Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (George Smiley Series) by John le Carré

For six decades, John le Carré wrote novels that came to define our age. Although they are all bookshelf worthy, perhaps the most notable is Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy. If it’s your first journey into the world of le Carré’s George Smiley series, then prepare to enter the spy craft world and hit the ground running. If you’re a fan of the Oscar-nominated film, we suggest this as a quick follow-up. In THIS case, the book IS better than the movie and offers so much more context and nuance. You’ll finish reading wanting to set up codenames, drop points and international travel in disguise.

From the New York Times bestselling author of A Legacy of Spies. 

The man he knew as "Control" is dead, and the young Turks who forced him out now run the Circus. But George Smiley isn't quite ready for retirement—especially when a pretty, would-be defector surfaces with a shocking accusation: a Soviet mole has penetrated the highest level of British Intelligence. Relying only on his wits and a small, loyal cadre, Smiley recognizes the hand of Karla—his Moscow Centre nemesis—and sets a trap to catch the traitor.
 
The Oscar-nominated feature film adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is directed by Tomas Alfredson (Let the Right One In) and features Gary Oldman as Smiley, Academy Award winner Colin Firth (The King's Speech), and Tom Hardy (Inception).
 
With an introduction by the author.