Brian Cox is great but...

THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD is such a great story that it's hard to make a bad version of it. This one is good, but it's just good. It's been a little while since I read the book, but it seems they throw more Smiley into the story just to have more of him. Yeah, I realize the point is to tell the whole Smiley saga, but he wasn't a huge part of this story until this telling. Mr. Russel Beale is fine as Smiley, but this story is about Alec Leamus, and Brian Cox is wonderful.
My biggest beef with this production is that it wasn't needed. The BBC did a great adaptation with Colin Blakely which was commercially available until recently. That version maintained the mystery within the story better and didn't need a summation at the end explaining exactly what happened in case we didn't get it. I know there's an opinion out there, usually among younger people, that if something is more than 10 years old it should be redone because we can do it better now. This just isn't the case- not for THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD, not for TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY, and from what I've heard so far, SMILEY'S PEOPLE. Newer isn't better. Just newer.
Will this version do in a pinch? Of course, it's a fine production. And more than likely you won't be able to find the older version anyway. Too bad.
As I've said, Brian Cox is wonderful in this. If nothing else listen for him.

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Smashing spy story with a surprising twist!

Loved listening to this spy thriller. It was Very addictive listening to the twists and turns. The actors were fantastic. It was like listening to a movie!

Dramatization, not Narration

Too much to listen to, voices to keep straight. Didn’t hold my attention. This is a book I’d prefer to read.

Disappointing

I really expected much more. This does not do justice to a great spy story.

Best Cold War Spy Novel Ever!

I've watched it, I've read it and I've listened to it...several times each...and now this dramatization which I really enjoyed. I think I have it figured out too, lol. Excellent!

Gripping and consistently surprising

Terrific performance by an ensemble cast, incredible and intriguing plot, and the perfect length for a quick road trip. Highly recommended.

Great Story

I love this version of le Carre's book. The Spy Who Came In From The Cold is a great addition to the Smiley series. I love dramatized versions because it's like a play than a book. Similar to the HGTTG series. Great acting and a thrilling story.


AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY

Entertaining and well-acted

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I enjoyed this radio-play a lot, but my one complaint is a pretty major one; it does not feel worth the price at all. Despite being cheaper than most audiobooks, there is significantly less listening time here, and it's hard to justify when I'm used to getting long audiobooks for much cheaper. In case it isn't already clear, this isn't a reading of "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" but a dramatization. It's been adapted for this radio play, and leaves a lot of the original story out. Nonetheless, it's as good as I could hope for in a dramatization, and if you don't mind spending 10$ on 3 hours of listening, then go for it.

Superb in Every Way

I cannot praise this production enough. Originally I thought I had made a mistake by ordering a dramatisation instead of the whole novel, but within a half-hour I was enthralled by the extraordinary vocalisations, dramatic yet subtle radio-like sound-effects, and of course the complex realism of Le Carre's writing. Highly recommended if you do not want to read the entire novel. Listening to this abridgement, you may want to read the entire novel!

Great Read, times gone by

Where does The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Dramatised) rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best Audibles. Rapid moving, short story. Timeless story of political history, murder mystery. A wonderful intorduction to the Audible books.