Rating: 
Summary: No Grappling in An Elsinore Grave
Review: It's murder most foul as in the best it is - the victim is decapitated. It is most foul, because it is strange, and unnatural - the victim's teenage daughter committed the hideous crime. To attend to this case, the Yard has paired one highbrow Detective Inspector and Earl, Thomas Lynley, and one lowbrow working class frump, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers. Each of them, has to spin away from his and her narrow orbit and enter into the wider magnetic field of this homicide investigation.As the story unfolds, no linear motive for the homicide which the detectives can fathom. The case becomes much more diverse and complex with no single chronological framework. Instead, the polarizing pair have made a mosaic of unrelated events linking the case to another death happened years earlier in Yorkshire's Keldale Valley, and an attempted suicide in London shortly after the homicide. The thematic thread insinuates throughout George's tapestry, "A Great Deliverance", is taken from Judge 18:24* of the Bible (KJV). Underpinning this passage is that in as much as a formal religion or behavior, which has no foundation in truth and practice, is idolatry, and will lead to misfortune and obloquy. As straw man is indespensible in a murder-mystery, George has the self-made idols of every consequential character, including Lynley and Havers, broken under the hammer of truth, biblical or emperical. Classical painting, literature, elocution, architecture, and music are the natural in not acquired writing tools for Elizabeth George. "A Great Deliverance" is an artistic manifestation of her whole self. Students of these disciplines will appreciate that much more the artistic gems George has interlaced in the mise-en-scènes. And yes, the author even has a stylish reference to the film 'Casablanca' in this cozy mystery. Here's looking at you, Elizabeth George. There is no grappling in an Elsinore grave for this reader. *Note: This biblical verse was misprinted or misquoted as Judge 19:24 in all publications. This reviewer has written to the author about the error.
Rating:
Summary: No Grappling in An Elsinore Grave
Review: It's murder most foul as in the best it is - the victim is decapitated. It is most foul, because it is strange, and unnatural - the victim's teenage daughter committed the hideous crime. To attend to this case, the Yard has paired one highbrow Detective Inspector and Earl, Thomas Lynley, and one lowbrow working class frump, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers. Each of them, has to spin away from his and her narrow orbit and enter into the wider magnetic field of this homicide investigation. As the story unfolds, no linear motive for the homicide which the detectives can fathom. The case becomes much more diverse and complex with no single chronological framework. Instead, the polarizing pair have made a mosaic of unrelated events linking the case to another death happened years earlier in Yorkshire's Keldale Valley, and an attempted suicide in London shortly after the homicide. The thematic thread insinuates throughout George's tapestry, "A Great Deliverance", is taken from Judge 18:24* of the Bible (KJV). Underpinning this passage is that in as much as a formal religion or behavior, which has no foundation in truth and practice, is idolatry, and will lead to misfortune and obloquy. As straw man is indespensible in a murder-mystery, George has the self-made idols of every consequential character, including Lynley and Havers, broken under the hammer of truth, biblical or emperical. Classical painting, literature, elocution, architecture, and music are the natural in not acquired writing tools for Elizabeth George. "A Great Deliverance" is an artistic manifestation of her whole self. Students of these disciplines will appreciate that much more the artistic gems George has interlaced in the mise-en-scènes. And yes, the author even has a stylish reference to the film 'Casablanca' in this cozy mystery. Here's looking at you, Elizabeth George. There is no grappling in an Elsinore grave for this reader. *Note: This biblical verse was misprinted or misquoted as Judge 19:24 in all publications. This reviewer has written to the author about the error.
Rating:
Summary: Meet a great pair of detectives for the first time
Review: Its an interesting pair of detectives that offers us Elizabeth George in this first of a series of excellent mystery novels, inspired by the famous who-did-it tradition from the UK. In fact, George's novels combine the violence and sex we find in contemporary crime novels and the long and methodical police research for details like we would find it in more traditional novels, therefore attracting both groups of readers to her books. No wonder she is that successful: she offers us what we want to read. Now back to the first novel: We are going to meet Elizabeth Heavers, sort of a "ugly-duckling" figure and Lynely, the kind of gentleman detective from a rich and aristocratic family, put together to solve a horrid crime in the peaceful English countryside. This is just the first novel of meanwhile about 10 books involving our two heroes during which we are going to know them better, see them change and adapt to each other, very fascinating indeed. While the solution of the crime is of course the main element of the novels, it's still very interesting to observe also the development of our heroes...
Rating:
Summary: all books in order
Review: Just a short comment on this books. It is great. Read the others comments for more details. I just want write down the order of the Lynley and Havers series. For all other how have wondered as well here are all the books in order. 1. A Suitable Veangance
2. A great Deliverance
3. Well Schooled Murder
4. Payment In Blood
5. For The Sake Of Elena
6. Missing Joseph
7. PLaying For The Ashes
8. Deception On His Mind
9. A Traitor To Memory
10. In Pursuit Of The Proper Sinner I can only recommend to read all of them.
Lot`s of fun with doing so.
Rating: 
Summary: Pull-you-in mystery
Review: Plain, outspoken Barbara Havers often shoots herself in the foot and is surprised when her superiors at Scotland Yard team her with perfect Thomas Lynley. She chalks it up to the fact that he won't want to sleep with her and allows it to eat away at her while the pair struggle to solve the gruesome beheading of a farmer in rural England. It should be easy. The daughter sits covered in blood and has practically confessed to the crime. But both Havers and Lynley believe there is more to the story. As they peel back the layers of lies, deceipt and horror around them they come to find there is much, much more to the murder, to the village and to each other. This is the first in a series about Havers and Lynley and it is really great! Both are drawn superbly, with enough detail and flaws to keep you interested and enough mystery to keep you wanting more. I'll be interested to see what the rest of the series is like. Well done!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Beginning!
Review: The first in this superb mystery series, A Great Deliverance introduces most of the major characters that inhabit Elizabeth George's later books. George's characters are clearly well fleshed out - care is taken in giving them distinct and memorable personalities. Both DI Lynley and DS Barbara Havers leave strong first impressions - him for being charming and composed, Havers for being just the opposite. The affable Simon St. James makes his first appearance, along with his lovely new wife Deborah. Also, Lady Helen Clyde rounds off the list of characters that readers grow to love in later books. In this mystery, when Roberta Teys is found clutching her dead father's decapitated body in quiet Keldale, DI Lynley, the eight earl of Asherton, is called in to investigate. Much to her distaste, DS Havers is assigned to work alongside him. They must, however, work together in order to unravel the mystery. They find themselves digging into the past and uncovering hidden family secrets and later enlisting the aid of the St. James'. Both Havers and Lynley are forced to confront personal demons and come to terms with their own failings before they can resolve the matter. They manage to put aside misconceptions of each other, and take a positive step towards the friendship that characterizes the rest of the series. After reaching its climax, the mystery ends neatly, with all the loose ends tied together satisfactorily. Along the way, the book gives tantalizing hints into the relationships between the characters, ensuring that you simply have to read the next book in the series, if only to see the development of these relationships. All in all, a great beginning to what is later a great series - A Great Deliverance is a must read for all mystery fans!
Rating:
Summary: Don't Axe
Review: The investigation of a grisly murder in a small village in Northern England provides a window on a twisty and bumpy trip through the hopes, fears, guilt and ambition of the investigators, suspects and witnesses. The investgators are Det. Sgt. Barbara Haver, described by herself and colleagues as dumpy, bristly and fearful of being busted back to uniformed street patrol; and Insp. Lynley, rich in money, title, looks and brains, but bereft of the woman he loves. In the village everyone knows everyone else, but each has his own slant on events. The outcome leaves the reader with a churning stomach and an eagerness for the next of the 10 or so adventures of Sgt. Haver.
Rating: 
Summary: Not PD James
Review: This book had its moments, but I found that I was reading simply to find out who "did it." George lacks PD James's ability to establish setting -- I got little sense of the place, and the book felt flat, uninteresting. The characters were dull as well, and unlikable (the only exception was Lynley, who was interesting). Overall, I wanted something more and didn't get it. George pales in comparison to James.
Rating: 
Summary: Better books later in the series
Review: This book is an excellent start to the series, but it pales in comparison to later Lynley/Havers books, such as Missing Joseph. Maybe part of it is that the major plot device, probably on the literary cutting edge in the late '80s, is a bit anticlimactic to my jaded turn-of-the-millennium mindset. Still, if you like the series, this is a worthwhile read that introduces the unlikely detective duo well.
Rating:
Summary: The Debut -- And what a debut it is
Review: This is the first book in the Lynley-Havers series and it is truly an amazing debut novel. Lynley, who is known for his female conquests as much as he is for his great detecting skills, is paired up with Havers. Havers is pretty much assigned to him since the heads at Scotland Yard pretty much know that he won't sleep with her given her position in life and her physical state (she's not the greatest looking thing in the world). Havers doesn't take well to Lynley's leadership. In fact, she resents it. The entire thing is complicated by the fact that the leading suspect isn't speaking. Not just to them but to anyone. Havers needs to prove herself to Lynley and Lynley needs to learn how to work with his new compatriot. This is truly a great debut novel that should not be missed.
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