Whenever his book was made into a movie, I always wanted to read the book first, and this is what led me here.

I am finally bringing my review to Goodreads.

Premise: This book takes place in Germany, and has 3 primary POV’s, though Le Carre adds a few more later. The central protagonist is Issa Karpov, the son of a Russian war criminal and his Chechen “war bride.”

Issa claims to have been tortured in prison. He now appears to readers as a traumatized refugee in Hamburg being sheltered by a couple of frightened Turkish immigrants. He seeks help from Annabel, a German civil rights attorney, who is sympathetic to his story, and attracted to him, as well.

Issa leads her to Tommy Brue, a British banker, whose bank stashed his father’s fortune. Annabel seeks him out. Issa says he wants to become a doctor. Brue also wants to help Issa out, because he finds himself attracted to Annabel.

Although it appears like a potential love triangle, nothing more than touching hands occurs.

Apparently, as Annabel and Tommy attempt to help Issa, the Germans, the British and the Americans all want a piece of him.

Why?

The author appears to be doing a critique on the war on terror, but if that is all readers see, then the point is missed.

Issa can be any stateless individual from the wrong place with the wrong background. No one really cares about his religion, only what he knows and who he knows.

Le Carre does a good job of not being too preachy, but if he was attempting suspense, he failed at it. The story line is rather predictable.

Still…

The author attempts to write a complicated and compelling story. This isn’t necessarily a spy thriller, as the spies take a background seat, and the civilians take center stage.

What we have here are grubby, believable, morally compromised protagonists.

The question then becomes…

Which was better – the book or the movie?