Deighton, Len. Mexico Set. Alfred A. Knopf, 1985.
Reason read: to continue the series started last month in recognition of the National Security Act.
In Mexico Set readers rejoin M1-6 agent Bernard Samson as he trails his Soviet counterpart, Erich Stinnes, a KGB major whom London Central salivates to recruit to their side. This is a strategic dance that takes considerable time. Samson travels between Mexico, London, Paris and Berlin delicately trying to seal the deal while avoiding traitors and blackmailers. Samson’s ex-wife has made it personal by threatening to take their children if he interferes with her KGB man. Remember, back in Berlin Game Mrs. Samson flipped and works for the enemy now. Like any good thriller worth its weight, Mexico Set has an abduction, a suicide, and a murder. Suspicions abound and loyalties become murkier by the day. As Samson goes deeper into his mission the net tightens incrementally around him. Pieces of his old watch are found at the murder scene of one of his own men. He is the one to bring the poisoned meal that kills another of his agents. Samson has no idea of his enemies except the obvious one, his ex-wife. Could it be that Fiona is trying to make the Department think she got her ex-husband to change sides with her? Then there is the Russian passport with his name and picture…
I appreciated that Deighton gave a two sentence recap of Berlin Game, artfully setting the stage for Mexico Set without spoiling either book. Another bonus was Deighton’s explanation of the difference between recruiting and enrolling someone to their side. For those interested, recruiting is a civilian term for swaying ordinary people. Enrolling is when an enemy can be flipped into joining the other side.
What makes Berlin Game and Mexico Set so riveting to read is that Len Deighton was a master of realistic dialogue. His characters are believable in emotion and speech. I was kept on the edge of my seat for the entire book.
Lines that mentioned coffee which I loved, “It was a heavy Mexican coffee that Biedermann had turned into a devil’s brew that made my teeth tingle” (p 40). Sounds like my kind of cup. Here is another coffee reference, “She stared at me with enough calm dispassionate interest to make me worry whether my coffee was poisoned” (p 69).
A non-coffee quote, “For fear is so unwelcome that it comes only in disguise and guilt as its favorite one” (p 189).
Author fact: Deighton went to art school.
Book trivia: cover art is by Arnold Schwartzmann. This is the first time I have ever seen an artist explain their cover art.
Music: Mozart’s Magic Flute, Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Duke Ellington, Elvis, the Beatles, Elton John, Mick Jagger, Ingrid Haebler, “Bye Bye Blackbird,” and “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.”
BookLust Twist: from Book Lust in the chapter called “Cold War Spy Fiction” (p 61).
