I loved the way this book zooms in and out, at times letting the reader in on the conspiracy, only to give the outside view again for a chapter or two, then tip its hand, then twist again to show that what you cleverly figured out was just another layer. It’s deft, and stylish, and keeps you engaged. I can feel how this must have influenced so much of the gritty style spy genre that came later, in all media. But damn it’s bleak. I’m not going to ding the book points for living up to the standards of the genre it exemplifies. That would be like being annoyed a scifi story has a spaceship. But you know, I think the hardcore spy novel is something I only want in little bits.