ISBN: 1-55690-361-8 Order from: Recorded Books
A laid-back investigation of a crime, this intellectual mystery exudes a feeling of pettiness and remoteness making it hard to generate sympathy for the characters or excitement.
Reviewed by David on January 23, 2001
Genre: Mystery
Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of A Murder of Quality. George Smiley, formerly one of the most formidable members of British Intelligence, has been asked to look into the murder of a woman at a prestigious public school. Smiley, himself an uneasy member of the public-school class, makes easier inroads into the petty secrets of the insular, expensive institution.
Full Review: A skilled excercise exposing the pettiness and self-conscious superiority of the upper crust of England in the sixties, this novel has little action. Instead, the traditional English mystery of hints, red herrings, suspicions and subtly contradictory evidence is in force as the low-key, middle-age Smiley works through the lies and resentments of the school's teching staff. The elusive Master, as well as the conversations on manners serve as a caricature of the upper class—and those who would be upper class.
While intellectually satisfying, the lack of likable characters or much suspense of any kind make this book of little value as entertainment.
Overall: 5; Plot: 6; Characters: 5; Style: 5; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 5;
Copyright date 1962, Recorded Books, 1990, Audio cassette, 4 cassettes
ISBN: 1-55690-361-8 Order from: Recorded Books