A murder of quality
by John le Carré
Sign in to Goodreads to see your friends' reviews of this book.
discuss this book
There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »
friend reviews (0)
To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.
lists with this book
Where's the love? Add this book to your favorite list.
other reviews (showing 1-20 of 182)
Read in October, 2008
This second George Smiley book takes him out of the world of espionage and into the world of plain murder. He is asked by a friend to investigate the death of a woman whose husband is a tutor at a public school steeped in tradition and hidden secrets. Even so, this was an enjoyable and satisfying story. LeCarre's writing and George Smiley's character make it so.
"Obscurity was his nature, as well as his profession."
This sums up Smiley and the reason for his success.
"Obscurity was his nature, as well as his profession."
This sums up Smiley and the reason for his success.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in August, 2008
Smiley fans simply must read it for an early glimpse of their hero, in all his wretched glory, brilliantly solving a murder in the town from whence his Ann came. Regular mystery fans should also enjoy it, because it's a good story, but unless you're either a George Smiley person or someone who enjoys British class warfare (and who doesn't, in these days of JK Rowling?), it won't feel top-notch.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in June, 2007
After reading "The Spy Who Came In from the Cold", I wanted to get a little better understanding of George Smiley and some of the other background characters and settings that were so prominent in "Spy". This was LeCarre's second novel ever and was actually a great deal of fun to read.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in April, 2008
A short second novel. I believe this is the only 'mystery' that Le Carre has written. Solid cozy.
The thing I enjoyed about this novel the most is the true beating Le Carre give class: he just destroys the upper class/university crown. Brutal.
The thing I enjoyed about this novel the most is the true beating Le Carre give class: he just destroys the upper class/university crown. Brutal.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Has a copy to sell/swap
—
Read in March, 2008
Early Le Carre, a book in which he wasn't yet firing on all cylinders, but an interesting addition to the George Smiley novels. The book works as a fairly conventional detective novel rather than Le Carre's usual espionage fodder.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Le Carre has some fine moments, but this book is too firmly rooted in the "cozy, mystery" genre to be at all interesting to anyone under the age of 80. I don't know why I expected different.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in September, 2007
His second novel. Not a spy story, but a murder-mystery. A very quick read and not bad.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
Read in January, 2008
i gotta quit readin' mysteries. it's a lesser genre.
Like this review?
yes
add a comment
