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Mexico Set

Penguin Modern Classics

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Mexico Set

By: Len Deighton
Narrated by: James Lailey
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'Deighton is a marvel ... a tale told by an author at the height of his power' Chicago Tribune

World-weary agent Bernard Samson is losing control of his personal and professional life. Sent to Mexico to aid the defection of a KGB agent to the West, he has a chance to prove his worth. Instead he is torn between conflicting loyalties, and lost in a maze of double-dealing and duplicity. The second novel in the Game, Set and Match trilogy is a gripping portrayal of a man who can trust no one, not even those closest to him.

A BERNARD SAMSON NOVEL

© Len Deighton 1984 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Espionage Historical Political Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense Exciting Latin American Mexico
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Critic reviews

Deighton is back in his original milieu, the bleak spy world of betrayers and betrayed.
Deighton's outstanding achievement is the nine-volume series chronicling the life and times of Bernard Samson ... Deighton's Samson trilogies are as much about the elusiveness of human interactions as espionage. Spying is not a secret world sealed off from ordinary life but an extension of the world we all live in. (John Gray)
Deighton is a marvel ... few authors writing in the rigorous and finite genre of spy fiction have mastered the craft as well as Deighton ... Mexico Set is a pure tale, told by an author at the height of his power.
For sheer readability he has no peer.
Like lying back in a hot bath with a large malt whisky - absolute bliss.
Len Deighton's spy novels are so good they make me sad the Cold War is over. (Len Deighton)
All stars
Most relevant
great as usual I was immediatly drawn onto Bernard Sansomes world and dilemas in a well drawn mexico city.

great as usual

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The characters are great and can’t wait to read the next. Never thought I’d get in to spy books lol

Great stories

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Will read more of these - Bernard Samson fits as a hero even better today than then.

Great plot and setting

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The story goes beyond the story and into the characters and locations. But there is a skill in the writing where they are not overplayed to too distracting. We learn more about who the characters are, and the settings but without hardly noticing this is happening. Much is gently brought in and out of the background and, with the help of the excellent narrator we become part of the scene ourselves.

Yes, it can be said to be ‘of its time’ but that is the nature of our modern quickly changing world and virtuous expectations.

Some of the attitudes portrayed, along with the terms and language used may irk those with passion for being offended. The omission of swearing or foul language, and gently nuanced scenes of a sexual nature are refreshing in contrast to the modern trends for inescapable multi-sensual and highly immersive cringeworthy descriptions and incessant obscene utterances.

The book and audio would be a comfortable blush-free experience to enjoy among children and grandparents alike. Indeed, there are some deeply adult themes addressed very honestly but the presentation is sensitively delivered and suitable for all the family :-)

Can’t wait for the next one … I’m in, Hook, Line and Sinker though that’s not supposed to happen until the next trilogy in the series, I have the Match to enjoy before that.

My eager anticipation was well rewarded

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James Lailey does a magnificent job as narrator/performer of this and the many other books making up the grey but enthralling world in which Bernard Samson ekes out his precarious existence. Lailie reads well ahead before he records any given chapter: he doesn't put a foot wrong and contrives to bring vividly to life a range of engaging characters, each with their verbal or physical quirks: Brett, Dickie, the DG, Frank Harrington, Tessa, George, Tante Liesel to mention but a few. There is consistently convincing character development, and close attention is paid to seemingly inconsequential but arresting details. I've come to Deighton rather late, but am captivated by these books. Great atmosphere and local colour; appropriate emphasis also on the almost hypnotic attraction that can be generated by the banal. There's some lovely humour and wit in these books, too, not least in the merciless but frankly comic depiction of Dickie Cryer. Consistently entertaining across the two main trilogies.

Superb reading of a subtle psychological novel

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