The Innocent

For anyone who has yet to discover McEwan's storytelling genius, this is a dazzling introduction. The time is 1955 in postwar Berlin. The combined forces of British and American technological intelligence is set to invade the Soviet communications system. The story follows a young British post office technician beginning his dizzying descent into the ever deeper echelons of electronic surveillance beneath the surface of Berlin.

At the same time he meets a young German woman, Maria. As his two worlds - private and political - claim him, Leonard senses his life is to be remarkably altered. But he cannot foresee the horror that is to come.

Readers familiar with Ian McEwan will know to brace themselves for the unexpected, yet it is impossible to anticipate the impact of this novel. An espionage thriller with a subtle and haunting execution, The Innocent is a brilliant read and possesses perhaps one of the most powerful and satisfying conclusions capturing the spirit of the end of the Cold War.