Leonard Marnham is assigned to a British-American surveillance team in Cold War Berlin. His intelligence work—tunneling under a Russian communications center to tap the phone lines to Moscow—offers him a welcome opportunity to begin shedding his own unwanted innocence, even if he is only a bit player in a grim international comedy of errors. Leonard's relationship with Maria Eckdorf, an enigmatic and beautiful West Berliner, likewise promises to loosen the bonds of his ordinary li... (show more)
Reviews (88)
Not one of my favorite McKewan novels and the plot twist is literally 'unbelievable'.
IN each McEwan there is a dark moment that leaves me wondering if I can finish the book, and this was perhaps the darkest of all those I've read. But it's left me eager to visit Berlin and find out more about the history.
Spy thrillers are not my usual read but this is a great story and actually a love story more than a thriller. Reminded me of "The End of the Affair". Slow start but persevere - great!
I guess I was expecting so much that I was just a little disappointed. A nice little suspense story set in post-war Berlin, but nothing spectacular
I always find myself reading his novels and this one was one of the best I must say maybe better than Atonement.
This was the first McEwan book I had ever read and I don't think I really appreciated the subtleties in it at the time. I have read more of his books since and it makes me think that I should re-read it. at the time I thought it was an interesting story but I found it hard to keep sympathy with the characters. May need to review it again!
I sat on a train at the end of the line without realising that it had stopped while reading this one, it's probably his best book, although I liked Atonement also
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