The Little Drummer GirlThe Little Drummer Girl
Score Classic
What it's about
Charlie is a young English actress with radical politics. Israeli intelligence recruits her for the role of her life: to pose as the lover of a Palestinian terrorist and penetrate his network, under the guidance of a quiet, haunted officer named Gadi Becker. As she plays the part, the line between acting and reality disappears.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 12 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and was an Edgar finalist. It's one of le Carré's most ambitious novels, fair to both sides of a bitter conflict.
You'll love it if you liked
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Smiley's People
The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold WarGood to know
It's long and slow-building, with bombings and violence. The 2018 BBC series stars Florence Pugh.
By the numbers
- Readers43 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller48 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
- #250 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #466 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1615 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
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Quick answers
Is The Little Drummer Girl worth reading?
Yes. It spent 12 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and was an Edgar finalist. It ranks #1,615 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Little Drummer Girl about?
Charlie is a young English actress with radical politics. Israeli intelligence recruits her for the role of her life: to pose as the lover of a Palestinian terrorist and penetrate his network, under the guidance of a quiet, haunted officer named Gadi Becker. As she plays the part, the line between acting and reality disappears.
How long does it take to read The Little Drummer Girl?
About 12 hours (480 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Little Drummer Girl?
If you liked it, try Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré, Smiley's People by John le Carré or The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre.