John le Carre · 1979 · thriller

John le Carré's 1979 novel. Called out of retirement by the murder of an old agent on Hampstead Heath, George Smiley follows a cold trail across Cold War Europe - from London to Hamburg, Paris and Bern - patiently assembling the pieces that will finally bring him face to face with his Soviet nemesis Karla at a bridge in Berlin.

1. 1
   London

   Smiley is summoned in the dead of night to the body of General Vladimir, an old agent shot dead on the Heath.

2. 2
   Hamburg

   Smiley tracks down the night-club owner Kretzschmar and the tapes that expose Karla's secret.

3. 3
   Paris

   The emigree Ostrakova, whose plight first set the whole affair in motion, is spirited to safety.

4. 4
   Bern

   Smiley's team corners Grigoriev, the Soviet diplomat paying for the care of Karla's hidden daughter.

5. 5
   Berlin

   At the Glienicke Bridge, Karla crosses to the West and drops a silver lighter on the cobblestones.