There is much to admire in Sweet Tooth, by Ian McEwan, which I read in audio format with the wonderful Juliet Stephenson narrating. Serena Frome is the central character whose life gets going at university in Cambridge when she starts an affair with a much older man who also happens to be a lecturer and ex-secret service. He starts to teach her the ways of the world, but is really grooming her for a life in MI5. She is heartbroken when he breaks off with her, but decides to take the job at MI5 even though it's not exactly exciting, being primarily an admin post. It is the early 70's and the cold war is in full swing.
Early on, she is attracted to Max, who leads her on somewhat and gives her hope of a relationship when really there is none. She gets the message when he tells her he is engaged, but then is surprised when he puts her forward for a special operation known as Sweet Tooth to which she seems ideally suited. She is a compulsive reader of novels, and is sent undercover to help fund the work of Tom Haley, a promising young writer. But she steps over the line when she falls in love with her target. He seems to reciprocate, but in the world of espionage, can she trust anyone?
This is a really good read and bowls along at a good lick. There are some very intimate passages, but they are written well and won't make you squirm too much. I felt for Serena, but also wanted to give her a good talking to. She was so passive at times, and at the whim of the men around her that I wanted to shake her. It has an odd ending - I was initially disappointed, but on reflection, I am much happier. I have absolutely no problem with recommending this book to anyone looking for a taste of romance with a bit of mild espionage thrown in for good measure.
My STAR rating: FOUR
Length: 336 print pages.
Price I paid: £7.99
Formats available: Print, unabridged audio (CD and download); Ebook.
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