The El Retiro Book Group meets the 1st Tuesday of each month at 1:00 p.m. at the El Retiro Library ~ 126 vista del Parque Redondo Beach, CA 90277 ~ 310-375-0922.

 

 

Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon 
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Death at La Fenice is the first novel in Donna Leon's popular Commissario Guido Brunetti series, published in 1992, which begins with the poisoning of a renowned conductor during an opera intermission in Venice's La Fenice opera house, leading Brunetti to uncover a complex web of revenge, corruption, and dark secrets. The book introduces the philosophical and family-oriented detective as he navigates the murder, exploring the city's culture and politics, and questioning his own morals as the case deepens.

 

 

 

Payment in Blood by Elizabeth George
Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Payment in Blood is the second novel in Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley series, featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers investigating the murder of a controversial playwright, Joy Sinclair, at a remote Scottish estate. The case involves a cast of high-profile suspects from the British theater world, complex family secrets, and a personal complication for Lynley as his love interest, Lady Helen, is present, forcing him to navigate his professional duties and personal feelings amidst deep-seated rivalries and past scandals.

 

 

 

Pretty Things by Janelle Brown 
Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Pretty Things by Janelle Brown is a twisty thriller about two women, a con artist named Nina and a wealthy influencer named Vanessa, whose lives become entangled in a dangerous game of revenge and deceit centered around a past tragedy in Lake Tahoe. The novel uses alternating perspectives to explore themes of class, family, and the curated lives people present online, leading to a complex plot of manipulation, betrayal, and unexpected alliances.

 

 

 

 

Jackie and Maria: A Novel of Jackie Kennedy & Maria Callas by Gill Paul 
Tuesday, June 2, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

 Jackie and Maria: A Novel of Jackie Kennedy & Maria Callas is a historical fiction novel that intertwines the lives of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and opera star Maria Callas, focusing on their shared connection to Greek tycoon Aristotle Onassis. The book alternates between their perspectives, exploring their careers, personal lives, and the love triangle that defined their relationship with Onassis, from the 1950s to the 1970s. It's a story of two iconic women navigating fame, love, and tragedy, with the author noting they likely never met in real life