They said John le Carré was the master of espionage. It took 150 pages to catch a glimpse of this spark, though once it was ignited it kept on coming thick and fast.

A Delicate Truth is not a book for exam term. In fact, I’m not sure it’s a book for term-time at all. Though the novel became extraordinarily gripping towards the end it took an absolute age to ease into action. The 300-page book is divided into just seven chapters which rendered my “I’ll just read the next chapter and then...” method redundant. Chapter one (almost 50 pages alone) was a struggle, as was Chapter two – they seemed to be leading nowhere at a pathetically slow pace. However, by the time Chapter four arrived I was hurtling through, desperate to find out the outcome of the now-apparent plot. Ultimately, by the final page, I was left frustrated and ever so slightly disappointed, but to find out precisely why, you’ll have to read the book.

John le Carré served briefly in British Intelligence during the Cold War and it is clear in this book that he really knows what he is talking about. The action is expertly described and the detail is outstanding, if not sometimes a little unnecessary, particularly at the beginning of the book which is at risk of grinding to a halt. The plot revolves around a counter-terrorism operation, codenamed Wildlife, which takes place in Gibraltar in 2008. The operation is so delicate that even the authorising Minister’s Private Secretary, Toby Bell, is not cleared for it. Smelling a rat, however, Toby attempts to prevent the operation and is subsequently posted overseas. That was the first 150 pages in fewer than 50 words. The story really quickens in pace though, when we catch up with the characters three years later and uncover the truth about Operation Wildlife and learn more about its effects on those involved.

The blurb on the book jacket exclaims that “Toby must choose between his conscience and his duty to the service”. It must be said that Toby doesn’t ever seem to find this a concern at all, and perhaps if this was supposed to create inner turmoil for the character it should have been drawn on slightly more. Toby’s motivations are, in fact, entirely unclear, though one may suspect the protagonist’s daughter is an influencing factor.

Even though the first two chapters took more effort than they seemed worth, I can’t help but wonder whether they are in fact necessary (however tiresome) to allow the rest of the book to be so gripping. A Delicate Truth was last week’s ‘Book at Bedtime’ on BBC Radio 4, so if you are considering giving this one a read – and especially if you want to read it in term time – I’d suggest you allow le Carré himself to read his first two chapters to you whilst you drift happily to sleep, and then pick it up yourself from Chapter three.