Horse Under Water

This follow-up is more conventional than IPCRESS File, a lot less stylish, but still well-written and involving. Here the agent later dubbed "Harry Palmer" gets mixed up with drugs, counterfeiting and some left-over Nazis. The first half has the feel of an Alistair McLean novel, as he leads a group on a salvage operation at sea. Later things get more convoluted as we get to the finale. The best part of the book comes as the hero bolts the scene of an ambush where a colleague is killed. He then gives a bold testimonial of how for him it's never personal. It's a cynical variation on the Hawksian notion for an espionage novel, and reflecting thinking that in today's books and films is entirely gone.

This novel from January, 1968, is a hodge podge of possible revolution, a sunken submarine with millions, and a wonder machine full of power possibilities. It may be dated as some would say, yet if you like me, enjoy most things by Len Deighton then you will want to read this book. I came upon this hardcover back in 1980, for .50 cents on a AAUW booksale table, and have it still in my home library. It is one of several he wrote that really does not fit the general 'mold' yet as a blurb on the dust jacket says it "is vintage Deighton". The novel also contains skin diving, drug trafficking, and blackmail with the hand of Hitler's defeated Germany in the midst of all. The action stretches from Portugal to London to Marrakesh. No small canvass for Mr. Deighton but a canvass he covers with usual aplomb very well. This world is of course one of international espionage. I notice on the dust jacket that mine is a "Third Printing" so 'someones' somewhere must have similiar feelings such as mine that this is a interesting novel. Semper Fi.

... and this time heads for deep waters. This was written around the same time as "The Ipcress File". It is well written with enough twists and turns to keep you reading to the end. Sometimes it flounders about but nonetheless keeps its head abover water. "The Ipcress File" and "Funeral in Berlin" have more more depth and character development but "Horse Under Water" holds its own. The spy with no name became "Harry Palmer" in the films which starred Michael Caine. This novel was next in line to be filmed but apparently the dissappointing box office of Ken Russell's "The Billion Dollar Brain" -- an eccentric but entertaining version of the book -- led to the demise of the film series. To bad. "Horse Under Water" has the makings of a fine drama.