Issa arrived in Germany with no past and access to large money. He didn’t want the money as it was gained immorally according the the laws of Islam. The story unravels his past, and who he is, without providing a lot of definite answers. Issa is studied by several teams, oftenwith different interpretations of the past.
This book is set in Germany, near the current time. It involves current issues, and feels typical for Le Carre’s work.
The story moves slowly at first, in Le Carre’s style, there is little action, as subtlety and knowledge are key. The suspense builds well, but slowly. Not all of the questions are answered, but the events are clear.