This audiobook was difficult for me to get into. I actually had to DNF the audiobook and pick up a physical copy of the book to read.

I am not sure if it was the way the book was structured (some books just don't translate to audiobooks well) or the narrator that was hard to follow.

I did enjoy the physical book and am looking forward to continue George Smiley on his journey.

Years ago I read a John le Carre novel or two and just didn't get into them. My loss! Bigtime. I loved reading this first George Smiley where Carre developed the fat spy's character, getting up there, has no more time for bureaucratic garbage that nicely compartmentalizes away truth if it prefers to have the truth be a suicide and not a murder. I love his also older connections, the connection to WWII. I love that this guy is so physically unfit but like a cat going after a German Shepherd, he jumps into danger if that's what is needed. Smiley has a conscience. He has drive. He has tremendous history and he is delightful. I'm now, belatedly, a le Carre fan! Finished this audiobook in a day. The narrator was great.

I have read many of the George Smiley tales but had never read the book that started it all. It was nice to get some of Smiley's back story and how his life as a spy almost never came to be.

A veteran government official is found dead by a gunshot wound to the head with a suicide note signed by him laying on the floor next to him. The note says that he couldn't live with the spector of investigation hanging over him. The day before the death Smiley had interviewed them man and basically told him not to worry, that he was in the clear and the allegations seemed unsubstantiated. The next morning when Smiley goes to the scene and interviews the wife there is a phone call for the man. That phone call bothers Smiley. Why would a man intent on killing himself leave a wake up call for the next day. Smiley tugs at the strings and the whole plot unravels almost taking Smiley with it. This is why Le Carre and Smiley are classics.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for free in return for an unbiased review.

Call for the dead was a great listen! I loved the exciting writing Le Carre is known for. Another gem.

Its LeCarre - of course its gonna be good. A classic mystery write everyone should read. You cant go wrong with any of his books.

The fire George Smiley book is one I had never read. George gets involved in a murder investigation when an agent he spoke to is killed.

The story and characters are well-developed and while you know who the killer is the why and the how are the questions. It has old-school spy tactics and is a real cat-and-mouse game.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. My only “complaint” is it is kind of dated but that can’t be helped since it was published in 1961 originally.

"Call for the Dead" by John le Carré is a masterful introduction to the chillingly amoral universe of international espionage that le Carré so deftly explores in his subsequent works. This heart-stopping tale of intrigue marks the debut of George Smiley, a character who would become one of the most iconic spies in literary history.
George Smiley is not a glamorous secret agent but a seemingly unremarkable man whose unassuming nature makes him an expert in his field. This refreshing and realistic unique portrayal sets the tone for le Carré's nuanced approach to the espionage genre. His storytelling is nothing short of captivating and weaves a complex web of suspicion, deceit, and hidden motives.
"Call for the Dead" is more than just a mystery; it is a profound exploration of human nature and the moral ambiguities inherent in the world of espionage. I rated this book three out of five stars, and I'm excited to start my Smiley journey :)

A wonderful introduction to the intriguing Smiley, an unlikely hero with a knack for seeing through the webs of lies woven by the spies around him. Very enjoyable.

The very first John le Carré novel is a reminder of what a brilliant writer this man was and leaves me wanting to read and re-read the rest of his collected works. Call For The Dead is an introduction to George Smiley, an employee of "the circus", and the exact opposite of James Bond... he comes across as a totally normal everyday guy who just happens to be one of the top spies in England.
While this is a spy novel, Call For The Dead reads more like a mystery with plenty of social commentary thrown in. Published originally in 1961 and set in the years following world war two, it's an interesting book to read in our current times. Amazing how times change and yet stand perfectly still at the same time.
The characters are so well-written, Elsa was very intriguing and wow what a mess she was involved in. She was quite the trickster and I really enjoyed that whole plot with the German spies. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who's into Agatha Christie type mysteries and to anyone who's looking for a quick read that's full of adventure and intrigue.

Enjoyed this audio book by John le Carré. First time with George Smiley, but have read le Carré before. He is a great character, well defined. This is also a great story. Will definitely be continuing this series. The reader was also very good. #CallfortheDead #NetGalley

This is my first Smiley apart from Gary Oldman of course. I might have gone in with the imprint of Oldman but Le Carre was able to help me draw another picture of Smiley, it's fuzzier on the outside but the inside is building up nicely and I look forward to more tiles to the Smiley mosaic.

I enjoyed the book, Simon Vance's narration was excellent, not intrusive like Smiley himself. As usual Le Carre's great command of English is on the spot and he was able to choose the few words necessary to convey George Smiley, the unlikely hero, in this particular story. Particularly liked Guillam and Mendel as well.

An ARC gently provided by author/publisher via Netgalley.

My very first John le Carré; my very first George Smiley (although I've seen both the 1979 BBC series and the 2011 film versions of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy). It was strange, hearing Gary Oldman (Count Dracula! Reverend Dimmesdale!) described as a toad. At least he came across as kindly. In retrospect, curmudgeonly Obi Wan Kenobi didn't match the character much at all...

That's what was running through the back of my head the entire time. In my defense, my understanding is that John le Carré himself revised the characters as he went along. It was nice to see Peter Guillam, and Inspector Mendel, too. I really liked the Inspector. I'd forgotten that he was in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. I'm even about certain I've heard Simon Vance narrate something else before, although I can't jog my memory as to what. Reading Call for the Dead was rather like old home week in a way. A brief catch-up with old friends that you haven't seen in awhile. As for the plot, very dense and cerebral for such a short book. It's a novella, really. I'd like to go back soon.

I would like to thank Dreamscape Media for allowing me to experience this NetGalley audiobook. I hope they plan on recording more George Smiley novels with Simon Vance.

I have read this book twice and I will admit that I didn't even realize that I read it before until I was almost to the end. I will admit that I did not really enjoy this book as I had a hard time following along with the story and where it moved along quickly it just really did not do anything for me.

Introduction into the character and world of George Smiley. This sets up the character for future Le Carre books but isn’t a necessity if you are already in the series.