Silverview by

Silverview

An instant New York Times bestseller!

In his last completed novel, John le Carré turns his focus to the world that occupied his writing for the past sixty years—the secret world itself.

“[Le Carré] was often considered one of the finest novelists, period, since World War II. It’s not that he 'transcended the genre,' as the tired saying goes; it’s that he elevated the level of play… [Silverview’s] sense of moral ambivalence remains exquisitely calibrated.” —The New York Times Book Review

Julian Lawndsley has renounced his high-flying job in the city for a simpler life running a bookshop in a small English seaside town. But only a couple of months into his new career, Julian’s evening is disrupted by a visitor. Edward, a Polish émigré living in Silverview, the big house on the edge of town, seems to know a lot about Julian’s family and is rather too interested in the inner workings of his modest new enterprise.
 
When a letter turns up at the door of a spy chief in London warning him of a dangerous leak, the investigations lead him to this quiet town by the sea . . .
 
Silverview is the mesmerizing story of an encounter between innocence and experience and between public duty and private morals. In his inimitable voice John le Carré, the greatest chronicler of our age, seeks to answer the question of what we truly owe to the people we love.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

3 of 5 stars

Share

Silverview by John le Carre came up as one of my Book of the Month options, and I grabbed it without hesitation. It wasn't until after I started reading that I learned that Silverview is a novel le Carre had been working on over the course of a few years – never quite getting it to the point that he liked. So now I'm feeling a bit conflicted on the matter.

These days all Julian Lawndsley wants to do is run his bookshop. But his past keeps chasing after him, making that next to impossible. As it turns out, it is rather difficult to retire from certain careers, as the waters never stay calm for long.

“Edward Avon, and its official classification is top secret and beyond”

I originally grabbed Silverview because a.) John le Carre's name was on it, and b.) I've been craving a good spy novel as of late. Unfortunately, I found this novel to be only midding-to-fair. That isn't a bad thing, mind you. Just not great.

Part of the problem may lie with me (or rather, my mood at the time). I just really struggled to get into this one. It was slow at times and really danced around the issue on more than one occasion. I know, I know – it's a SPY thriller. They're not going to lay it out all nice and clean for you. But that's not what I'm talking about – not exactly.

I wonder if part of the problem is that this novel was left unfinished when John le Carre sadly passed? I don't know if that is my bias showing there (again, I am conflicted about this) or if that is really the case. I do know that this wasn't the sweep me off my feet spy thriller I had been hoping for.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 31 December, 2021: Finished reading
  • 31 December, 2021: Reviewed