'Single & Single' (1979) by John le Carré

'Single & Single' is a tightly woven thriller about crime, betrayal, and moral awakening in the murky world of international finance and organized crime. The novel begins with a dramatic scene: a man named Alfred Winser is executed on a Turkish hillside, a chilling act that sets the stage for the unraveling of a vast criminal enterprise.

The story follows Oliver Single, a disillusioned British lawyer and son of the charismatic Tiger Single, who runs the family’s corrupt financial empire, Single & Single. The firm has been laundering money for ruthless clients, including Russian mobsters. When Oliver discovers the full extent of his father’s criminal activities, he secretly turns whistleblower, striking a deal with British authorities to bring down the enterprise.

Caught between his filial loyalty and his own moral reckoning, Oliver must navigate a perilous path through betrayal, personal loss, and danger. As the story unfolds, the relationship between father and son becomes central, revealing deep tensions and contrasting values.

Single & Single is a masterful exploration of greed, redemption, and the complex bonds of family. Le Carré blends suspenseful action with introspective character development, delivering a compelling critique of the dark underbelly of global capitalism and the human costs of moral compromise.