A little tricky in the beginning, but once you’re into it – especially “Eve in Hollywood” – “Table for Two” won’t disappoint. From the author of “A Gentleman in Moscow,” Towles’s latest work is a richly detailed and sharply drawn collection of stories, including a novella featuring one of his most beloved characters, Evelyn Ross. Six short stories are based in New York City and then a final novella is set in the Golden Age of Hollywood. The New York stories, most of which take place around the year 2000, consider the fateful consequences that can spring from brief encounters and the delicate mechanics of compromise that operate at the heart of modern marriages. Told from seven points of view, “Eve in Hollywood” describes how Eve Ross crafts a new future for herself – and others – in a noirish tale that takes us through the movie sets, bungalows, and dive bars of Los Angeles. Written with his signature wit, humor, and sophistication, Towles’s “Table for Two” is an enjoyable 5-star read.