The Spy Who Came In from the Cold by John le Carre

Winner of the Edgar award for Best Novel in 1965.
Winner of the Gold Dagger (CWA) award for Fiction in 1963.
Winner of the Somerset Maugham award in 1964.

In this classic, John le Carre's third novel and the first to earn him international acclaim, he created a world unlike any previously experienced in suspense fiction.

With unsurpassed knowledge culled from his years in British Intelligence, le Carre brings to light the shadowy dealings of international espionage in the tale of a British agent who longs to end his career but undertakes one final, bone-chilling assignment.

When the last agent under his command is killed and Alec Leamas is called back to London, he hopes to come in from the cold for good. His spymaster, Control, however, has other plans.

Determined to bring down the head of East German Intelligence and topple his organization, Control once more sends Leamas into the fray -- this time to play the part of the dishonored spy and lure the enemy to his ultimate defeat.

This book is part of the "George Smiley" series.
Here are some other books from this series: