Rating: 
Summary: Another winner from the pen of Elizabeth George!
Review: I am gamely trying to admire these books as much as everyone else seems too, but if George doesn't get on with it in the 5th, I'm going to hang it up.George is a talented writer. The problem is that she writes as though she believes she is a talented writer. The plots are engaging, and the characters are anything but cardboard, but the drek that one has to slog through in order to get to those plots can sometimes be impenetrable. I learned after the first book to skip the interminable soap opera that was Havers and her family (I was actually pleased when her father died in the third book so that I wouldn't have to read any more about him). But the fourth book takes "wallow" into a whole new dimension. Simon and Deborah. Deborah and Tommy. Tommy and Simon. Simon and Helen. Helen and Tommy. Tommy and Peter. If you loved Wuthering Heights, you'll love this book. Otherwise, you may find yourself screaming by half-time. I'm hoping that all of these emotional cripples get down to business by the fifth book. Otherwise, the Elizabeth George fan club will have to carry on without me.
Rating: 
Summary: Still trying
Review: I am gamely trying to admire these books as much as everyone else seems too, but if George doesn't get on with it in the 5th, I'm going to hang it up. George is a talented writer. The problem is that she writes as though she believes she is a talented writer. The plots are engaging, and the characters are anything but cardboard, but the drek that one has to slog through in order to get to those plots can sometimes be impenetrable. I learned after the first book to skip the interminable soap opera that was Havers and her family (I was actually pleased when her father died in the third book so that I wouldn't have to read any more about him). But the fourth book takes "wallow" into a whole new dimension. Simon and Deborah. Deborah and Tommy. Tommy and Simon. Simon and Helen. Helen and Tommy. Tommy and Peter. If you loved Wuthering Heights, you'll love this book. Otherwise, you may find yourself screaming by half-time. I'm hoping that all of these emotional cripples get down to business by the fifth book. Otherwise, the Elizabeth George fan club will have to carry on without me.
Rating:
Summary: George Fans should be happy
Review: I belive that E. George fans would be pleased having some character development of the bonds between the characters of Linley, The St. James, and Lady Helen. Although I gave this review the highest marks, my criticism of George lies within the third person point of view. The main characters themselves are shrouded in mystery within the mystery of the story unfolding. I never have the feeling that I truly know any of these characters (even after reading five mysteries based upon their interactions). The characters are as elusive as the murders that they chase. Perhaps this is part of the appeal.
Also I always chuckle at the fact that all these victims seemed to be dying around these main characters with alarming frequency with alarming connections to the main characters. Even after considering the nature of Linley's and St.James' chosen profession, I believe that the characters would be afraid of being murdered themselves with all these crimes being committed on Linley's property. Just statistically speaking, this would bare out!!
Rating: 
Summary: A Pleased Review Reader
Review: I didn't read this book and I never plan to. That first review made me decide never to read any of Liza George's books. But I would like to know who that reviewer is and has he/she had anything published.
Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK IS AWFUL -- but the rest of the series is great.
Review: I first tried to read it four years ago. It starts out interestingly enough but it starts to drag just before everyone goes off for the weekend. I'm trying to read it again, and again, I stop reading when the weekend begins. Unlike the others in the series, the characters in this novel are much more self-absorbed, more full of themselves, than George's characters usually are. It's really irritating, especially Deborah's self-analysis and "dark night of the soul." And she is such a brat! I don't understand why everyone just obeys her every whim. The rest of the series will prove how truly spoiled she is (read about her overdone angst about not being able to bear a child in Missing Joseph). Maybe, I'll try reading it again in four years time, when I might be able to ignore Deborah altogether. A friend insisted that I try reading a real Lynley and Havers mystery. I'm glad I did because the others are so much better. On hindsight, I think the mystery was just an excuse for a story of the lives of all these titled people and their set. I fully agree with the reviewer who stated that it would have been better off as a short story -- and if I may add to that, without the murder.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to Elizabeth George's usual standard.
Review: I have been a fan of Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley novels for years. When I picked up this book, I was expecting her usual excellent plotting and character development. I was particularly interested in why "Tommy" Lynley is a person who has trouble with relationships, especially with women. Although this question and others are answered in "A Suitable Vengeance," unfortunately the book is something of a potboiler. It is tediously plotted and the story is melodramatic and uninvolving. Although George tends to write long novels, in the case of "A Suitable Vengeance" the novel ran out of steam well before the last page. I lost interest somewhere in the middle and plodded on to the end. George's recent books are quite a bit better than this one, I am happy to say.
Rating:
Summary: She's written better
Review: I read "Deception on His Mind" and " In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner", both pretty entertaining (although a bit verbose). This book, however, is a big disappointment. The dialog is melodramatic soap opera junk. The characters are so whiney and self absorbed that I wanted them all to be murder victims.I kept reading because I thought it was going to get better. It didn't. I really wonder what kind of editor thinks this tripe is worth publishing. Do yourself a favor and skip it.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent background information
Review: I really enjoyed this fourth book in the Lynley/Havers series (although Havers appears only very briefly). In an earlier book, you are clued in that Thomas had feelings for Deborah earlier in time. In this book, you will receive the details regarding how Deborah ended up marrying Simon rather than Thomas. As well, the mystery of Lynley's past is unveiled. I was appreciative of George's writing, as I have been with the previous three books and, just as much, appreciated the history provided as I had been curious as to that storyline.
Looking forward to beginning the 5th in the series!
Rating:
Summary: The best of the bunch.
Review: I wish that this one had been written first. When I first bought it, I was running around, trying to figure out the plot points. George almost makes Tommy human in this one. But why is Deborah the villain and Tommy the victim? (re the abortion) I mean, really! She was only 18 years old, for heaven's sake. Tommy is at least ten years older. He follows her to America, seduces her when she is vulnerable and lonely, and SHE is the bad guy? At least Simon had the decency not to sleep with a young girl who he knew was in love with him. Although when you look at it, Simon's behavior towards her was cold and in some ways, cruel. He should have written to her while she was gone. And if he truly thought that she was better off without him, he should have bowed out of her life completely, instead of using his friendship with her father as an excuse for interfering. ("Go away-No, come back") He only admits that he wants her when she is engaged to another. Typical.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable but dark for regular readers of the series
Review: Regular readers of the Tommy Lynley series will find this book much darker and more depressing than the subsequent works. This book is more about St. James than Lynley which was also unexpected. I found the book gave a little depth to the Lynley character and do recommend it
| 
