Charity

There's something very sly about this concluding volume in the Samson saga. The process of tidying up the loose ends of the private and professional life of Bernard Sampson after the upheaval initiated in Berlin Game, still sending its shockwaves through everyone's lives, the trauma multiplied and embodied by the violence at the end of Spy Line, the 'hatred and despair' of that night. There's no unravelling that trauma, even as Bernard doggedly unravels the truth about the murder of Tessa, a truth we the readers are already more or less privy to, such that the irony of this book is its final deception and betrayal, one tiny failure of Bernard's deductive skills and operational instincts, snugly ensconced in Bernard's blind spot, show more probably forever. But perhaps the happy ending is that it's a betrayal, or rather a secret, that remains undiscovered, the potential upheaval and trauma left safely latent and unexploded in lives already shattered and wounded and struggling to recover, the negative of the first volume. Deighton's structural skills are masterful. While guiding his attention away from one blind spot, it's Bret Renselaer who directs Bernard to another, perhaps more important one pertaining to Fiona, and the family that he loves yet cannot find a way to reunite. We're left at the last page with a hopeful memory of happy times in the ruin of post-war Berlin, and historically we know they're looking, unheedingly, towards another reunification: can the divided family and the divided city both be brought together? Oh Len, you are sly. show less

The last book in the Bernard Sampson series.
Of course another great read. This book has its own complex plot which also draws together most of the loose ends of the preceding novels. The biggest surprise was the ending, which without any spoilers, is one of possible optimism, where most others end on a much more somber note. The only downside is now the Sampson series is finished

The overriding thought I had with this book is "Whew, finally finished." It's taken me five years to read the nine main books of the Bernard Samson series (I haven't read the prequel novel, Winter, yet), and I think it could have safely stopped at six (the first two trilogies). Granted, this last novel does tie up a few more of the remaining loose ends, and I do enjoy following Bernard around on his adventures, but this was not my favourite of the saga by any means. Recommended primarily for the completist.

How can an author bring a ten book series to a satisfactory conclusion? Like this, I suppose. Deighton has tidied up most of the loose ends around the kernel of the Samson saga, Fiona's excursion to the East. He must have lived the part of Bernard so could hardly avoid giving him (probably!) most of what he wanted. He admits to being in love with both of Bernard's women so has to see both of them in a good place. Werner achieves status and shows his independence from Bernard without compromising his friendship. Frank is OK, Dicky is, deservedly, less secure than he would like, and Tante Lisl sails steadily on. There is one surprise, well not absolutely a surprise given Deighton's anti-establishment credentials. We have always known who show more not to really trust.

The series deserves four stars - Charity is not the best book but it doesn't let the others down. show less

Not for those who want a racy, action packed set of spies, but for me Deighton's depth of characterisation and relationships more than makes up for his usually slow pace.

series: Faith, Hope, Charity.

Tessa Kosinski está muerta. Su cuñado, Bernard Samson, sabe que alguien del Departamento dio la orden de ejecutarla, pero ¿quién? Sin tener a nadie en quien confiar y con más enigmas que respuestas, Samson emprende el viaje de regreso a Polonia.