects of his life. His he a bad husband? a bad man? a bad spy? Then to top it off he is fighting the inter-Nicene plots and intrigues found within his own department. He not only has to deal with his self-doubts he has to deal with the dispersions cast on his loyalty that come from within his own department. He was married to a spy, mole, and a defector so how could he still be loyal to his country and comrades? To prove his loyalty he is sent out to show more convince his counterpart in East Germany to defect. The author has continued to explore issues of loyalty and the intersection of professional and personal life that makes for very cerebral reading. show less

After a colleague and friend runs into a Russian spy in Mexico, the agency sends Bernard Samson to “enroll” the Russian. Samson is too close to someone who recently went over to the other side, and he realizes that this assignment is a test of his loyalty. It seems that someone is doing his or her best to keep Samson from succeeding and to set him up as a traitor. But is it the KGB's doing, or someone on his own team? Samson will have to outwit both the Russian and his own side if he wants to keep his job, his children, and his home. This is the middle book in a trilogy, and the plot isn't as strong as the first book. It was too easy to put down, and that's not a good sign for a thriller.

The 2nd of the Bernard Samson Books.
I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself 8th the murky depths of Cold War spying. While this story seems to be somewhat restricted as a bridge for the start of the trilogy to its end, it is a great read.
The story combines well the strands of Samson’s recovery in both his personal and professional lives after his wife’s defection with the intrigues of office politics in MI6 and the complexity of enrolling a Russian agent.
Particularly pleasing, is what feels like the real life spy world outcome of neither success or failure at the end but rather ongoing tension.

The trilogy - Berlin Game, Mexico Set, & London Match were first published in 1983 - 1985, only a generation ago, but they seem dated when read today. Apart from the obvious changes in technology - no mobile phones and no PCs - it is the smoking, the incessant drinking and the sexism that seem out of place.
Deighton's writing style seems more screenplay than novel. Just as a movie is often a distillation of the original novel, these books seem spare to a fault - nothing is included that is not needed for the plot. For example, when the hero's wife defects and leaves him with the children, the kids are not meetings for the next 100-odd pages, when their existence becomes important to the plot as a bargaining point.
I think that all Cold show more War era spy novels are inevitably compared with Le Carre books, and you can see the influence here. Deighton ties hard to be cerebral rather action-driven, but fails to be as convincing as Le Carre. But, interestingly, I found the flaws to lie in the action parts of the writing - the southeast seems comically inept, the spies drinking gallons of hard booze before, during and after field operations; the fact that there seems to be only 5 spores in MI6 etc etc.
But while there are minor quibbles, I enjoyed my trip back in time with Deighton and found the books hard to put down.
Read November 2013. show less

After the defection of his wife Bernard Sampson is left to prove that he is a loyal, company man. The way he is supposed to do this is by persuading a senior KGB agent to defect. The agent is spotted in Mexico City and Bernard plus colleague is sent out there to start the process of enrolment. Although Bernard grew up in Berlin and lives in London he is not particularly cosmopolitan. Len Deighton does an excellent job of having him reflect the typical English bloke of the time who doesn't like travel, foreigners or foreign food very much. He also does an excellent job of describing office politics and all the jockeying for position that goes on. Bernard clearly does not like many of his colleagues who have spent their working lives show more behind desk rather than in the field. I can sympathise, I recognise many of the characters from my working life and appreciate just how deadly a game it can be.

This is the middle book in a trilogy and very much feels like it. Well worth the read but best read in the correct order. show less

Would I read another book by this author?
Definitely.

Would I recommend this book?
Yes.

To whom would I recommend this book?
To anyone who enjoys good, thoughtful espionage novels based on realistic activities of existing intelligence agencies. This is a Cold War related espionage story and hence anyone interested in spying during the Cold War era would be interested.

Did this book inspire me to do anything?
It has inspired me to reaffirm my liking of the books of Len Deighton.

Mexico Set is the second book in Deighton's Game, Set, Match trilogy and I found it a good second book. It has sufficient story to work as a standalone but to get full value from it one should already have read the first in the series, Berlin Game. I am looking forward show more to the third, London Match. show less

Feels a bit too much like connective tissue in the trilogy, but the straightforward plot is welcome. Could've used a bit less touristy snarkiness about Mexico.