One of le Carre's sequence of spy novels containing Smiley. Set and written in the early 60s, the Cold War is going strong. The secret service, known as the Circus, deals with political intrigue but in the post-War years there is also The Department, which handles military issues but is languishing into disuse. When a possible new weapon is rumoured in East Germany and one of The Department's agents is killed, it seems their time has come again, and they may even need to put an agent in the field. But are a bunch of old men and their dated techniques up to the task? Enjoyable and suspenseful read.