Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Spy

It's typical Deighton, although it would be generous to call it 'classic'. Listed as the last of the Harry Palmer series, although the unnamed English spy is an almost passive narrator through the book. In what's obviously an American operation, it's purely a literary convenience as to why he's there at all.

A Russian defector comes to the West, despite a half-hearted and ineffectual helicopter chase (A hint to a film opening setpiece?). He's joined by his wife, although seems unconcerned to have left a son behind.

It then rattles along as well-written spy tradecraft. Everything is a double cross. Nobody, least of all the CIA, knows what's going on. Inexplicable '60s technology is pretty well handled, without ever crossing into James show more Bond cliche. Then the CIA fail, in just about the biggest way they can. But no-one seems to mind too much. So again, we're left to plucky agents doing it all by themselves. Dramatic close (another film setpiece?) and curtain.

It's OK, Deighton demonstrates again that's he's firmly in the rank above Fleming and Forsyth but behind le Carré . show less

The last in the 7 Harry Palmer books. A great read. The chemistry between our hero and Mann of the CIA was great, it had elements of good cop/bad cop as well as showing the cash of cultures between the two great English speaking countries. This pairing also allowed a more plausible involvement of our hero from British Intelligence in the world wide escapades of Cold War intrigues. The story line was great, as good Russian defectors stories can be. The end was a good spy story ending neither success nor failure, neither completey happy or sad. Although I didn't follow why Mr Bekuv so easily got the upper hand over his wife this book left me wanting more form this pair, and possibly even to see how the Red Bancroft relationship might play show more out in the future. That said, as there is no more, I will look forward to rereading the even better Bernard Samson novels. show less

I've read a couple of the books in the Secret Hero / Secret File / Harry Palmer series and this is the best one of those that I've read. It was enjoyable from start to finish with an aura of mystery as loyalties were tested and motivations exposed.

It's essentially a buddy copy story rehashed into the spy genre with our protagonist teaming up with a CIA operative to bring out Professor Bekuv from Russia to assist in finding out who is leaking American scientific knowledge to Russia.

Well worth a look if you've enjoyed some of Deighton's other works, can certainly be read as a stand alone novel without reading the prior books in the series.

Not very well remembered, so not a good Deighton... set in the sahara, with the retrieval of a defector as the opening incident. I think it was written to tell the readers how bad a writer Ian Fleming was...

[Twinkle Twinkle Little Spy] - Len Deighton ****

Also released as 'To Catch a Falling Spy' this is my first book by the author. Set during the cold war we are introduced to the world of American and Soviet double agents, no one can be trusted and no situation is as it seems. We follow an unnamed British agent and Major Man as they pick up a defected soviet Russian scientist from the desert but can they keep the promises made and has he been entirely truthful?

A thriller with plenty of action and numerous subplots using well developed characters, the kind of book where you have to follow the storyline carefully to fully understand what is going on. Recommended for fans Of jack Higgins or Ian Fleming, it has dated a little over the years show more but still stands the test of time. Will look out for more Deighton books. show less