In the films the hero is Harry Palmer played by Michael Caine. In the book our hero is anonymous though his flat, eating, drinking and smoking habits are very well explained. A very senior Soviet scientist is on the cusp of defecting. Interestingly he appears to have detailed knowledge of the dangers from DDT, a topical comment from Deighton. Soviet Colonel Stok is apparently in on the plan. A genuine Bolshevik hero from 1917 Stok is seemingly disillusioned, even if he remains highly critical of the capitalist West.
Perhaps the most interesting character is Johnny Vulkan a independent actor in Berlin who has little allegiance, but works on occasion for all sides of the Cold War. He has built an alliance with a beautiful agent from Israel, who also works on our unnamed hero - though she dismisses him as a typical unintelligent and slow British agent. The main plot, the defection of the scientist in a coffin across the border turns out to be a minor action in a wider story that goes back deep into World War Two and the Holocaust.
This is one of those novels were the complete plot, and all the machinations don't really become clear until the final pages. As always its the denouncement that really makes the whole thing worth while. Once the pieces fall into place it becomes clear just how clever a plotter Deighton was.
Of the "Palmer" stories so far I've enjoyed this the most, though as always with literature set in Cold War Berlin there is an element to me finding the city itself the most interesting place. The book's detour to Spain and France seems a little unnecessary, but this is very tightly written with some extremely interesting subplots.
Related Reviews
Deighton - Winter: A Berlin Family 1899-1945
Deighton - Horse Under Water
Deighton - The Ipcress File
