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Spy Line

Spy Line

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  • Create Date：2021-08-26 08:52:15
  • Update Date：2025-09-07
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Len Deighton
  • ISBN：0241505488
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Summary

Bernard Samson is a spy on the run。 But in the murky streets of Berlin， he knows where to hide。 Wanted for an act of treachery he has not committed， he must not only escape the grasp of London Central， but get to the bottom of a tangled conspiracy that is about to change everything。

In the thrilling penultimate instalment of the Hook， Line and Sinker trilogy， Bernard's personal and professional life collide with devastating consequences。

A BERNARD SAMSON NOVEL

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Reviews

John Stanley ，

While well written enough， “Spy Line” really only stands as the second， and nothing all that special， part of this set of three-book Bernard Sampson novels—Spy Hook， Line， and Sinker， the middle set of the Sampson stories。

Peter Allum ，

Good， but not great spy lit。I was perhaps unwise to start my Len Deighton reading here， with the 5th book in the Bernard Samson series。 The novel stands by itself， but only just。 Key protagonists reappear from earlier novels， and not always with a clear back story。 I was initially puzzled why Gloria is looking after Samson's kids and greeting him lovingly on his return from Berlin when he is clearly brooding over his wife who apparently just defected for the East。 More context was needed。Apart f Good， but not great spy lit。I was perhaps unwise to start my Len Deighton reading here， with the 5th book in the Bernard Samson series。 The novel stands by itself， but only just。 Key protagonists reappear from earlier novels， and not always with a clear back story。 I was initially puzzled why Gloria is looking after Samson's kids and greeting him lovingly on his return from Berlin when he is clearly brooding over his wife who apparently just defected for the East。 More context was needed。Apart from the weak grounding of past events， the plot relies excessively on coincidence。 The protagonist， Samson， is rather passive， and the story emerges out of his chance meetings with acquaintances and plots hatched by his seniors and rivals about which he is ignorant。 The twin story line--involving his wife's traitorous defection and suspected drug smuggling across the iron curtain--barely makes sense。 There are some nice scenes but the connecting links are weak。 Somewhat reminiscent of the random plotting in Raymond Chandler。 Despite some nicely jaded description of espionage bureaucracy and marital woes， this is not on a par with early Le Carre。 Disappointing overall。 。。。more

Jonathan ，

I flew through Spy Line in a week on audiobook， mainly listening on morning walks。 Bernard Samson is on the run and to say anymore would be unfair。 Needless to say it’s another terrific read and I’m now onto Spy Sinker， the third book in the second Samson trilogy。

Nikhil Khare ，

The books picks from Bernard in Berlin on the run。 The book jumps to Bernard knowing Fiona is is a double agent。 The writer has left the void and I felt that some introduction to how and when Bernard detected would've been great， but I believe that's going to make me read the last of this trilogy to hear Fiona's side。 The books picks from Bernard in Berlin on the run。 The book jumps to Bernard knowing Fiona is is a double agent。 The writer has left the void and I felt that some introduction to how and when Bernard detected would've been great， but I believe that's going to make me read the last of this trilogy to hear Fiona's side。 。。。more

Judith Gunn ，

This is a tale of British spies; the main story line has to do with the sending of a woman， wife， mother into the Soviet Union as a defector。 This book tells what happens at the end of this caper， along with a story of a man who accidently shoots and kills two East Germans。 Lots of plot！

William Coombs ，

Bernard Sampson #5 was a great way to end 2020。 #6 - #9， already ordered， is how I will begin 2021。 I really enjoy this series。

Mary ，

This is the first Len Deighton book that I am reading。 And I don’t think it will be my last one。 Even though this book continues from Spy Hook， which I haven’t read， it could be read as a standalone book。 There were a few spots in the beginning that might have helped if reading Spy Hook first。 But I didn’t find it necessary。 The story picked up more， half way through the book。 This is the story of Bernard Samson who is hiding in Berlin， away from the service that’s accusing him for being a trait This is the first Len Deighton book that I am reading。 And I don’t think it will be my last one。 Even though this book continues from Spy Hook， which I haven’t read， it could be read as a standalone book。 There were a few spots in the beginning that might have helped if reading Spy Hook first。 But I didn’t find it necessary。 The story picked up more， half way through the book。 This is the story of Bernard Samson who is hiding in Berlin， away from the service that’s accusing him for being a traitor。 Bernard is still doing what he learned to do， even though he is told not to。 His wife Fiona is also a spy who is trying to defect。 Her and Bernard are both estranged in this book， since Bernard is having an affair with Gloria who is also taking care of the children he had with Fiona。 Fiona has a sister Tessa who looks a lot like her。 Even though Bernard is hiding in Berlin， he does find a way to go to London。 The story line takes the reader to parties that the rich only attend and Bernard attends them with Gloria。 The writing is very English and the language is characteristic of the English language。 For some reason though， even though the book was written in 1989 and does not have a date in the story line， I felt that the story was taking place more during the late 60’s early 70’s。 I found the book entertaining， enjoyed the story line and everything that went with it。 The only reason for the 3 stars is that it was slow in the beginning。 But I do recommend it。 。。。more

Bob Box ，

Read in 1990。 Another solid spy thriller in the Samson series。

David Evans ，

Well， get out of this one Bernard。 A pariah neither the West or East can trust also has a pending domestic headache to sort out。 Rather you than me is all I can say。 A knowledge of philately， European dentistry and exploding shavers would be an advantage。

Book collector ，

This is still a good book but unfortunately reality did rather pull the rug from under thriller writers chairs。 How？ The Berlin wall fell and suddenly Russia was no longer the great threat （unlike now！） it had been。 It meant that good though this is it seemed oddly dated。 And it is good。 The usual great writing with the twists and turns we have come to expect。 I note a reviewer is complaining about Samson being "clueless" and not able work things out。 They are missing the point of this kind of b This is still a good book but unfortunately reality did rather pull the rug from under thriller writers chairs。 How？ The Berlin wall fell and suddenly Russia was no longer the great threat （unlike now！） it had been。 It meant that good though this is it seemed oddly dated。 And it is good。 The usual great writing with the twists and turns we have come to expect。 I note a reviewer is complaining about Samson being "clueless" and not able work things out。 They are missing the point of this kind of book。 If the hero could work it all out then it would make for a very short book！ 。。。more

Heather ，

3。5

David ，

I always get caught up in this one。 I’m still unsure about the crisis point toward the end。 I’m pretty clear on what happened; less so， still， on who ordered/approved what。 In any case， a brilliant ‘finish’ to a plot line that eventually turns out to be only about 60% over at this point。 The collateral damage， especially psychologically， is astonishing。

Sam ，

Aside from the amusing witty moments and one liners， I wasn't all that keen on this book。 There seemed to be a lot of random and unrelated events that just happened with no explanation， either before or after， and Samson seems to switch between being accepted as an agent and then a traitor and back again。 The story is twisting and typical of a good spy novel， which I often find a bit unbelievable and convuluted， although I know many love that kind of thing but I find difficult to keep track of n Aside from the amusing witty moments and one liners， I wasn't all that keen on this book。 There seemed to be a lot of random and unrelated events that just happened with no explanation， either before or after， and Samson seems to switch between being accepted as an agent and then a traitor and back again。 The story is twisting and typical of a good spy novel， which I often find a bit unbelievable and convuluted， although I know many love that kind of thing but I find difficult to keep track of never mind believe。 As I said， for me the only saving grace was the dry British wit that is found throughout， which often had me chuckling to myself and re-reading bits to make sure I'd read it right。 。。。more

Leonard ，

A good read。 It's hard to come in a series in the mid parts to catch up with characters abbreviations， etc。 A good read。 It's hard to come in a series in the mid parts to catch up with characters abbreviations， etc。 。。。more

Brock Ray ，

Sooo boring。 Like a weird mix between a spy novel and a quaint English mystery — but with the charm of neither。 Hard pass。

Zach Franz ，

This book is evidently one chapter in a trilogy， or longer series， detailing the lives and exploits of Bernie Samson and other principle characters。 As I hadn't read Deighton before--and had already bought "Spy Line"--I didn't care enough to search out the beginning and instead read this one。Overall， it's a good， engaging book。 Deighton's style--subtle， cynical， gloomy， British--and his talent deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Le Carre， Greene， Ambler and Furst。 His pros This book is evidently one chapter in a trilogy， or longer series， detailing the lives and exploits of Bernie Samson and other principle characters。 As I hadn't read Deighton before--and had already bought "Spy Line"--I didn't care enough to search out the beginning and instead read this one。Overall， it's a good， engaging book。 Deighton's style--subtle， cynical， gloomy， British--and his talent deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Le Carre， Greene， Ambler and Furst。 His prose--especially his dialogue--is intelligent and dynamic; he's often funny， which sets him apart from his contemporaries。At the same time， not much really happens in "Spy Line" until the final fifty pages。 It feels as if Deighton is coasting a bit， not earning his audience; the book was written in the late eighties， but feels twenty-five years older。 That's not necessarily a good thing。 It was interesting enough， but didn't make me want to rush out and fill in the missing pieces of Samson's life through further volumes。 。。。more

Ross Nimmo ，

Normally a fan of Deighton but these trilogies of his are a hard slog。

Nigeyb ，

Since recently finishing， and loving， Spy Hook （Bernard Samson， #4） I've been itching to get back to the series。 Spy Line （Bernard Samson， #5） picks up the story， which ended in Spy Hook on something of cliffhanger。 It's winter 1987 in Berlin and Bernard Samson is now on the run。 One of the themes of this series is trust and Spy Line has Bernard questioning virtually every relationship in his life。 Needless to say he gets very few straightforward answers。The less you know about the plot the bett Since recently finishing， and loving， Spy Hook （Bernard Samson， #4） I've been itching to get back to the series。 Spy Line （Bernard Samson， #5） picks up the story， which ended in Spy Hook on something of cliffhanger。 It's winter 1987 in Berlin and Bernard Samson is now on the run。 One of the themes of this series is trust and Spy Line has Bernard questioning virtually every relationship in his life。 Needless to say he gets very few straightforward answers。The less you know about the plot the better， suffice to say that just when I thought this series couldn't get any better Len takes it up another level。 A five star read - and what a series。I was so gripped by the ending I stayed up late to finish it。 I have no idea where Spy Sinker （Bernard Samson， #6） will take me， but I can't wait to find out。5/5 。。。more

Jan Urbanek ，

Same as the previous one。 The really good thing is the ending， that is why 4 stars。 On an emotional level it is good （the ending again）， but the story as such is over complicated， things are happening for no reason （the whole Salzburg-Vienna-Czech plot is completely unnecessary） and the main character， who was so good in first trilogy， is only a fool here。

Matt Raubenheimer ，

Another thrilling， page-turning novel in the Bernard Samson saga。 I feel like I'm really getting into this series with the second trilogy。 I certainly enjoyed the first three novels， but I've enjoyed seeing how the story and characters develop in books four and five even more。 This one builds to a particularly exciting and violent conclusion which I enjoyed a great deal。 I'm now very curious to see how the change of narrative perspective in the sixth book in the series will shed a new light on t Another thrilling， page-turning novel in the Bernard Samson saga。 I feel like I'm really getting into this series with the second trilogy。 I certainly enjoyed the first three novels， but I've enjoyed seeing how the story and characters develop in books four and five even more。 This one builds to a particularly exciting and violent conclusion which I enjoyed a great deal。 I'm now very curious to see how the change of narrative perspective in the sixth book in the series will shed a new light on the events covered in the first five novels。 。。。more

BiblioPhil ，

Ashamed to think I used to look down on people - men - who'd read these books。 But many of them would be reading Lee Child these days so some condescension still allowed。 Pity the Cold War milieu may have contributed to the Bernard Samson books having fallen out of sight， and the lack of a film adaptation。 Also the series has to be read as a whole - like Anthony Powell。。。 Ashamed to think I used to look down on people - men - who'd read these books。 But many of them would be reading Lee Child these days so some condescension still allowed。 Pity the Cold War milieu may have contributed to the Bernard Samson books having fallen out of sight， and the lack of a film adaptation。 Also the series has to be read as a whole - like Anthony Powell。。。 。。。more

Lesly ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Read twice now。 2nd time - April 2020Liked it better as I read after Spy Hook so made more sense。 But I did like SpyHook better。1st time - Sept 2019Ok but feels like old style writing and not very interested in main character。

Russell Berg ，

Excellent return to form for the master of atmospherics and character。

Dahlgren General Library ，

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Almustafa Couch ，

A valuable book worth a read furthering our （the readers） understanding of the overriding universal nature of humanity， which according to this book （among many） does over-whelm political belief systems， and even family coherence。 I personally do have some problems with the belief system （in human nature） that is supported in this novel， but it is certainly a good experience to see it portrayed in such a refined way。

Peter Learn ，

Hope this marks the end if creepy Gloria。 Children are problematic。 Bernard spends maybe 1 day a month with them？ Meanwhile 12 year old girlfriend apparently takes csre of them？ Also questionable why Bernie is such a toady to Dicky。

Michael Martz ，

'Spy Line'， the middle entry in Len Deighton's 'Hook， Line， and Sinker' trilogy set back in the Cold War， is yet another expertly plotted， thoroughly confusing， and truly enjoyable description of the escapades of Bernd Samson， the German-raised English spy。 In this installment， Samson， who is seemingly either hated or distrusted by almost all other members of his profession on both sides of 'the wall' （as well as across the Atlantic）， is on the run in Berlin after his own employers put out an ar 'Spy Line'， the middle entry in Len Deighton's 'Hook， Line， and Sinker' trilogy set back in the Cold War， is yet another expertly plotted， thoroughly confusing， and truly enjoyable description of the escapades of Bernd Samson， the German-raised English spy。 In this installment， Samson， who is seemingly either hated or distrusted by almost all other members of his profession on both sides of 'the wall' （as well as across the Atlantic）， is on the run in Berlin after his own employers put out an arrest warrant for him at the end of 'Spy Hook'。 He receives overtures from his superiors through the usual opaque processes that lead him to believe he may be back in everyone's good graces and before you know it he's headed back 'home'。 London's where his 2 children and live-in girlfriend reside， but unfortunately his wife， Fiona， is still behind the Iron Curtain where she had defected and apparently taken many English secrets along with。 Has Fiona truly thrown away her family and career to help the Russians， or is it a case of the classic 'double'？ This is the gist of the plot。。。。 Samson is in the dark as is almost everyone in the British and American spy hierarchies， yet so many odd conversations and occurrences take place that it leads one to believe something big may happen。 Or not。 The plot is intricate， the writing excellent， and the tension rarely subsides。 Spy Line leaves you wanting to head over to the library to grab the finale of this great trilogy。 。。。more

Peter ，

Ever feel that you are being manipulated？

Jack Hrkach ，

If you read this after Spy Hook （which you should， even if the author calls each novel "stand-alone" the suspense builds and late in the novel occurs one of the ugliest confrontations/shoot-outs I've read in Deighton's books。 The story is far too complicated to relate here， and even if I tried there would inevitably be spoilers in it that I assure you you would not want to know before you started your reading。 The main characters， beginning of course with Bernard Samson， followed closely by Wern If you read this after Spy Hook （which you should， even if the author calls each novel "stand-alone" the suspense builds and late in the novel occurs one of the ugliest confrontations/shoot-outs I've read in Deighton's books。 The story is far too complicated to relate here， and even if I tried there would inevitably be spoilers in it that I assure you you would not want to know before you started your reading。 The main characters， beginning of course with Bernard Samson， followed closely by Werner， his close friend in Berlin， Dicky Cruyer， Bert Rensselaer， Fiona， Samson's wife who defected to East Germany （or did she？）， her sister Tessa， and more all figure in the plot， which ends in a private re-hab/debriefing center in of all places， Southern California。The suspense was such that even before I finished this Kindle I bought the 3rd book in the trilogy， just as I had Spy Line before finishing the first book， Spy Hook。 （I read them all on Kindle due to my increasingly feeble eyes。）in fact I have already plunged into that third book， Spy Sinker。 Whereas the first two had been narrated in first person by Bernard， this one takes a different tack， utilizing third person narration。 In spite of that， or perhaps because of it you might say I'm already "hooked"。If you enjoy great espionage fiction （and most of it is only good at best） I'd urge you to pick up this trilogy， the middle of the full Bernard Samson series。 In fact it would be very smart of you to begin at the beginning of the Samson series - Berlin Game， followed by Mexico Set and London Match。 Or not， of course， as you like it！ 。。。more

Gary Letham ，

Bernard is on the run。 He has unwittingly come very close to blowing one of SIS's most audacious long term undercover operations and London Central need to silence him。 Frank as head of Berlin Station undertakes to bring Bernard in and he is finally let in on the long con。 A trip to Czechoslovakia via Salzburg & Vienna and finally a deadly trip behind the wall will change everything for Bernard forever Bernard is on the run。 He has unwittingly come very close to blowing one of SIS's most audacious long term undercover operations and London Central need to silence him。 Frank as head of Berlin Station undertakes to bring Bernard in and he is finally let in on the long con。 A trip to Czechoslovakia via Salzburg & Vienna and finally a deadly trip behind the wall will change everything for Bernard forever 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Spy Line

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Spy Line&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Spy Line&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0