Charlie M

by Brian Freemantle

Book Overview

A cagey British spy fights enemies from without and withinCharlie Muffin is an anachronism. He came into the intelligence service in the early 1950s, when the government, desperate for foot soldiers... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345306112
• ISBN13: 9780345306111
• Release Date: November 1982
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Amusing Spy Story

Charlie Muffin is an experienced, rumpled, and endearing working-class British agent. Charlie irritates his boss and fellow agents with his appearance and accent, yet he always manages to get results. After narrowly escaping death during a border crossing in Berlin, Charlie is convinced that the department has decided he is expendable. Back in London, Charlie finds that two younger agents are now sharing his office while Charlie's desk has been moved to what used to be the secretary's rest room. But the in-experienced upper-class agents who are given preference begin bungling the defection of the head of the KGB, and Charlie finds himself back in action. This amusing spy story is fast-paced and satisfying. http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/F_Authors/Freemantle_Brian.html

Quick and entertaining read

Charlie Muffin is to espionage what columbo is to police work. After a shake-up at the top of British Intelligence, the new powers that be have decided they no longer have use for relics like Charlie (not Charles, if you please) Muffin, a frumpy, disheveled operative from the old school. When a high ranking KGB general hints at defection at an embassy party in Moscow, a competition emerges between the Brits and the CIA to secure the defector for debriefing. After 2 novice British agents fail their mission, the director reluctantly sends the cynical unwanted Muffin to Moscow to secure the plans for the defection. A highly entertaining and fast moving story with a surprise ending is the result of this charming 1st in a long and succesful series. After Bill Granger's Deveroux, I have to say Charlie Muffin is my favorite operative.5 stars.

Brilliant

This is the first Charlie Muffin book I read and I found the plot to be better than most books of its kind. It is brilliantly written and the ending is truly a surprise to the most cynical and hard to please reader. Charlie is scruffy, no tact, who is treated with derision and contempt by colleagues. He refuses to cooperate in his own demise and downfall. Charlie is a survivor. After reading this book I had to get hold of every book in the series. (I haven't got them all yet.) First class, a brilliant read. By the way, I bought the book under two titles, Charlie M and Charlie Muffin, as the book is known in the UK and Australia.