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A Murder of Quality
- Narrated by: Michael Jayston
- Series: Smiley, Book 2
- Length: 4 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
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Call for the Dead
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This novel, set in London in the late 1950s, finds George Smiley engaged in the humdrum job of security vetting. But when a Foreign Office civil servant commits suicide after an apparently unproblematic interview, Smiley is baffled. Refusing to believe that Fennan shot himself soon after making a cup of cocoa and asking the exchange to telephone him in the morning, Smiley decides to investigate – only to uncover a murderous conspiracy.
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Third reading and listening ....still most brilliant.
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So good, Reading them all.
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Sigint and comint
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Call for the Dead
- By: John le Carré
- Narrated by: Michael Jayston
- Length: 4 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
This novel, set in London in the late 1950s, finds George Smiley engaged in the humdrum job of security vetting. But when a Foreign Office civil servant commits suicide after an apparently unproblematic interview, Smiley is baffled. Refusing to believe that Fennan shot himself soon after making a cup of cocoa and asking the exchange to telephone him in the morning, Smiley decides to investigate – only to uncover a murderous conspiracy.
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The Looking Glass War
- By: John Le Carré
- Narrated by: Michael Jayston
- Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Once, the distinctions were clear: the Circus handled all things political while the Department dealt with matters military. But over the years the power and influence had passed to the Circus. Now suddenly the department had a job on its hands. Uncertain evidence suggested Soviet missiles being put in place near the German border, while vital film had gone missing and a courier was dead.
-
-
Bleak but compelling, fantastic narration
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The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
- By: John le Carré
- Narrated by: Michael Jayston
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- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Alec Leamas has ended his time in Berlin. Or his time has ended him. The last of his Eastern agents has been killed, like the others, by the Abteilung. Back at the Circus, Leamas is put on the shelf. He turns to drunkenness and dishonesty and finally disappears from view, a seemingly broken man. But unknown to anyone except George Smiley and his master, Control, Leamas has been given his toughest mission ever. He will have to be himself but more so.
-
-
Third reading and listening ....still most brilliant.
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Overall
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Performance
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George Smiley has become chief of the battered British Secret Service. The betrayals of a Soviet double agent have riddled the spy network, and Smiley wants revenge. He chooses his weapon: Jerry Westerby, "The Honourable Schoolboy", a passionate lover, and a seasoned, reckless secret agent. Westerby is pointed east, to Hong Kong. So begins the terrifying game.
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So good, Reading them all.
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Publisher's Summary
George Smiley is one of the most brilliantly realised characters in British fiction. Bespectacled, tubby, eternally middle-aged, and deceptively ordinary, he has a mind like a steel trap and is said to possess 'the cunning of Satan and the conscience of a virgin'.
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 realises that in life - as in espionage - nothing is quite what it appears. His investigation raises a multitude of questions. Who could have hated Stella Rode enough to kill her? Why was her dog put down shortly before the murder? And what did Mad Janie see on that fatal night? To discover the truth, Smiley must lift the lid on a world of hidden passions and dangerous hatreds.
More from the same
What listeners say about A Murder of Quality
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- jenny
- 29-03-2022
A Murder of Quality
Nothing with Le Carre is ever what it seems. I’ve read most of his spy books but rarely any of the others. This was a pleasure to listen to and took it above the realms of the humdrum murder novel. BUT, Michael Jayston ( the narrator), I think Smiley may have been a little disconcerted with your pronunciation of Magdalen College! Maudlin please!
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- Amazon Customer
- 15-11-2020
excellent
smiley's first adventure. a great spy story beautifully read by a perfect choice of narrator
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- elizabeth b.
- 05-05-2020
Smilie yay
I’ve not read any Le Carré stories before I’ve seen the famous movies but not read. And what a joy they are. Beautifully written rounded characters and cliff hangers I’m going to read more.
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- david x kelly
- 17-03-2016
standard held
Where does A Murder of Quality rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
I very much enjoyed this thriller but it is not my favourite Le Carre. It maybe that the genre, its different, moves away from the cold war, and revolves around a private school for which I personally hold very negative memories. But I have to say that the writing is quite brilliant as per usual.I must also also mention Michael Jayston who adds another dimension to the written word (that I have read previously with admiration). He is clear and concise and the change to tone of voice when characterising females in the narrative is brilliant.I have given this an overall 4 star rating (rather than my usual almost automatic 5 for Le Carre) but please don't let that discourage. Its a fine story with fine characterisation and a beautiful example of how to use the English language to its best. Highly recommended.
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- Anonymous User
- 15-10-2019
Standard John Le Carre
Good narration of an adequate story. Le Carre always writes well, and it is always a pleasure to see Smiley's world and through Smiley's eyes, but as murder mysteries go this is not a good one by Le Carre or in general.
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- H Watson
- 15-08-2016
A must for any connoisseur of Le. Carre
The narration beautifully added perfection to an already stunning work. Well done Michael Jayson.
5 people found this helpful
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- Michelle
- 24-05-2016
Smiley as crime sleuth is excellent
It's amazing how vividly Le Carré makes the characters & setting with such pared back description. The setting of an outdated boarding school is interesting & the plot mostly keeps you guessing. As much a whydunnit as a whodunnit. This was the last of the major Smiley books I have read. It's also interesting to note the social changes of the past 56 years.
7 people found this helpful
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- mollyeyre
- 01-05-2017
Very enjoyable
As usual Mr le Carre weaves a tale that keeps one guessing all the way through, a very interesting story with well described characters. Shorter than some of his novels, but good just the same.
2 people found this helpful
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- FD
- 15-04-2017
A conventional murder mystery beautifully written
This is the second novel featuring George Smiley. Unlike the others this book is not set in the world of the Secret Service. It's actually a conventional murder mystery, quite true to the genre. Yet with Le Carré's terrifically descriptive writing. Michael Jayston is an outstanding narrator.
4 people found this helpful
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- H. Fosdike
- 03-05-2018
An Enjoyable Murder Mystery
Another short book from Le Carré’s early days, this one follows George Smiley as he ventures to Dorset to investigate the murder of a private school master’s wife. Le Carré writes in a way that I really enjoy and although it’s a somewhat different style to most murder mysteries, it works well and keeps you interested throughout. Whodunnit?
That’s something you’ll just have to find out for yourself! This one didn’t grab me quite as much as the first Smiley book but it was still good. Less about espionage and more about solving a case, perhaps the third (and arguably most celebrated) pushes us more on to a spy footing? As it is though, a very enjoyable listen and excellently read by Michael Jayston! I'm certainly looking forward to the next one.
1 person found this helpful
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- Mark R.
- 18-04-2018
A good short involved story.
Loved the story... Good to hear about George outside of the circus. would recommend completly.
1 person found this helpful
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- Sue
- 03-01-2018
Marvellous.
A whodunit with George Smiley, not the usual spy tale with our gentle hero.
Absolutely marvellous!
Michael Jayston is the perfect narrator.
1 person found this helpful
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- Simon Zohhadi
- 30-03-2017
Entertaining Whodunnit
John Le Carre's second novel, A Murder of Quality, is an entertaining whodunnit. Not as good as his first nor does it have the complexity of his later books. Nevertheless, it features the brilliant George Smiley. I enjoyed it.
1 person found this helpful
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- Pamela
- 19-06-2016
A good old who dunnit
I really enjoy the first two le Carre books in this one, George Smiley is contacted by a wartime co-worker, Miss Brimley, who runs a Christian magazine and receives a letter sent by Stella Rode,claiming her husband is going to murder her.Then Smiley finds out that the woman has already been murdered and decides to go investigate. Now read on... Excelently read as wel
2 people found this helpful
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- Mr J P Fitzmaurice
- 06-07-2022
Relaxing but Plodding
I quite like these smiley books. But they are slow and very of a time. Which I find quite relaxing. Took me a couple of years to listen to this having started once or twice. Still not quite sure how they killed her mind you😂
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