SPY HOOK by Len Dieghton

Finished We 5/28/25

This was one of my ancient paperbacks that I had never read. However, I was familiar with a few of his novels; BERLIN GAME, MEXICO SET, LONDON MATCH. I had either read the books or seen the film adaptations.

Bernard Sampson works for British intelligence and was stationed in Berlin. His wife Fiona defected to the Soviets and Bernard was not overtly blamed, but he was deemed 'tainted' (behind closed doors) by the bosses. 

This novel concerns missing millions that Fiona probably took with her when she split. The book is not so much about what happened, but more of a character study of people in the 'world of spooks'. 

The book ends with no resolution and things are left in the air. Probably how things work in the real world of spycraft. {I didn't realize that this was the opening novel of another trilogy} 

From Publishers Weekly:

"Initiating a second trilogy, Deighton mesmerizes the reader with the ongoing trials of Bernard Sansom, British intelligence agent who survived perils in Berlin Game , Mexico Set and London Match. Sansom's story begins with a fruitless meeting in Washington with former colleague Jim Prettyman, who denies any knowledge of the slush fund Sansom has been ordered to trace. Over half a million pounds is missing from money allocated to Bret Rensselear of the German desk by London Central before he was shot in Berlin. Later, in London, Sansom learns at a briefing that Prettyman has been killed, another ``incident'' pressuring Sansom's superiors to widen his investigation in East and West Berlin and eventually in France. All the people he questionseven trusted friendsdeepen Sansom's fears that Central is using him to bait their own hook. Persistent rumors about his wife Fiona, long since a defector to the Soviets, magnify his suspicions, particularly in view of Fiona's links to Rensselear and the vanished fortune. The suspense is inexorable, ensuring readers' anticipation of projected sequels, Line and Sinker."