A Murder of Quality

A George Smiley Novel

By: John le Carré

Narrated by: Michael Jayston

Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

John le Carré's second novel, A Murder of Quality, offers an exquisite, satirical look at an elite private school as it chronicles the early development of George Smiley.

Miss Ailsa Brimley is in a quandary. She's received a peculiar letter from Mrs. Stella Rode, saying that she fears her husband - an assistant master at Carne School - is trying to kill her. Reluctant to go to the police, Miss Brimley calls upon her old wartime colleague, George Smiley. Unfortunately, it's too late. Mrs. Rode has just been murdered. As Smiley takes up the investigation, he realizes that in life - as in espionage - nothing is quite what it appears.

©2012 John le Carre (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Vastly entertaining." (Sunday Telegraph)

"[Le Carré] is one of our great writers of moral ambiguity, a tireless explorer of that darkly contradictory no-man's land." (Tim Rutten, Los Angeles Times)

Great reading of a good early le Carré

Michael Jayston's reading is precise and expressive. This is le Carré's second book, more murder mystery than spy craft. It's well written and engaging - worth reading as part of the George Smiley sequence.

Pleasant Book

The story was not as interesting some of the authors other works. This narator however was great!

Short break from le Carre's brilliant spy œuvre

Not le Carré's finest, but that is like saying here a minor Faulkner, a good-effort Chandler or even a throwaway Conrad. 'A Murder of Quality' finds George Smiley out of his element (although to be fair, Smily IS defined by always being just a little out of his element). Instead of in an espionage thriller, he is dropped by le Carré into a boys school murder.

It is as if, with his second novel, le Carré is wondering whether spy fiction or detective fiction should be his future calling. It does make me briefly pause and imagine how the arc of his career might have turned out if le Carré had pursued crime instead of espionage writing.

If you are new to le Carré, don't start with this one. If you love le Carré this will be a short and interesting break from his brilliant espionage œuvre.

Insight into Smiley

This book was necessary for the development of the Smiley character. I could think of much worse things than hanging out with Smiley for a few hours

great story, compelling

I thought the reader gave the characters a good voice. although the story moves slowly at first, I was hooked. I couldn't stop listening and wondering who did it. it was a little difficult to follow sometimes because I didn't know about the different British education system, class, and the importance of the school that you went to. I was to lazy to do background research, so I just listened and treated that works like a Fantasy realm. it's a world that doesn't exist in my reality, but i can put the pieces together to move the story along. other than that, I want more John Le Carre! George Smiley rules!

Good

I prefer the espionage stories, although this is nice for a change.

Anything by Le Carre will work for me.

A Fine Little Murder Mystery

I first read this in paperback years ago. Smiley, who appeared to retire from what would later be known as the Circus during his debut in the previous novel, A CALL FOR THE DEAD, seems to be continuing his retirement when he is asked for help from a former colleague in the SIS. Like the previous novel, the plot is structured around a baffling death, and Smiley is something of a fish out of water. He's aided by his brilliant, analytical mind, his deep understanding of human nature, and the continuing habit of those who don't know him of underestimating him. There's very little here about espionage, but the enjoyment of the story is learning more about George Smiley, and seeing how his peculiar talents serve him equally well as a detective as they did (and would in the future) as a spy. The narration by Michael Jayston only enhances the story, making it a huge pleasure to listen to this book again.

another Le Carre brilliant book

Another John le Carre masterpiece.
Slow and steady to the finish .
On to his next book.

good mystery story

after the first book, I expected this one to be a spy story, but it isn't one. still a good mystery story

A wonderful Who-Done-It.

George Smiley is a delicious character which captures my attention. It sort of feels a little like Columbo, but the books take me into the past as well. I enjoyed this story which proves that anyone can lie...and they often do.