Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy cover art

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

By: John le Carré
Narrated by: Michael Jayston
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $38.99

Buy Now for $38.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

Mr George Smiley is small, podgy, and at best, middle-aged. He is disillusioned, wrestles with idleness, and has been deserted by his beautiful wife. He is also compassionate, ruthless, and a senior British intelligence officer in short-lived retirement from the Circus, the British Secret Service organisation situated in London. But Moscow centre has infiltrated a mole into the Circus, and it's more than likely the perpetrator is Karla, Smiley's old adversary and his opposite number in Moscow. And when, at the dead of night, a member of the Cabinet offers Smiley the job to 'clean the stable, do whatever is necessary', it becomes a long and bitter battle of wits between Smiley, the master of deceit, and the enigmatic Karla.©2014 Michael Jayston (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd Contemporary Fiction Crime Thrillers Espionage

What listeners say about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    151
  • 4 Stars
    22
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    139
  • 4 Stars
    23
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    133
  • 4 Stars
    25
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Holds up well

I first read this book many years ago and the audible version is excellent. Michael Jayston is an excellent narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Near perfection

The narrator is peerless and I am transported to each scene...I am there when Jim is talking to Jumbo, when Smiley is reminiscing about Karla, and the fear in Guillam when he is spying on his own service. The writing impeccable, the gaps intended and the characters are alive. Human flaws are painted with such colour. Almost my favourite book of all time!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Never too late !

I’ve only really just discovered Le carre in recent months but he has changed completely my view on writing style . I thought de Silva had nailed it in recent times and he is terrific but Le carre has this ability to turn absolutely purile , grey people into personalities of great interest within a fantastic and believable plots.
Only an Englishman of his vintage and experiences could introduce us in such an unapologetic way to the so English class laced commentary of each of his characters .
I am reading all his books and rereading the pigeon hole to get it all back in perspective and then going to Graeme Green for comparison but fear I might be disappointed .
Let’s hope there is more to come from Le carre . Do We really need a new Cold War to get more from him ?,
But that might not be all that far off anyway ?

Please Sir Cornwell don’t get older just continue writing !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the greatest spy stories

Enjoyed rereading the book as I listened to the audiobook. Reminded me when I was a little kid learning to read. A much better story though.

On to the next LeCarre audiobook!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

loved it multiple times

I've listened to the audiobook on a number of occasions and still enjoy it. Michael Jayston does a wonderful job.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

John Le Carre at his very best.

Have always loved this story and Michael Jayston does a fabulous job with the narration.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Atmospheric

The smiley trilogy is the best le carre. TTSS is a meditation on betrayal - personal more than national

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Recommend!

This book was so well read and the intrigue was maintained throughout. Le Carre’s characters are so well written and this reading is a terrific rendition.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Superb reading of an enthralling book

Michael Jayston, who played Peter Guillam in the BBC series of TTSP, is faultless in his reading (by no means a given in Audiobook readers). He is able to reproduce the Alec Guinness voice for Smiley without tipping over into caricature.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

a complex story

I will be listening again as I took half the book to understand the characters and events. But I feel a second go will be rewarding.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.