John le Carré's spymaster George Smiley is back in a novel by Nick Harkaway, 'The Taper Man'
Associated Press ·
Fictional spymaster George Smiley is back in "The Taper Man," a new thriller set in the world of John le Carré and written by his son, Nick Harkaway. The novel follows Smiley to the U.S. in 1965, chasing a Soviet agent. Harkaway says writing a Cold War story in 2026 feels like “writing in the mirror” due to modern parallels. The book, published Nov. 17 in the U.S., is Harkaway’s second le Carré novel since his father’s death in 2020. Harkaway, who grew up with his father's stories, captures the le Carré spirit, blending espionage with office politics. He plans to write at least one more Smiley book and says other writers may be invited to expand the universe.