I think I've mentioned that I'm reading C.J. Sansom's Winter in Madrid after a short hiatus. Normally I can put down and pick up a book without too much trouble, but enough time had passed that I had to go to the beginning again and do a little skimming to get back on track with the story. Happily I've found it to be just as engaging to continue with as I initially found it (I only set it aside to finish a few other books).
It's set in post-Civil War Spain with the Second World War raging in the background amidst fears that Franco will enter the war on Germany's side. The story concerns three men who were once schoolfriends in England, though are now leading very different lives which converge in a Spain still devastated by the civil war. I'm only a quarter of the way into the book, so there's a lot of story left to unfold and I'm greedily taking it all in. I will say it is a somewhat complex story that moves around in time and perspective, though I'm enjoying its intricacies. I need to pay close attention to everything, but I find all the details completely fascinating.
The thing is this. I love thrillers, and I love historical fiction, but I tend to stay away from most books with any sort of a political bent, meaning I rarely read any sort of spy or espionage story. One of the characters in this novel is a 'reluctant' spy, so it throws the story into a whole different light and I find I'm really enjoying it and wonder what I've missed by avoiding this genre. I can't remember the last time I read what might be considered a traditional spy/espionage story. Not a single John Le Carre, not even one Ken Follett, none of Alan Furst's novels. So my question is: what are some really good spy novels? I'm sure I could Google and come up with a list, but it's always nice to read a book that has been read and appreciated by someone you trust. Any suggestions? And any novels with female spies? As always, thanks in advance for any help.