Customer Reviews

Game, Set and Match

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I would first like to say that this review is not only for "Game, Set and Match", but also for the other two trilogies, "Hook, Line and Sinker", and "Faith, Hope and Charity". I believe that all nine works must be spoken of here, or the mood that the author creates will have been lost.

From the first sentence in "Berlin Match" to the last paragraph of "Charity", Len Deighton has created a masterpiece of intrigue, double-dealing and the cloak and dagger mentality that is peculiar to the British Secret Service. Looking at Bernard Samson and his family, friends, enemies and detractors has made for an extremely interesting read: I believe that I read all nine in about a month and a half.

In a style similar to John LeCarre, Deighton takes the reader on a roller-coaster ride that starts out with trepidation, builds to a almost certain climax, only to finish with an entirely different ending than anticipated. I disagreed with the author's statement that each novel can stand alone and be read in any sequence. I believe that each book laid a groundwork that the following novel picked up and developed further.

I highly recommend this nine volume series and would welcome Mr. Deighton to write a final Bernard Samson work. Enjoy, and good readuing!

These are the first 3 of the 9 books with Bernard Samson as the major character. Game, Set and Match; Hook, Line and Sinker; Faith, Hope and Charity. Samson works for British intelligence during the cold war era. Samdon, although British, was raised in post WWII Berlin when his father was the Berlin chief of British Intelligence. There is a constant thread with Samson through each book, yet each book stands alone. All are good reads. Deighton is an historian and doesn't skimp on historical details. Deighton's explanation of Berliners reaction to President Kennedy's famous "Ich bin Berliner" speach alone is worth the read. The series, 9 books, gets a 5 star rating.

These are the first three of nine in the total series, all great reads and able to stand alone, definitely the best trilogy of the nine.