A Perfect SpyA Perfect Spy
Score Classic
What it's about
Magnus Pym, a senior officer in British intelligence, vanishes after his father's funeral. Holed up in a boarding house on the English coast, he writes his life story for his son: a childhood with a charming, crooked con man of a father, his long career as a spy, and the secret he's kept for decades. Meanwhile his colleagues, and his old handler from the other side, search for him.
Why it's worth reading
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. Le Carré called it his most personal book, drawn from his own con-man father, and many critics think it's his best.
You'll love it if you liked
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Little Drummer Girl
Smiley's PeopleGood to know
It's long and moves between past and present. It's more about character than spy action.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller44 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #331 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #547 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1913 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Adventurous
More by John le Carré
The Spy Who Came in From the ColdSmiley's PeopleTinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Honourable SchoolboyIf you like this, read next
The Godfather
The Pillars of the Earth
In Cold Blood
Rebecca
Crime and Punishment
The Name of the RoseExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is A Perfect Spy worth reading?
Yes. It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #1,913 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Perfect Spy about?
Magnus Pym, a senior officer in British intelligence, vanishes after his father's funeral. Holed up in a boarding house on the English coast, he writes his life story for his son: a childhood with a charming, crooked con man of a father, his long career as a spy, and the secret he's kept for decades. Meanwhile his colleagues, and his old handler from the other side, search for him.
How long does it take to read A Perfect Spy?
About 15 hours (612 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Perfect Spy?
If you liked it, try Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré, The Little Drummer Girl by John Le Carré or Smiley's People by John le Carré.