Berlin Game cover art

Berlin Game

Penguin Modern Classics

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Berlin Game

By: Len Deighton
Narrated by: James Lailey
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Embattled agent Bernard Samson is used to being passed over for promotion as his younger, more ambitious colleagues - including his own wife, Fiona - rise up the ranks of MI6. When a valued agent in East Berlin warns the British of a mole at the heart of the Service, Samson must return to the field and the city he loves to uncover the traitor's identity. This is the first novel in Len Deighton's acclaimed Game, Set and Match trilogy.

A Bernard Samson Novel

©1983 Len Deighton (P)2021 Penguin Audio Espionage Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Exciting Fiction

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Critic reviews

"Masterly...dazzlingly intelligent and subtle." (Sunday Times)

"Deighton's best novel to date - sharp, witty and sour, like Raymond Chandler adapted to British gloom and the multiple betrayals of the spy." (Observer)
Most relevant
excellent story and narration . charecterization is wonderful and the plot very engaging. classic spy story.

excellent story and narration

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I first listened to this story 6 years ago and enjoyed it so much that I’m coming back around again to listen to the trilogy once more.

A fantastic starter to the trilogy as we get a feel for Bernard Sampson and all the other characters.

Such an excellent story

So good, I’ve had to listen again

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A great story, well paced and with interesting characters. James Lailey is a perfect choice as reader. I have just downloaded Mexico Set and I can't wait

A great story

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Thoroughly enjoyed this story from start to finish, it held my attention all the way through.

Brilliant

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I recalled the tv series based on the Game, Set and Match trilogy, with Bernard Samson played by Ian Holm. I’ve not seen it since transmission (can’t think why it’s not had a dvd release) so, having enjoyed that, I thought I’d give it a listen.
I kept thinking how unlike Holm’s voice was the narrator, he sounds so young. I suspect that’s my problem, not the narrators! There was no other problem with the narrator, so don’t let that put you off this.
The plot is as well done as most spy thrillers are, and I hope to go on to Mexico Set before too long. (I never read/listen to two consecutive books by the same author). I’d not read/listened to any Len Deighton before, and I thought this decent. Perhaps not quite up to Le Carré, but that’s a high bar.
Even at the distance from watching the tv series, there were aspects that I recalled, but not with any certainty. The characters and plot were nicely constructed, creating a good atmosphere of pre-Unification Berlin and all the spying shenanigans.

Recollections of the tv series.

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Nuanced, believable and so well written. Thoroughly enjoyed this. I now have a thirst for more Len Deighton audiobooks’

Brilliant story

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This is my first Len Deighton story, but now I realise I have watched, loved and re-watched films based on his stories for decades.

A master storyteller not just in plot but in his ability and insistence to flesh out the characters into real people rather than props. Each could have their own stories and series of back story or follow up novels as each are given enough depth and humanity to engage the reader (listener) into caring about all of them.

I’m intrigued to know more about ‘Lenin’ and the young pasty-faced fast-tracked policeman near the end of this book. What are their fuller stories? What happened to them? Maybe I will meet them again in the later parts of the trilogy of trilogies?

Can’t wait!

The narrator, James Lailey, bring the story and vocal characterisations to life without overplaying or hamming up the necessary switches in accent throughout. Characters are consistently portrayed to be recognisable and the pace of the story, paragraphing and scene changes easy to grasp without effort, distraction or confusion.

A genuine 5***** performance and genuine 5***** writing.

Transported to different times, places and people

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A very cleverly thought through beginning to a series of books. I was gripped throughout.

Fantastic, gripping plot

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Even when the inevitable outcome is revealed, the flow and detail that defines this fantastic story keeps you enthralled until the end.

Masterpiece

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Great story and the performance was excellent. Like all audible performances you have to give it a chance but this was perfect.

Beautifully read

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