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A Murder of Quality

A Murder of Quality

CrimeMystery
Pages
176
Published
1962
Language
English

Synopsis

George Smiley is back, but this time he's not tracking spies. Le Carré's second novel takes a detour from espionage into the world of a British public school. When a murder occurs, Smiley must investigate the secrets hidden within the school's walls.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

MysteriousTenseAtmosphericReflective
Fish Out of WaterLocked Room

Genres

Crime Mystery Spy Espionage Thriller

About the author

J
John le Carré

David John Moore Cornwell (19 October 1931 – 12 December 2020), better known by his pen name John le Carré was a British Irish author, best known for his espionage novels, many of which were successfully adapted for film or television. A "sophisticated, morally ambiguous writer", he is considered one of the greatest novelists of the postwar era. During the 1950s and 1960s, he worked for both the Security Service (MI5) and the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). Near the end of his life, due to h...

Characters

George SmileyProtagonist
All characters in A Murder of Quality

Frequently asked questions

  • Is A Murder of Quality part of a series?

    This novel is the second book featuring George Smiley, though it functions as a standalone mystery. Readers can enjoy it without having read the preceding novel, Call for the Dead.

  • How does this book compare to John le Carré's other works?

    A Murder of Quality is notable for being one of John le Carré's few novels that is not primarily focused on espionage. It presents a more traditional detective story within an academic setting, offering a different facet of his writing style.