A Most Wanted Man
A Most Wanted Man
Book Brief
336
Novel • Fiction
Hamburg, Germany • 2000s
2008
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In A Most Wanted Man, set in Hamburg, Germany, a mysterious man named Issa, claiming to be a devout Muslim and seeking refuge, contacts Annabel Richter, an immigration lawyer, for help in retrieving a large sum of money from a British bank run by Tommy Brue. With intelligence agents from Germany and Britain watching closely, moral ambiguities arise as Annabel is coerced into a scheme involving potential terrorist financing. Depictions of torture and imprisonment appear in this book.
Suspenseful
Mysterious
Dark
Challenging
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
16,188 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
In A Most Wanted Man, John le Carré delivers a tense and intricate narrative reflecting post-9/11 espionage. Critics praise its compelling characters and morally complex plot. However, some find the pacing slow and the ending unsatisfying. Overall, it’s lauded for its thought-provoking themes and le Carré's masterful storytelling.
Who Should Read A Most Wanted Man?
A reader who enjoys intricate spy thrillers with moral ambiguity, political intrigue, and rich character development would be captivated by John le Carré's A Most Wanted Man. Fans of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold or Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Identity will find it compelling. This novel is perfect for those who appreciate complex plots and ethical dilemmas.
16,188 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
A Most Wanted Man was inspired by real-life events, particularly the abduction and subsequent extraordinary rendition of German citizen Murat Kurnaz, which le Carré learned about during a visit to Germany.
John le Carré often incorporated his knowledge from his time in British intelligence into his works; he wrote A Most Wanted Man with insights reflective of post-9/11 global counter-terrorism dynamics.
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The novel was adapted into a film in 2014, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his final film roles before his passing.
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336
Novel • Fiction
Hamburg, Germany • 2000s
2008
Adult
18+ years
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