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A fast-paced page turner starring one of John le Carre’s standard middle age, middle ranking, slightly disillusioned spies. Nat meets the younger Ed at his sports club and begins a regular game of badminton with him. He’s quite taken with the sincerity of the young man’s political convictions, even when he doesn’t share them. Meanwhile, Nat has been given a job that he considers close to being put out to pasture. Predictably that’s not how things turn out. If anything, that’s my criticism of this book. Much of it is highly predictable although the twists aren’t and the ending certainly isn’t. In fact, I’m left unsatisfactorily wondering what the ramifications of the ending are. (view spoiler)[Perhaps I need it spelled out for me but if Nat and Prue have helped someone to disappear that is wanted for treachery, doesn’t that make them traitors? Or are they planning to disappear too? If I missed something, I’d be delighted if an enlightened reader will tell me! (hide spoiler)]