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Summary: THANK YOU, ELIZABETH GEORGE - YOU'RE BACK!!!
Review: Elizabeth George is one of my favorite authors, and I'm thrilled that she is back with the latest addition to her Inspector Lynley series. This book was wonderful - almost as good as In the Presence of the Enemy (my personal favorite, and I've read them all). The characters are well-drawn, the plot was intriguing, and the whole book reeks of civility, style, and class. A welcome change from some of the crap I've read this summer (Thomas Harris, please note). George's characters are people you realy care about, her reasearch is first-rate, and the plot, while convoluted at times, is wrapped up nicely in the end. Elizabeth George and Martha Grimes are my two favorite authors, and I'm happy to say that I am now about to start on Grimes' latest Richard Jury novel. I hope it will be as satisfying as this book was. For those of you who like to be taken seriously as readers, do yourself a favor and read this book. Elizabeth George never disappoints!
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Summary: Another Elizabeth George winner!
Review: Any mystery lover worth his/her salt surely has to have Elizabeth George on their "must read" list! After reading George's first book, I was hooked, and now own and have thoroughly enjoyed all of her previous ten books. I eagerly awaited this latest book, and have not been disappointed. As usual her language is beautiful, no need for graphic sex scenes or foul language to try to catch one's attention - it is a pleasure to read such evocative writing. The plotting of this book is clever, and one can envisage each scene as it unfolds. George describes the countryside so perfectly, one feels as if one is there, and her understanding of England and the English, be it in language or by descriptive prose, makes the reader envious of her abilities. She is certainly in the genre of P.D. James and Ruth Rendell. This time we have Barbara Havers working in London away from her boss, Tommy Lynley, who has been called to Derbyshire by an old friend to help in solving two grisly murders. Havers, in spite of Lynley's orders, manages to get involved and has a great rapport with Nkata, the member of the team selected by Lynley to help him in Barbara's place, after her initial restment of him for taking her place. The story is full of twists and turns, ensuring that I had some sleepless nights as I hated to put the book down! I now await Elizabeth George's eleventh book with great anticipation. If you are anxious to read a big, beautifully written mystery, do read In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner - you will not be disappointed. George's writing puts to shame so many of today's "shocker" authors - if only they would realise that many readers are turned off by explicit sex and gore - they accomplish nothing by writing this way - there is too much lowering of standards at present, without having to write filth. I would respectfully suggest that any aspiring author read any Elizabeth George book - he/she could not fail to be impressed.
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Summary: My least favorite of the series thus far...
Review: But that is still a step above 99% of the mystery writers writing today. I don't know why I was a little disappointed in this entry in the long-running series.One thing that bothered me was the fact that, while Inspector Lynley has always be insufferable with his thinking that he is always right, that attribute is kicked up a notch in the current circumstances. He finds Havers' actions at the end of the last book to be unexcusable and refuses to see her side of the story. While I can see him reacting in that way, it is exaggerated a bit much for my liking; he is an intelligent man, after all, and his actions are those of one with lesser intelligence. Anyway, the writing is fine as always. I particularly like the parts dealing with Havers - she and Lynley are working on the same case in different parts of England so most of the book goes back & forth between London and the scene of the crime in the Peak District. I am particularly interested in seeing where the relationship between Havers and her neighbor, Azhar, is heading. I already have the next in the series, A Traitor to Memory, and will be reading it soon.
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Summary: acceptable
Review: I've always enjoyed reading Elizabeth George mysteries because of the high quality of the writings as well as the analytical descriptions of her characters and settings. However, I've come to notice that none of her characters, whether they be good or bad, are genuinely likeable. Lynley is a turnoff, he's arrogant and a self-entitled, Helen, while nice, is somewhat pretentious, Havers is more sympathetic but her defeatist attitude is annoying. Simeon and Deborah, I simply don't know enough about them, they're quiet but not terribly interesting. As for the rest of the characters, they're interesting, they may be fascinating, but they're simply not the kind of people you'd want to be friends with. George's portrayal of the United Kingdom is also interesting. She seems to focus solely on two sectors of society: the aristocratic upper class and the seamy underbelly/working class. Very little is said of the vast bulk of English in between, nice, normal and quiet people who are not too different from nice, normal and quiet Americans. I've spent a fair amount of time in the UK, and while I do recognize the country that George presents, I also recognize that there's a huge slice of Britain that is missing from her novels. Overall, I give her novels a 4 star ranking solely because of the quality of the writing. The novels are intense and do keep one in suspense, though she does sometimes rely on suspicious coincidences. The actual plots and characters are only worth a 2 or 3 stars, but the quality of the writing strengthens the overall work.
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Summary: George is still top notch
Review: Elizabeth George is still batting 1000 with this police proceedural. Less angst with Lynley and his "mates". Barbara Havers figures strongly and Winston Nkata gets a little more exposure. George's books have continued strong throughout the series, and although the characters often are frustrating and a a little too introspective, it all comes right in the end as they do eventually manage to learn from their mistakes (usually), mature and grow. Unlike many authors who have crashed and burned out, George continues at a steady pace. It is often difficult to wait the year or so for the next book, but In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner is a good example of why it's worth the wait! Keep up the good work Ms. George.For people who like Elizabeth George, also try Peter Robinson , Inspector Banks mysteries.
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Summary: In Pursuit of a Good Read
Review: Elizabeth George fans will love this book, but it may be a bit difficult for those who are not acquainted with this mystery series and her main characters, Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers. While a double murder provides a clever, intriguing read, the conflict between Lynley and Havers provides the best character development yet for these two. Along those lines, I strongly suggest you read Deception on the Mind before this book as its outcome plays a key role in this novel. Can't wait for her newest book, which comes out July 29!!!
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Summary: She does it Again!
Review: Elizabeth George is a wonderful writer-she grabs hold of you and doesn't let go, even after you have closed the book. This, along with A Great Deliverance and Deception on His Mind, is one of my favorites of hers.
The book twists and turns at breakneck speed. The characters are, as always, wonderfully written (and while I agree with others that Lynley's neuroses are getting a little tiring, I found it necessary in this book for him to be dealing with what he was dealing with).
Altogether, this is a marvelous mystery. I was completely engrossed, and came to feel, as I always do, that Havers and Lynley are people I know well, and I am a fly on the wall eagerly hunting for the same clues they are (although I have to admit, I got the "picture at games" clue almost immediately after we discovered what the oak was used for.)
If you like mystery/suspense, don't miss Elizabeth George.
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Summary: First time with Elizabeth George's work was a fine time
Review: I've never read any other of George's books and was given this by a colleague who thought I might appreciate a good mystery with a positive spin on SM. I'm not sure this is strictly a mystery -- its more a cop drama really and I suspect the characters are ones that George has used previously. As for the positive SM, is it positive if the lead detective is constantly thinking how sick all these people are or how much drug or alcohol use is shown or how alligned it is with prostitution? Didn't seem particularly positive to me but maybe things are quite different in England. It is a very English book -- so if British language and terms throw you, you'll have difficulty following this. I, too, got a bit tired of following one character, a female detective who's off the case really, and the two male detectives around separately but if you've seen these characters before it may be more interesting to you.
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Summary: The Odd Couple: Lynley and Havers
Review: Elizabeth George is an American who writes mystery novels set in England, thus encroaching on the sacred soil of Agatha Christie et al. As an American I can't judge how authentic her books may be to an English reader, but I detect in them an American expansiveness --- this one is 709 pages long. "In Pursuit...." is about two murders on an English moor and the investigation to catch the killer or killers. The merit -- and the mystery -- in the story is which of two Scotland Yard detectives is pursuing the line of investigation that will lead to solving the case. Detective number one is Thomas Lynley -- elegant, privileged, earnest, respected, of noble heritage and the owner of a Bentley automobile which he loves almost as much as he loves his upper-crust wife. Detective number two is Barbara Havers, a dumpy, working-class slob with the personality of a bulldog and an appetite for pop tarts and cigarettes. She uses her t-shirt for a napkin and does not have a Bentley -- or a flourishing social life. Lynley and Havers have different notions as to the motives and the perpetrators of the murders on the moors and they embark on parallel -- and competitive -- investigations. I didn't really care much about solving the mystery; rather I cared about who won the match between Lynley and Havers. Which one will you root for? A compilation of the answers to that question from English and American readers would be interesting. George is a good plotter and pacer and a decent writer and this one kept my interest to the end despite its formidable length. George can be spoken of in the same breath as P.D. James, the reigning queen of British whodunits.
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Summary: It Never Ends
Review: I considered giving this book more stars, since the quality of the writing is superb. It's a real pleasure to just enjoy that aspect of Ms. George's work. Despite this high level, however, it is not enough to make the journey worthwhile. There was a point, about 2/3 of the way through, that I just wanted the book to be finished. Perhaps Ms. George enjoys the writing a little too much in relation to the story, thus the length? If you're more patient than I, you will enjoy her work.
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