Rating: 
Summary: An attention-grabbing read
Review: "Deception on His Mind" was my second Elizabeth George novel, and it won't be my last. It was great having Havers in the spotlight in this latest novel -- she is quickly becoming my favorite. Good plotlines and a well-written story are once again in evidence here, athough I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I find myself still wondering what happened to Sahlah and Theo. I am also curious to see what becomes of Barbara's new relationship with her neighbors, and most especially what kind of turn her career will take. I'm looking forward to finding out, and I will definitely be coming back for more when she releases her next novel.
Rating:
Summary: "Deception on His Mind" not equal to "Playing for the Ashes"
Review: I read all the Elizabeth George books as they come out, and am full of admiration for her accuracy in depicting English slang and customs. George does best with her working class characters like Barbara Havers; giving Sgt Havers a whole book to star in was a good idea, but the terrifying top cop in the piece is a cartoon. Wish we knew what happened to Sahlah. "Playing for the Ashes" remains her best book. And to those who wonder what pilgarlic means, according to my wonderful New Shorter Oxford English dictionary, Pilgarlic is 1. A bald head, a bald-headed man; derog., a weak or pitiable person
Rating: 
Summary: Very entertaining.
Review: A thoroughly enjoyable book. George's characters are vivid and you either root for them, dislike them intensely, feel sorry for them etc. the point being that none of them leave you cold. Great ambiance and a good plot also help. This type of literature is meant for entertainment. I am greatful for books that can be as entertaining as Elisabeths Georges books are without ever insulting your intelliganc
Rating: 
Summary: poorly edited
Review: The book was too long. Better editing would have helped some, but the characters were a drag. Though I finished the book, about half way through I frankly didn't give a dam. P.D. James has spoiled me
Rating:
Summary: Elizabeth George is the best writer of the genre today...
Review: From her first book, Elizabeth George has consistently written books that are more than "mysteries." DECEPTION ON HIS MIND is no exception. The characters are fully developed, the plot lines are complex and interesting and you do not want the books to end. Please, please Ms, George, do not turn into a Patricia Cornwell and sell out to success. Keep the books as they are now--and keep them coming
Rating:
Summary: Barbara snags the spotlight!
Review: I was slow to warm up to Lynley and company, preferring Dalgliesh (P. D. James) and Jury (Martha Grimes), but I always liked Lynley's sour sidekick, Barbara Havers. I was glad to see Lynley go off on his honeymoon so Barbara could go muck about on her own.
Even though the dominant theme of racial prejudice was rather heavy-handed and the police were remarkably dim about Islam, the book was a wonderful weekend read.
I am anxious to find out if Barbara will be facing a career change in the next installment in the saga. Perhaps she should move to California. She could go into partnership with Kinsey Milhone!--E. Smit
Rating:
Summary: Decent George, but not up to her best, which can be the best
Review: Ms. George breaks away from her usual London-based, Lynley-centric mysteries to concentrate on Barbara Havers (no Lynley after page 1). It is a long and rambling book that might have been better served by a bit more editing. The racial element adds a compelling twist to the whole enterprise, and the pay-off (the actual solution to the crime) is palid enough to make the reader think that perhaps the mystery has taken a backseat to the psychological twists (and twisted psychology) offered in this one.
If, as does Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine, Ms. George adapted a different pen-name for a different style of book, this would be one of her Vine-type creations, much more about tone, psychology and human frailty than, say, her previous kidnapping novel, which is a strong 10.
Rating: 
Summary: Too whiney, too sweaty, too slow-moving, too long.
Review: I'm a voracious reader, and seldom quit on a book,
but "Deception On His Mind" bored me to tears. Not far into the book I grew tired of all the whining and quit. At that point I couldn't have cared less who offed the guy.
The Pakistanis whined about racism. The Bobbys whined about the weather, Barbara whined about her looks, Emily whined about her boss, Agatha whined about her thwarted attempts to have her way with the town, Rachel whined about her relationship (lesbian, sort of) with Sahlah, her mum whined about Rachel, Sahlah whined about being "In the club," her brother's wife was just plain ole nasty and on and on and on. Good Grief - will it never end?
I think what got to me was the lack of any likable character in the entire book (except maybe Taymullah's little daughter, but even she was a pain at times.) No hero/heroine. I just didn't like any of these people. I can't imagine spending a vacation in that decaying seaside village with that crowd.
Maybe Barbara Havers' boredom was really George's boredom and she decided to take it out on us, the readers.
Rating:
Summary: One of those books I was sorry to see end
Review: I've liked all of Elizabeth George's books, but I
have found the soap-opera of Lynley and all his
friends overly melodramatic at points. This novel
blissfully leaves all that behind, and allows
Barbara Havers to carry her own story. The mystery is suspensful, well executed, and in the end makes a great deal of sense. As usual, though, George wraps up the mystery without letting us know what happens to all the characters we've come to care about.
Rating:
Summary: The best Elizabeth George yet!
Review: All of Elizabeth George's books are wonderful, but this is the best yet! She does a great job of bringing her characters to life as real people, and it has been rewarding to see how Barbara Haver's character has developed from the first book through the present one. I hope that Ms. George has a long and prolific career, with many more books to come
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