Rating: 
Summary: Intricately Woven Plot, Gripping Detail
Review: "Well-Schooled in Murder" was the first book in the Inspector Lynley series that I had read, having been attracted initially by the murder's setting in a British school, rather than by the author's name, with which I was unfamiliar.Although I found the subject matter extremely disturbing, i.e. the torture and murder of a young male student, the level of detail Elizabeth George gives to the physical setting and the fleshing out of her characters, made me feel as though I were an internal observer of the events themselves, rather than simply a reader on the outside. Despite this, I felt the primary characters and array of suspects lacked warmth; I didn't experience any particular empathy for them and, consequently, focused my attention more on the brilliantly-conceived plot, which kept me eagerly turning the pages as each layer of the story was revealed. "Well-Schooled in Murder" is well-crafted and an excellent addition to the Inspector Lynley series and has spurred my interest in reading other books in this British mystery series.
Rating: 
Summary: The author has beastly opinions
Review: "Well-Schooled in Murder" is a gripping story, but I found myself getting angrier and angrier as the author argued her bizarre positions regarding domestic violence, pedophilia, etc. The story makes a strong case against hazing in schools, but seems to think it's allright for a man to beat his wife if he's sufficiently upset. I was also infuriated that Inspector Lynley chose to do nothing about a school worker who was definitely leaning toward pedophilia. The man hadn't the self-control to keep from looking at his collection of pornographic photos every day, but Lynley didn't even advise him to see a psychiatrist! Irritating, too, was the Simon & Deborah narrative. I haven't read the previous books, but apparently Simon dumped Deborah a few years before, and now that they're back together, she feels guilty that she didn't "wait" for him. Ridiculous! I have no interest in keeping up with this author's main characters in the future, though I did enjoy some of her forays into the minds of minor personages. If you like mysteries, you may be entertained by this, but if you have a liberal sense of social justice, stay away.
Rating:
Summary: George shows the dark side of British education.
Review: "Well-Schooled in Murder" is an entertaining and well-written mystery by Elizabeth George. Detective Inspector Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers investigate the brutal torture and murder of a young British boarding school student named Matthew Whately. As in so many police procedurals by such skilled authors such as Ruth Rendell, George explores the hypocrisy and brutality that underlie the British veneer of politeness. With believable dialogue and careful plotting, George develops her large cast of characters very well. She explores such social problems as class snobbery, abuse by older students against younger students, and the strained relationships between parents and children. George also gives glimpses into the private lives and psyches of Havers, Lynley, Simon St. James, and his wife, Deborah, all of whom have severe personal problems. With compassion and insight, George's novel reveals that when people are grossly dishonest with themselves and with their loved ones, they may destroy not only relationships but often people's lives, as well. I recommend "Well-Schooled in Murder" for fans of British murder mysteries. It has a well-developed plot and interesting and complex characters.
Rating:
Summary: Intricately Woven Plot, Gripping Detail
Review: "Well-Schooled in Murder" was the first book in the Inspector Lynley series that I had read, having been attracted initially by the murder's setting in a British school, rather than by the author's name, with which I was unfamiliar. Although I found the subject matter extremely disturbing, i.e. the torture and murder of a young male student, the level of detail Elizabeth George gives to the physical setting and the fleshing out of her characters, made me feel as though I were an internal observer of the events themselves, rather than simply a reader on the outside. Despite this, I felt the primary characters and array of suspects lacked warmth; I didn't experience any particular empathy for them and, consequently, focused my attention more on the brilliantly-conceived plot, which kept me eagerly turning the pages as each layer of the story was revealed. "Well-Schooled in Murder" is well-crafted and an excellent addition to the Inspector Lynley series and has spurred my interest in reading other books in this British mystery series.
Rating:
Summary: English prep school murder
Review: Ah, murder at the English public school. It's practically a mandatory setting for writers of English mysteries. And while I haven't read all of these books, this certainly is a solid example of this sub-sub-genre. There are dysfunctional families, odd faculty members and alumni/parent politics. More importantly there's the school's honor code and then the unwritten but very powerful student code. (Reminds me of some military academy scandals we've seen in the USA.) In all events, this is a good read assuming the reader is looking for the features of an English mystery - not much gore, a bit of class struggle, a stiff upper lip hiding the passions underneath and such. Some of the other reviewers said this was boring a read. I'd counter that the book is what it sets out to be, an exercise of the mind rather than the gun. A note to readers not familiar with Elizabeth George -- this is a series that is well worth reading in order. The relationship of Lynley and his partner, Havers, is a complex one and grows in each book. Likewise, the story of St. James, his forensic consultant, doesn't make much sense when read out of order (in my experience). This is the third book in the series. So, want to settle in for the night and be transported to English school life - this is a good choice.
Rating: 
Summary: Well-written but sometimes hard to follow.
Review: As seems to the norm with books written by this author, there are lots of narrative paragraphs that go off on tangents. However, there is a well-rounded, colorful cast of characters which leaves Lynley and Havers chasing their tails at times. As usual, the author leaves many avenues open for exploration and it takes a good amount of deductive reasoning to figure out how and why Matthew was killed. If you don't want a lot of trivial information clouding up your mind, this is not the book for you. But, if you're looking for a book that points out the differences of social classes in a private school, and how those differences lead to murder, this is right up your alley.
Rating:
Summary: Well-written but sometimes hard to follow.
Review: As seems to the norm with books written by this author, there are lots of narrative paragraphs that go off on tangents. However, there is a well-rounded, colorful cast of characters which leaves Lynley and Havers chasing their tails at times. As usual, the author leaves many avenues open for exploration and it takes a good amount of deductive reasoning to figure out how and why Matthew was killed. If you don't want a lot of trivial information clouding up your mind, this is not the book for you. But, if you're looking for a book that points out the differences of social classes in a private school, and how those differences lead to murder, this is right up your alley.
Rating: 
Summary: "Well-Schooled" Deserves an "A"
Review: For anyone who loves (or hates) English "public schools", George's "Well-Schooled" deserves high marks. The culture and class consciousness of private education serves as the perfect backdrop for murder. George masters a complex plot and set of characters in a way that captivates readers and holds their interest to the final paragraph. "Well-Schooled" was the first of George's fiction that I'd read, and I'm now well into my third of her novels
Rating:
Summary: Well-Schooled In Murder Passes With Flying Colors
Review: From the moment the reader begins the book on page one until the last word at the other end, he or she is treated to another delicious course of the author's consistently well-done writing! Indeed, as a well-written page turner, Well-Schooled In Murder earns an A-plus for meeting and exceeding the expectations of fans of Elizabeth George's work!
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't quite live up to later novels.
Review: I enjoyed this book because the reader meets Inspector Lynley and DS Havers in their early versions -- and not quite developed to my liking. George's later works are spell-binding with outstanding character development. Because her later writings are so good, this story is just slightly off her mark.
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