Game, Set & Match

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.

I have read (and re-read) the entire Bernard Samson series and thoroughly enjoyed each book. The series, in my opinion, is simply the best of it's genre. The characters, storyline and writing are superb. Bernard Samson is one of my favorite characters in fiction ever. Read the books -- you will not be sorry you did.

If you ever thought that paperback novels - even spy novels - were for airports or a quick read on the train home DO NOT READ THESE! I became seriously adicted to Len Deighton after three chapters of 'Berlin Game' - and you could too! Poetic, ironic, cleverly plotted and evocative, these first three of the nine novel series will have you burning midnight oil and missing meals. Bernard Samson is surely the most clearly realised character from any spy story. His moral struggles to stay true to his ideals whilst everone around him sells out to power or money will have you caring about him as never before. There is never an easy get out or glib phrase. I have read all nine novels five times and still am ready for more. Can you now resist???

Len Deighton is the perfect antidote for those sick and tired of Tom Clancy novels. In all of Deighton's works, the human is the center of the book, and the dialogue and the characters are outstanding. No thrilling machines or gadgets to get in the way of a good spy novel here. I read all of the Game, Set and Match books when they were published, and then all the following books in the series. I just can't get enough of Bernard Samson, Fiona, Bret, Dickie, Werner et al. These are the most memorable characters I've ever come across in the spy genre. They are all believable, possessing strengths and vulnerabilities that we all have. All are driven by duty, love, deceit, conceit and are capable of treachery. Too bad the Cold War had to end so soon. I sort of wish that the Berlin Wall didn't have to come down so that Mr. Deighton can continue to write about the exploits of Bernard Samson.