Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carre
Set in the period of The Cold War, John le Carre’s novels are the quintessential spy stories. His protagonist, George Smiley, is the model for many spies in modern novels. This is a modern classic in which le Carré expertly creates a total vision of a secret world. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy begins George Smiley’s chess match of wills and wits with Karla, his Soviet counterpart.
Moles, double agents, secret spy networks create suspense and acomplex mystery for the reader to untangle. You can find novels by le Carre at the Grover Beach Community Library.
A Cast of Killers by Sidney D. Kirkpatrick
In the early 1920’s, William Desmond Taylor, an Irish-American film producer and actor, was shot dead in his Los Angeles apartment. This Hollywood mystery contains a 15 year old protégée and her doting mother, famous stars of the period, lies printed for their sensational effect, coverups, misdirection and a long cast of suspects.
In the 1960’s, this murder was the subject of an investigation by movie producer, King Vidor, who spent the last years of his life in Paso Robles.
Taming a Seahorse by Robert B. Parker
A high-class New York madam hires Spenser to find a missing hooker, But when Spenser tracks down April Kyle, he uncovers the murder of yet another prostitute. Now Spenser is searching through a world of sex for sale because somewhere between Boston and a kinky Caribbean club, someone has a taste for young women, big money, and murder.
This is a funny, easy to read “who done it” from a very prolific author. This is the 13th book in his famous “Spenser” series. All of Parker’s books are a delight and several titles are available at GBCL.
Murder in the Scottish Highlands by Dee MacDonald
This cozy mystery, set in Scotland, has abundant references to Scottish slang and customs, as well as an engrossing story. For recently retired Ally McKinley, the tiny village of Locharran is the perfect place to open the guesthouse of her dreams in a lovingly restored old Scottish malthouse. Before long she is making friends with the locals, including Hamish Sinclair, the earl who owns the nearby castle. But things take an unexpected turn when her first paying guest, American tourist Wilbur Carrington, is found sprawled across her cobblestoned courtyard with a dagger in his back.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
The wedding location was selected – a refurbished inn on an abandoned island off the blustery Atlantic coast of Ireland. It was novel, romantic and supposedly haunted. The owners gave the bride a good deal for their inaugural event. Only closest family and friends made the exclusive guest list. But as the guests began to arrive, so did old memories, and feelings begin to surface.
The sense of something evil lurking in the shadows sent a shiver up the spine. This is a very captivating story that doesn’t reveal who did what to whom and why until the bitter end. This book is available at GBCL.
Next Meeting of Book Break – April 14, 2026, 10:30 a.m. The topic is Biography or Memoir
—Fran Strauser