5. Anything for a Quiet Life by Michael Gilbert

(written Dec 3, 2015 catching up)
I had completely forgotten about this book, thinking it was a novel. It's actually a series of short stories about a super sharp London lawyer who sets up shop in the country to take a break from things.  Really enjoyable mix of fun crime law and investigation with a dash of action.  Great local rural character as usual from Gilbert.

4. Cause for Alarm by Eric Ambler

(written Dec 3, 2015 catching up)

Another one from the Intrigue quartert, A Cause for Alarm, stars a young engineer who desperate for work ends up running an arms factory in Italy.  It's a great telling of the naive guy slowly realizing the forces conspiring around him.  The adventure part of the story is a flight across frontiers, which was really cool.  Great book.

3. The Main by Trevanian

I bought this at a book sale on Avenue de Parc, which is the next big boulevard to the west of the real Main.  I have wanted to read it since I got here and even saw it once at Welch's.  But I got it here for a buck and the time was right.  Me and my adolescent reading buddies back in Lantzville went through a Trevanian phase, but we liked the over the top action stuff (Especially Shibumi) and I at least didn't find The Main appealing at the time.  It is kind of a dour, melacholy book, more concerned with painting a picture (possibly exaggerated and definitely florid) of what Trevanian clearly considers a very special culture corner of North America.  The pages turn quickly.