Thriller · Classics
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
A quiet, retired intelligence man is quietly called back to find a Soviet mole in the top ranks of the British Secret Service. He works through old files and old colleagues to find which of four senior men has betrayed them.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1974
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 381
- Format
- Book 5 of 9 in George Smiley
Read this if you like patient, intricate espionage with a keenly observed cast and a pleasingly tough puzzle.
Skip this if you need quick pacing or clear exposition, because the book is dense with names, jargon and time shifts.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
- What is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy about?
- A quiet, retired intelligence man is quietly called back to find a Soviet mole in the top ranks of the British Secret Service. He works through old files and old colleagues to find which of four senior men has betrayed them.
- Who should read Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?
- Read it if you like patient, intricate espionage with a keenly observed cast and a pleasingly tough puzzle. Skip it if you need quick pacing or clear exposition, because the book is dense with names, jargon and time shifts.
- How long and how fast is Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?
- It is a slow-paced, medium read of about 381 pages, first published in 1974.
- Does Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Death, Violence, Infidelity.
- Can I borrow Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, The Day of the Jackal.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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