Rating: 
Summary: An OK way to kill time while waiting for a new P.D. James.
Review: This is my first Elizabeth George novel, and probably my last. Ms. George is obviously a P.D. James wannabe, but something is missing. I think it may be talent. George is a competent (though verbose) wordsmith, and her plot here is adequate. But where James' characters are three-dimensional and thus ultimately believable, George's are caricatures. Andy Maiden is ONLY wretched, Nicola is ONLY depraved, Havers is ONLY humiliated, Julian is ONLY lovesick, Helen is ONLY gentle and patrician, Vi is ONLY - well, whatever she is. Each George character projects only one primary trait or emotion, and is driven by a single motivation. Thus each is almost totally predictable; indeed, the book's only real surprises occur on the rare occasions when a character steps out of character, as it were. And even then, we never really know WHY they do it. It's all a bit like expecting Raymond Chandler and getting a big plateful of Erle Stanley Gardner instead.George substitutes mechanical sex for James' turbulent passions; petty bickering for James' graceful, almost poetic, dialogue; geographical facts for James' masterful sense of place and mood; postmodern nonjudgmentalism and platitudes for James' excruciating moral dilemmas and soul-searching struggles. And does anyone really CARE about Lynley's musings over his off-again, on-again spats with wife Helen and disgraced subordinate Havers? It's all so. . .banal. Lynley is to Adam Dalgleish as James Bond is to George Smiley. We never feel truly drawn into George's characters' world, because their world is flat, not round. ON THE OTHER HAND, if you enjoy gratuitous sex - gratuitous and kinky sex - lots of gratuitous and kinky sex of the S&M variety - then this is your book! But hey, just email me and I'll tell you where to find the juiciest parts; it'll save you wading through 600 pages (that's right!) of nonessential verbiage. Is it possible that Ms. George is paid by the word? My bottom line advice: you should definitely read every book Elizabeth George has written - AFTER you've finished with Colin Dexter, Ross McDonald, Ruth Rendell, Margery Allingham, Dorothy Sayers - even Martha Grimes - and - oh yes - P.D. James, who (IMO) has accomplished more within the classic mystery genre than any living writer. Try reading Devices and Desires, a James classic which is, on the surface, fairly similar to this book. I think you'll see what I mean.
Rating: 
Summary: Aye, there's the rub
Review: This lady can write----and write---and write. With 600 pages filled with literate development, a reviewer may be presumptious in summing it all up in a paragraph or two. My hat is off to EG for her ability to make an extraordinarily long development. At first I thought her cast of characters was too limited to keep a book of this length interesting. But she surprised me by continually introducing new players into the game, even late into the book. Yet there was early foundation for each new character and development along the way. Perhaps the most lasting impression EG will leave with the reader, long after he has forgotten the details of the story, is the question, "What is normal?" We may all be proper sinners in some way.
Rating:
Summary: I agree with all the complaints....
Review: Barbara is treated badly, she needs a friend, and George should lighten up on her. Lynley is a jerk and he and Helen are sometimes the most narcissistic couple I can imagine. The plot is weak and George is over obsessed with sex. Loose ends aren't tied up---and can an Englishman marry his/her first cousin? Six hundred pages is absurd; a few hundred could be cut out easily. As I read the negative reviews today after finishing the book, I agreed with every one of them BUT.... I couldn't put the book down and read almost continually for two days until I had finished it. And I'm sorry the story is over. George is certainly doing something right for me.
Rating: 
Summary: She keeps getting better!
Review: I became an Elizabeth George fan a couple of years ago when I read 'For the Sake of Elena'. I was so impressed, I immediately went back to the first book in the series and have now read them all. I think she's a fantastic author who keeps her readers interested in the ongoing lives of her main characters whilst introducing a new and fascinating murder mystery. 'In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner' does not disappoint - Ms George skilfully keeps you guessing (and misguessing!) right until the end. Fans will enjoy the next episode in the lives of Lynley and Havers. If you have not read Elizabeth George before, I suggest you try this on for size, then go back to the start of the series and read them all. The story is all the more enriched by knowing the history of these wonderful characters.
Rating:
Summary: Ms. George is back in stride!
Review: I've been reading Elizabeth George since discovering a copy of "Missing Joseph" left in a laundromat in 1995. Talk about wonderful chance discoveries! As soon as I could, I ran to the library and checked out the rest of the series--and I wasn't disappointed. Then came the last several titles in this series--"In the Presence of the Enemy" and "Deception on His Mind". Both books were good, enjoyable reads--but something was missing. The appeal of Ms. George's books is the combination of great mystery and the growing relationship/friendship between Lynley, Havers and the other people in their world (Simon, Helen, etc.). Maybe the missing element of the last two titles was the lack of interaction between Lynley and Havers. Havers has become increasingly independent, to the point where Lynley barely appeared in "Deception on His Mind". The Odd Couple are reunited in "In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner". Havers has been demoted due to the events at the climax of "Deception", and Lynley is relunctant to work with her again. But the demands of the case throw these unlikely allies together... In the final analysis, the mystery takes a back seat to the interactions between the character, but I have no complaints. A supporting characters assumes a leading role in this installment: Winston (Winnie) Nkata. Although Lynley is clearly the top hunk in George's hierachy, Nkata must come a close second. No one could possibly replace Lynley and Havers, but I look forward to seeing much more of young Winnie. For Elizabeth George fans, this is a worthy addition to a great series. For George novices, this is a read not to be missed.
Rating:
Summary: "Genius is nothing but continued attention."
Review: (quoted: Claude A. Helvetius) Elizabeth George shows her genius in this book. If you are an EG fan, or a mystery fan, be forewarned - you may lose sleep, ignore your personal wellbeing and that of your family once you start this book. It begins with Lynley and Havers completely at odds with each other and takes you on a 594 page rollercoaster ride which includes two murders, two suicides, a spin through S&M-land, and more. I was right on the edge of my seat to almost the last page. An incredible story. I can't wait for her next one.
Rating: 
Summary: My least favorite in the series
Review: I was somewhat disappointed in this book. Having read all of E. George's mysteries, I was surprised at just how dispassionate and bland this particular novel was. Although there were some redeeming segments, overall, it was almost as though the author was attempting to demonstrate her newly discovered purience, rather than reestablish the beloved characters she has created. Helen, in particular, lost all allure - in the past her charm, candor, intelligence and wit were so so winning, but this time she was almost a cardboard cut-out. The ending was somewhat delightful and helped redeem the unnecessarily lengthy, droll tale.
Rating:
Summary: In Pursuit of the Proper Elizabeth George
Review: I have become a huge fan of Elizabeth George novels, but I was disappointed with In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner. I felt that there was not enough energy put into the actual mystery surrounding the crime and too much energy put into the sordid seedy world of many of the characters. Although many of the characters were well written and developed, it was disappointing where all it all lead to in the end. I look forward to her next novel and hope that the actual mystery will be more worth solving.
Rating:
Summary: Way too long and convoluted -- my least favorite EG book
Review: I am actually quite surprised that so many people gave this book five stars (and am positively incredulous that someone read all 600 mind-bending pages "in a weekend")! I have enjoyed each of EG's other books quite a lot and was looking forward to this one, but not only was it filled with loads of unnecessary characters (for example, the overweight little boy who found the murder weapon), but I was put off by (1)Lynley's hideous, completely out-of-character behavior (did he have brain surgery between books?) (2) Havers' continual insistence upon ignoring his orders and going her own way, with her job hanging by a thread (3) Helen/Lynley's tedious obsessiveness about their relationship (get over it already!) (4)Samantha's lust for her FIRST COUSIN (ugh!) 5)The sleazy, unpleasant S&M element that basically takes over the second half of the book. (There was a lot more information about various sex "toys" and their uses than I, for one, needed to have.) I think a some judicious editing could have reduced this book by a couple hundred pages (or more). Even then, it would have been a healthy 400 pages. Maybe, just maybe, someone could read THAT in a weekend! (Of course, a speed-reading lesson or two couldn't hurt.)
Rating:
Summary: ''In Pursuit Of The Proper Sinner''Lives Up To Its Title
Review: I have been an Elizabeth George fan since first purchasing''In The Presence Of The Enemy''on tape early last summer, so you can imagine my delight when I listened to''In Pursuit Of The Proper Sinner''. This is a magnificent mystery which easily lives up to its title, and for any Lynley and Havers fans out there, this is a must-have for your collection! Miss George has my heartiest applause!
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