John Le Carre, Who Probed Murky World of Spies, Dies at 89

British author John le Carre holds a copy of his new book entitled 'Our Kind of Traitor' at a central London bookstore during a book signing event to mark the launch of the novel in London, on Sept. 16, 2010. John le Carre, the spy-turned-novelist, has died aged 89. Alastair Grant/AP Photo

LONDON—John le Carre, the spy-turned-novelist whose elegant and intricate narratives defined the Cold War espionage thriller and brought acclaim to a genre critics had once ignored, has died. He was 89.

British author John Le Carre attends the UK film premiere of "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," in London, on Sept. 13, 2011. Sang Tan/AP Photo