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On compassionate leave after the murder of his wife, Thomas Lynley is called back to Scotland Yard when the body of a woman is found stabbed and abandoned in an isolated London cemetery. While Lynley works on the case in London, his former colleagues Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata follow the murder trail south to the New Forest--and to an outcome that is both tragic and shocking.
User reviews
LibraryThing member hobbitprincess
I believe this is the 17th of the Inspector Lynley novels, and they just keep getting better. In this one, two stories are told, which left me wondering how the two seemingly different stories would relate. Trust me, they do! There is, of course, a murder that must be solved, with many twists and
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turns along the way. As usual in her novels, the guilty party is hard to detect until the very end. The only complaint I have about his one is that I don't care for the main female character introduced here. It would appear that Isabelle will appear in at least one other book, and I just don't like her at all. Barbara is back, and in the end, there is some good news about Lynley, at least to the reader. I just want something good to happen for Barbara! Show Less
LibraryThing member gtippitt
This Body of Death is Elizabeth George's best novel.
George's 2006 novel, What Came Before He Shot Her, was the worst novel in her "Detective Lynley" series . The 2008 novel, Careless in Red, was a great improvement, but still not as good as her earlier books in the Lynley series of novels. The most
Lynley's partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, is personally my favorite character in the series, so I may be biased by her having a larger role than in some recent works in the series. Many of the prior books in the series have concentrated primarily on one character, while the other cast of regulars fill only small support roles. In this novel, George does an excellent job of including the entire cast of regulars and a new boss. The characters specific to this story are well developed as well. There is plenty of Peaches, without too much Deborah (regular readers will understand).
While not only being a great new installment for fans of the series, it is also a really excellent novel in its on right. Without leaving their armchairs, readers are transported to a variety of interesting settings both in London and Hampshire.
Since I've read all of the books in the series, I must speculate to say how the story would read on its own, but I think it would still be a very good read. You will better understand some of the characters if you have read other books in the series, but you will not be lost if this is your first book of George's tour of Great Britain and its people. You can go ahead and start here and then go back to read the first dozen in order.
Some mystery writers may develop better "puzzles" to solve than Elizabeth George. Others may write a "Police Procedural" with more details of criminology or forensics. When she is on her game, as she was in this novel, very few mystery writers are better story tellers and character painters than Elizabeth George. She can make you cry about fictitious characters as if they were your friend. When you finish this book, you want to look on Wikipedia to read more about "New Forrest Ponies" and many other topics. I was lucky to have once been able to spend two weeks traveling in London and other parts of England. George captures much of the unique spirit of the people. While I enjoy each virtual visit I make when reading one of her stories, she also makes me hope to someday be able to visit again in real life.
Thank you, Ms. George, for making trans-Atlantic travel more affordable.
George's 2006 novel, What Came Before He Shot Her, was the worst novel in her "Detective Lynley" series . The 2008 novel, Careless in Red, was a great improvement, but still not as good as her earlier books in the Lynley series of novels. The most
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recent, This Body of Death (2010), is perhaps the best novel in the series. It has everything and everyone that fans of the series love.Lynley's partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, is personally my favorite character in the series, so I may be biased by her having a larger role than in some recent works in the series. Many of the prior books in the series have concentrated primarily on one character, while the other cast of regulars fill only small support roles. In this novel, George does an excellent job of including the entire cast of regulars and a new boss. The characters specific to this story are well developed as well. There is plenty of Peaches, without too much Deborah (regular readers will understand).
While not only being a great new installment for fans of the series, it is also a really excellent novel in its on right. Without leaving their armchairs, readers are transported to a variety of interesting settings both in London and Hampshire.
Since I've read all of the books in the series, I must speculate to say how the story would read on its own, but I think it would still be a very good read. You will better understand some of the characters if you have read other books in the series, but you will not be lost if this is your first book of George's tour of Great Britain and its people. You can go ahead and start here and then go back to read the first dozen in order.
Some mystery writers may develop better "puzzles" to solve than Elizabeth George. Others may write a "Police Procedural" with more details of criminology or forensics. When she is on her game, as she was in this novel, very few mystery writers are better story tellers and character painters than Elizabeth George. She can make you cry about fictitious characters as if they were your friend. When you finish this book, you want to look on Wikipedia to read more about "New Forrest Ponies" and many other topics. I was lucky to have once been able to spend two weeks traveling in London and other parts of England. George captures much of the unique spirit of the people. While I enjoy each virtual visit I make when reading one of her stories, she also makes me hope to someday be able to visit again in real life.
Thank you, Ms. George, for making trans-Atlantic travel more affordable.
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LibraryThing member MissReadsTooMuch
The best Elizabeth George mystery in too long - a complex, psychological mystery with really strong characters. The writing was great - the mystery well-thought out. Loved having Barbara Havers carry her own story line in the novel but couldn't give the book five stars as I was disappointed with
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the character Isabelle Ardery, the new department chief, who was not sympathetic and not good at her job. This led me to really not like the turn Inspector Lynley took toward the end of the novel. I hope George has something in mind where this storyline is going because his actions didn't seem entirely real, either professionally or personally. Show Less
LibraryThing member Clea_Simon
My least favorite Lynley novel, largely due to the inclusion of a new and very unsympathetic character.
LibraryThing member Romonko
This was an awesome book, but unlike some others that have reviewed it, I did not hate the previous two books either. Yes, it was difficult reading them (especially the one where Helen gets murdered, but George is such a wonderful writer that I just love to read all her books. This book has a lot
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of surprises in it, like most Elizabeth George books, and she blends the past and the present in a very unique way. But the mystery is a good one and the writing is stellar. There is a lot of Barbara Havers in this one too, so that's a bonus for me because I really do like the character. As usual her bright and analytical mind get her into hot water. There is a lot to take in in the book, and it's meant to be savoured. That is indeed Ms. George's gift. I loved the book and I love her characters! There are even a couple of very likable dogs in the book. What more can you ask for? Show Less
LibraryThing member nbmars
Reading a cozy, British-style mystery by Elizabeth George can be compared to having a full, rich-bodied red wine – Meritage, perhaps, rather than a cheaper, thinner variety. Or having a mousse-filled torte instead of a plain chocolate cake. She belongs in her genre, and yet provides a richer,
This latest volume in the series involving Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley of the London Metropolitan Police can be fully understood without having read earlier books in the series, but with a series I generally prefer to start at the beginning to see the characters develop over time. Additionally, now when I pick up the next volume (and this is the 16th!) I feel as if I am reuniting with old friends.
My imaginary pals in this series consist not only of Lynley but of his two closest friends, Simon St. James and his wife Deborah, and his closest work colleagues, Detective Sargeants Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata. Barbara has wonderful neighbors – Taymullah Azhar and his daughter Hadiyyah, whom you can’t help but love. A new character is added this time: Isabelle Ardery, who arrived to take over as acting department head when Lynley took time off for compassionate leave after the murder of his wife five months previously.
Acting Detective Superintendent Ardery is 38, divorced, and nice looking. Thomas Lynley, whom Ardery calls back to work to help her transition, is good-looking and now single. He is not like the other police; he is an Earl, for one thing, who doesn’t really need this job. As Ardery observes:
"[people of Lynley’s kind] went into nightclubs and stayed till dawn, they skied in the Alps – French, Italian, or Swiss, what did it matter? – and they traveled to places like Portofino or Santorini or other multisyllabic Mediterranean, Ionian, or Aegean locations endings in vowels. But they didn’t work at ordinary jobs, and if they did because they needed the money, they certainly didn’t choose to be coppers.”
The urbane Lynley shows his good breeding on every occasion without being snobbish or even unlikeable. Ardery commandeers him to be her partner. You can guess what happens. The problem is, no one [else] likes Ardery – not the other police, and not even we the readers.
But Lynley’s private life, as compelling as it might be, is not the focus of this book. Rather, it is the brutal stabbing of a young girl – Jemima Hastings - in a London cemetery. [I was curious and checked: Jemima is a fairly common name in Great Britain, where the association with “Aunt Jemima” is not part of the culture.] The author throws red herrings and twists in our path as we follow the trail along with the detectives on the case. It isn’t a rushed process, as the book is quite long, but my interest never flagged. And George even manages to make some fun of her genre along the way. When Lynley goes to the British Museum to learn more about an old coin found with the dead girl that seems important, the curator says to him:
"’Never thought I’d be talking to a cop. Read masses of mysteries and detective novels, I do. Who d’you reckon you’re more like, then, Rebus or Morse?’
‘I have a fatal proclivity for vintage vehicles,’ Lynley admitted.
‘Morse it is.’ … So. What c’n I do for you, then, Inspector Lynley?’”
Nota Bene: [The curator is referring to two U.K. mystery series: Colin Dexter’s popular novels about Chief Inspector Morse, and Ian Rankin’s even more popular novels about Inspector Rebus.]
One of the subthemes of this book is that of abused children, and the effects of that abuse, both of which George limns in some detail. I particularly was struck by this observation:
"Abused children carry abuse forward through time. This is the unthinkable gift that keeps on giving. Study after study underscores this conclusion…"
The assorted themes and subplots come together at the end, of course, but the author also leaves some character developments open for the next installment.
Evaluation: In spite of not liking Lynley’s attraction to Ardery [what is he thinking?!!!], this is another solid entry in the irresistible line of the Thomas Lynley series. If you like mysteries and aren’t familiar with the books of Elizabeth George (who, by the way, is American, although she writes U.K. mysteries along with the best of them), you’re missing a treat.
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more satisfying expression of it than many other authors of her kind.This latest volume in the series involving Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley of the London Metropolitan Police can be fully understood without having read earlier books in the series, but with a series I generally prefer to start at the beginning to see the characters develop over time. Additionally, now when I pick up the next volume (and this is the 16th!) I feel as if I am reuniting with old friends.
My imaginary pals in this series consist not only of Lynley but of his two closest friends, Simon St. James and his wife Deborah, and his closest work colleagues, Detective Sargeants Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata. Barbara has wonderful neighbors – Taymullah Azhar and his daughter Hadiyyah, whom you can’t help but love. A new character is added this time: Isabelle Ardery, who arrived to take over as acting department head when Lynley took time off for compassionate leave after the murder of his wife five months previously.
Acting Detective Superintendent Ardery is 38, divorced, and nice looking. Thomas Lynley, whom Ardery calls back to work to help her transition, is good-looking and now single. He is not like the other police; he is an Earl, for one thing, who doesn’t really need this job. As Ardery observes:
"[people of Lynley’s kind] went into nightclubs and stayed till dawn, they skied in the Alps – French, Italian, or Swiss, what did it matter? – and they traveled to places like Portofino or Santorini or other multisyllabic Mediterranean, Ionian, or Aegean locations endings in vowels. But they didn’t work at ordinary jobs, and if they did because they needed the money, they certainly didn’t choose to be coppers.”
The urbane Lynley shows his good breeding on every occasion without being snobbish or even unlikeable. Ardery commandeers him to be her partner. You can guess what happens. The problem is, no one [else] likes Ardery – not the other police, and not even we the readers.
But Lynley’s private life, as compelling as it might be, is not the focus of this book. Rather, it is the brutal stabbing of a young girl – Jemima Hastings - in a London cemetery. [I was curious and checked: Jemima is a fairly common name in Great Britain, where the association with “Aunt Jemima” is not part of the culture.] The author throws red herrings and twists in our path as we follow the trail along with the detectives on the case. It isn’t a rushed process, as the book is quite long, but my interest never flagged. And George even manages to make some fun of her genre along the way. When Lynley goes to the British Museum to learn more about an old coin found with the dead girl that seems important, the curator says to him:
"’Never thought I’d be talking to a cop. Read masses of mysteries and detective novels, I do. Who d’you reckon you’re more like, then, Rebus or Morse?’
‘I have a fatal proclivity for vintage vehicles,’ Lynley admitted.
‘Morse it is.’ … So. What c’n I do for you, then, Inspector Lynley?’”
Nota Bene: [The curator is referring to two U.K. mystery series: Colin Dexter’s popular novels about Chief Inspector Morse, and Ian Rankin’s even more popular novels about Inspector Rebus.]
One of the subthemes of this book is that of abused children, and the effects of that abuse, both of which George limns in some detail. I particularly was struck by this observation:
"Abused children carry abuse forward through time. This is the unthinkable gift that keeps on giving. Study after study underscores this conclusion…"
The assorted themes and subplots come together at the end, of course, but the author also leaves some character developments open for the next installment.
Evaluation: In spite of not liking Lynley’s attraction to Ardery [what is he thinking?!!!], this is another solid entry in the irresistible line of the Thomas Lynley series. If you like mysteries and aren’t familiar with the books of Elizabeth George (who, by the way, is American, although she writes U.K. mysteries along with the best of them), you’re missing a treat.
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LibraryThing member Twink
This Body of Death is the sixteenth book in the Inspector Thomas Lynley series. It picks up a mere three months from the last book. This is one of the appeals of George's novels - they happen in almost 'real time'.
Lynley is still recovering from a personal tragedy and is on leave from Scotland
The book opens with a partial report from an unnamed author documenting a criminal act. Further parts of the report appear throughout the book, revealing more with each entry. Although seemingly unrelated, this element plays an integral part in the plot. And what a plot George has crafted! Multi layered and complex, it had me guessing right up to the end. Seemingly innocuous comments or observations often prove germane, so you definitely don't want to speed read. And I never do with any of George's books. For me they're a treat to be savoured.
While the plotting is fantastic, the characters play just as big a part of the book for me. After fifteen novels, I am quite invested in these recurring characters. I was actually quite upset with George when she 'tampered' with their lives in a way I didn't like in a previous book. The ending of This Body of Death has opened the door to many other changes, some that I am not looking forward to, others that I hope that I hope will develop. Nothing is predictable or static in the world of Inspector Lynley, each book is fresh.
Lynley is still recovering from a personal tragedy and is on leave from Scotland
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Yard. The acting superintendent, Isabelle Ardery, has alienated much of the team in her short stay. In an effort to win a permanent place, she asks Thomas to help with their latest case. A beautiful young woman has been found brutally murdered in a isolated cemetery. The clues point to the New Forest area, a community in a rural area. Two of the team - Winston Nkata and Barbara Havers are sent to follow up. Havers, Lynley's former partner, is one of my favourite characters. She is the antithesis to Lynley (who is actually a Lord.) Barbara doesn't give a fig for her appearance, smokes too much and bucks authority as much as she can without losing her job. But she is a determined investigator and her persistence usually pays off.The book opens with a partial report from an unnamed author documenting a criminal act. Further parts of the report appear throughout the book, revealing more with each entry. Although seemingly unrelated, this element plays an integral part in the plot. And what a plot George has crafted! Multi layered and complex, it had me guessing right up to the end. Seemingly innocuous comments or observations often prove germane, so you definitely don't want to speed read. And I never do with any of George's books. For me they're a treat to be savoured.
While the plotting is fantastic, the characters play just as big a part of the book for me. After fifteen novels, I am quite invested in these recurring characters. I was actually quite upset with George when she 'tampered' with their lives in a way I didn't like in a previous book. The ending of This Body of Death has opened the door to many other changes, some that I am not looking forward to, others that I hope that I hope will develop. Nothing is predictable or static in the world of Inspector Lynley, each book is fresh.
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LibraryThing member kiwifortyniner
I have read and enjoyed all Elizabeth George's novels and this one was no different. I lke all the main characters in her stories and follow with interest the developments in their lives.This story happens only a short time after the last book and Inspecor Lynley is still on compassionate leave
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after the death of his wife. He is called back into work to show the ropes to Isabelle Ardery who wants the job as Department Chief. There is much tension in the team as members of the team do not trust the new boss and only Lynley is able to see beneath the persona she portrays to what lies beneath.. In this book the team are investigating the death of a young woman in a cemetery in London but leads take them to the area of the New Forest where the old craft of thatching is still in use and strangers are not welcome. Nkata and Havers investigate this end of the case while the others work in London. The book is multi layered and complex with two seemingly unrelated stories. Characters are not who they seem and the story kept me guessing right till the end. I really enjoyed it. I loved the little details woven in especially Barbara Havers being taken shopping by her next door neighbour's daughter to buy more sutable clothes to please the new boss. I wonder how long she wore them!!! Show Less
LibraryThing member dwhapax
Well written, compelling characters. Decent structure. But as I do not like the genre will not read another. (Too many things to skim over so as to avoid gruesomeness.)
LibraryThing member druidgirl
This is the first Inspector Lynley Mystery that I have read and I enjoyed it immensely I liked the way it incorporated a past crime story throughout the main storyline. I love the way New Scotland Yard is portrayed and how they proceed with their investigations.
The characters were wonderfully
The characters were wonderfully
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detailed. I especially liked D.S. Barbara Havers and her partner Winston Nkata. The author gives a few small details Havers' life and her thoughts. There is also a dynamic between Inspector Lynley and Acting Superintendent Isabelle Ardley. I can not wait until I read another one. Show Less
LibraryThing member picardyrose
Don't read the parts in italic. They're upsetting -- I almost put the book aside -- and you don't need them.
LibraryThing member vestafan
This is the latest in the Insp Lynley/Sgt Havers series of crime novels. I've read all of them except What Came Before He Shot Her which I couldn't get on with at all (I wasn't interested enough in the characters to persist when I knew the conclusion of the plot). This novel is set in London and
The main problem for me, with this novel, was that it was clearly inspired by a particularly notorious crime in the UK and its aftermath. This was a particularly distressing murder and I found it hard to read the passages set in the past which described what led up to the crime. I don't have a problem with writers tackling difficult topics, but this plot seemed to resemble the real life crime so closely I became uncomfortable reading it as fiction. Incidentally on a more trivial level because of this close resemblance I guessed certain aspects of the plot quite quickly. This made the length of the novel even more of a problem - it seemed painfully padded out with unnecessary detail.
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the New Forest, with Lynley, still affected by his wife's murder, persuaded back to the Met to help a new acting chief.The main problem for me, with this novel, was that it was clearly inspired by a particularly notorious crime in the UK and its aftermath. This was a particularly distressing murder and I found it hard to read the passages set in the past which described what led up to the crime. I don't have a problem with writers tackling difficult topics, but this plot seemed to resemble the real life crime so closely I became uncomfortable reading it as fiction. Incidentally on a more trivial level because of this close resemblance I guessed certain aspects of the plot quite quickly. This made the length of the novel even more of a problem - it seemed painfully padded out with unnecessary detail.
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LibraryThing member upstairsgirl
This was diverting, and mostly fun to read. The backstory, which is delivered in the form of a moralizing and unprofessionally-written "expert" "report" is gruesome and also profoundly boring, and it both slows the story down and adds unnecessary heft to the book. Although it's meant to explain
The mystery itself is interesting, with plenty of red herrings and lots of crazy. I don't love George's way of jumping from head to head in her novels, but she does use it to good effect, and she definitely keeps the reader guessing as to what everyone's up to, even if it's clear that that's what she's doing while she's doing it. Comic Relief Havers learns to put on makeup and wear skirts AND repair runs in her nylons, and while her sartorial style has always been an irritating plot point (for the love of small animals, it's not 1988 anymore, could she get some different ugly shoes already, perhaps?) it's at its most absurd here. Either her employer cares how she dresses or it doesn't (and, inexplicably, in this universe it clearly doesn't or she'd have been fired already), but pick one and stick with it.
I enjoyed the mystery, but the seams were somehow really showing for me this time around.
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plot points that crop up at the denouement - and, as such, takes waaaaaay to much time to connect itself up with the main body of the novel - it's both carrying more weight than it can shoulder, and not essential enough to the plot to justify the amount of time devoted to it throughout the novel. The office politics at Scotland Yard are as tiresome as ever, and they supply the unnecessarily contrived means by which Lynley is convinced to return to work after the death of his wife. The mystery itself is interesting, with plenty of red herrings and lots of crazy. I don't love George's way of jumping from head to head in her novels, but she does use it to good effect, and she definitely keeps the reader guessing as to what everyone's up to, even if it's clear that that's what she's doing while she's doing it. Comic Relief Havers learns to put on makeup and wear skirts AND repair runs in her nylons, and while her sartorial style has always been an irritating plot point (for the love of small animals, it's not 1988 anymore, could she get some different ugly shoes already, perhaps?) it's at its most absurd here. Either her employer cares how she dresses or it doesn't (and, inexplicably, in this universe it clearly doesn't or she'd have been fired already), but pick one and stick with it.
I enjoyed the mystery, but the seams were somehow really showing for me this time around.
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LibraryThing member Lisianthus
George's best in a long time. Keeps you gripped.
LibraryThing member Kathleen828
Incredibly intricate plot
Masterfully detailed characters
Good job with the continuing characters and plot
SPOILER ALERT (2)
Haddiyah's mother comes home
I am not convinced that Lynley would sleep with isabelle - 1) it's too soon after Helen's death 2) she's an alcoholic and he knows it
Masterfully detailed characters
Good job with the continuing characters and plot
SPOILER ALERT (2)
Haddiyah's mother comes home
I am not convinced that Lynley would sleep with isabelle - 1) it's too soon after Helen's death 2) she's an alcoholic and he knows it
LibraryThing member LauraEHerndon
Elizabeth George's books mirror our flawed society as it is, exposing the convoluted pattern of individual motivations and how past events and actions affect everything forward. In This Body of Death the author brings back Lynley, Havers and other familiar faces while introducing a new character in
The focus is on the disappearance of a young woman. Her friend and brother strongly suspect her former lover, yet he oddly does little to explain her abrupt termination of their relationship or defend himself from their suspicions. George weaves into the narrative reports from a seemingly unrelated but hideous crime previously committed by three juveniles. The ultimate connection of both cases is stunning but somehow has the feel of inevitability.
There are no obvious solutions to the issues that are addressed in this novel, just as few of the characters are ever simple in their thoughts and actions. This is a thought provoking book that challenges the reader to examine his or her own perceptions of how justice is best served.
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the form of Acting Superintendent Ardery, a complex and driven woman with her own secrets. The focus is on the disappearance of a young woman. Her friend and brother strongly suspect her former lover, yet he oddly does little to explain her abrupt termination of their relationship or defend himself from their suspicions. George weaves into the narrative reports from a seemingly unrelated but hideous crime previously committed by three juveniles. The ultimate connection of both cases is stunning but somehow has the feel of inevitability.
There are no obvious solutions to the issues that are addressed in this novel, just as few of the characters are ever simple in their thoughts and actions. This is a thought provoking book that challenges the reader to examine his or her own perceptions of how justice is best served.
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LibraryThing member verenka
Back to being a rather typical Lynley/Havers mystery, with the added twist of a new boss with Problems with a Capital P and Havers' mixed feelings about the situation.
The story is rather more convoluted than usual and a few threads are left hanging. The solution left me wondering about the
I love the Lynley/Havers dynamic, thought the new boss'/Lynley dynamic very interesting and also loved the clinical analysis of the old case thrown in between the chapters.
The story is rather more convoluted than usual and a few threads are left hanging. The solution left me wondering about the
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perpetrators' experience and cold bloodedness (if that's a word). There is motive and opportunity but that doesn't explain everything.I love the Lynley/Havers dynamic, thought the new boss'/Lynley dynamic very interesting and also loved the clinical analysis of the old case thrown in between the chapters.
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LibraryThing member larraine
I'm 2/3 of the way through this book. It's riveting! However so are her others. I love Elizabeth George and Inspector Lynley. Highly recommend!
LibraryThing member delphimo
At first, I thought I might dislike the book--too many plots and characters. Then suddenly, my opinion changed and I am thoroughly enjoying another book by Elizabeth George. Sometimes, I feel that her writing improves with each book. The two main plots involve a killing of a toddler by three teen
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boys and the brutal murder of a young woman. As each stroy unfolds, I am more engrossed in the novel. Elizabeth George brings into the story the psychological aspects of each of the crimes. The reader learns the how and why. Elizabeth George is also a master of setting, such as the cemetery scene and the wild ponies and the art of roof thatching. George has written many novels, but she does not churn out one each year. Her novels delve into class differences such as Barbara Havers and Thomas Lynley, and of course, the new department chief Isabelle Ardery, whom I despise. Old characters are seen fleetingly, such as Deborah and Simon. An excellent novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member dablackwood
Love all her books! She's an amazing novelist who really gets into the human psyche.
LibraryThing member readyreader
Once again Elizabeth George has given us another episode in the Lynley/Havers saga. I always look forward to her newest addition to the series, and I did enjoy this one to a point. It took me quite a while to figure out the connection to the child absue case and the main storyline, and I thought
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that this was quite clever. My main complaint is length...there is a lot extraneous verbage in this novel that really doesn't add to the progress of the story or the enjoyment of the reader. It seems Ms. George feels compelled to be "long" in her novels. All in all, I still enjoyed this novel and look forward to more. PS I certainly can't see Lynley hopping into the sack with Isabelle Ardery even on her best days! Show Less
LibraryThing member jennybeast
I'm finally starting to forgive Elizabeth George for the events of With No One as Witness. I'm still not entirely convinced that I will ever return to my light hearted enjoyment of the series, but she's got her main characters surrounded by misery, as she best likes them to be, so I think there's
Altogether a pretty good read, and Lynley finally starting to be present in the investigation again, hooray. Very convoluted plot on this one.
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some stability for now. Altogether a pretty good read, and Lynley finally starting to be present in the investigation again, hooray. Very convoluted plot on this one.
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LibraryThing member fromthecomfychair
One of her best that I've read so far. Lots of twists, but I confess I did begin to figure it out before the end. But why Thomas Lynley has to get involved with Isabelle Ardery is beyond me.
LibraryThing member tshrope
Elizabeth George and PD James are my favorite crime writers. They are both wonderful writers who write complex, psychological suspense novels with well drawn characters.
Having said that, George’s latest Inspector Linley novel falls somewhat short of her previous work. Her new character, Isabelle
The only character of any real interest is Det. Sgt. Barbara Havers. Barbara, the disheveled, chain smoking, socially inept, politically incorrect, renegade of the force has now become the de-facto main character in this series, as she is the most fully developed character. Perhaps George should think about spinning Barbara off on a series of her own-I’d read it.
Having said that, George’s latest Inspector Linley novel falls somewhat short of her previous work. Her new character, Isabelle
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Ardrey, acting superintendant, is barely developed at all. About all we find out about her is she is an abrasive, ambitious woman who is out of her depth in this case, has a drinking problem, and becomes the love interest of Thomas Linley (why mystery/suspense authors feel their main characters have to have a love interest in each book is a mystery to me). I am assuming she will be popping back up in the next installment, and perhaps her character will be more developed henceforth. We find out even less about the actual killer. The motivation for the killing is rather convoluted and flimsy, and you don’t even get a hint of what the motivation might be until about three-quarters of the way into the almost 700 page book. And that’s another problem with this book-it’s too long for no good reason. While I understand she doesn’t want to tip her hand in pointing out the killer too soon, there is too much wasted time on things that do not move the story forward, do not add to any character development and are of no interest to the reader. The only character of any real interest is Det. Sgt. Barbara Havers. Barbara, the disheveled, chain smoking, socially inept, politically incorrect, renegade of the force has now become the de-facto main character in this series, as she is the most fully developed character. Perhaps George should think about spinning Barbara off on a series of her own-I’d read it.
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LibraryThing member CatherineBurkeHines
Elizabeth George has her groove back. I really disliked the prior two novels, but this is back to what I'd come to expect from her. Really good; I hated for it to end. Most satisfying.
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Mystery — 2011)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010
Physical description
6.1 inches
ISBN
9022992950 / 9789022992951