Rating: 
Summary: About 200 pages too long...
Review: Having read all the previous George mysteries, I was looking forward to this one. By the time I got about halfway through, however, it became exceeding drawn out and boring. The author could have easily cut the novel by about 200 pages and still had an enjoyable mystery. There were too many minor characters that the detectives were always visiting. By the end of the book I didn't even care who did it, I just wanted the thing to be over!
Rating: 
Summary: Barbara Havers gets her revenge
Review: Not quite what I expected from Miss George but excellent all the same, Her treatment of Barbara at the obviously vicious and male chauvanistic hands of Inspector Lynley was a little over the top. Everyone should be given a chance to redeem themselves and after the history between the 2 of them I would have expected Thomas to be a little more forgiving than he was. After all he would have let the girl die to serve justice on her abductor. Sounds like a typical white collar official to me.Power to Barbara's elbow and power to Miss George. Please don't keep us waiting so long for the next installment. Thanks
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best from the best.
Review: I consider Elizabeth George to be the best living mystery writer and this book is one of her best. Her character development is superb. Readers who have watched her lead characters develop from novel to novel will not be disappointed. This one is a wonderful read. I hated to finish it.
Rating:
Summary: good mystery
Review: I liked it. I thought the mystery was good. The interplay between the local cops and New scotland yard, nicola's parents, Julian and gang was also very interesting. I thought it was up to Elizabeth George's good story telling. (Playing for ashes, is my favorite.)I do agree with some of the reviews that the Lyndley and Havers is getting a bit over done, but I still like them and am glad to have their story continueing. I just think Havers needs to grow a little. But it didn't distract from the story in my opinion. I look forward to her next book.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Book From Elizabeth George
Review: I really enjoyed reading another suspenseful book by Elizabeth George. The whole time I was reading, I was trying to figure out who could have been the murderer. And of course, I was caught by surprise! Reading one of Elizabeth Georges novels is like opening a fine bottle of the best wine! I only wish her next novel will be out soon!
Rating:
Summary: I was in pursuit of finishing this heavy paperweight!
Review: I guess I picked the wrong book to start reading Elizabeth George. I did find the characters interesting and wanted to know more about them, but it went on and on and on..... I continued reading because I was intrigued by the plot, but found it difficult to read more than a chapter at a sitting. I finally gave up about 100 pages from the end, and sneaked a look at the ending. I hate doing that, BUT I COULDN'T TAKE ANYMORE! Ms. George could save herself alot of time and effort if in her next book she condensed the plot by half. I can't imagine who would have the patience to read this thing in a reasonable period of time.
Rating: 
Summary: In Search of a Proper Sinner
Review: Whatever plot this book had and whatever the Havers-Linley interaction was, is very well hidden by 600 pages of boredom. If George had a decent editor, this book would become a novella of less than 100 pages; and it would still be boreing. George must have a contract to be paid by the word. I suppose this book might appeal to the minds that dwell on S & M. However this subject can sustain interest for only a hundred pages or so. There is more depth in any copy of People Magazine than in this entire book. If this review supported a -10 rating that is what I would give it. I read this book only because I was traped and this was the only book available. If I had anything else to read including Dr Seus I would not have read 10 pages of George
Rating:
Summary: Well, shoot, I liked it!
Review: My my MY our reviewers are getting so TERRIBLY upset at the whole Havers/Lynley thing! I find it very entertaining that George can find yet another way to get those two to lock horns while still working together (though separately). George's prose continues to educate me with new vocabulary words -- now honestly, who has had to reach for the dictionary to learn a new word since high school English class? I find her stories, her style and her characters to be thoroughly enjoyable, and while some of her books aren't as marvelous as others I will continue to read them as each comes out. Keep up the good work, Elizabeth! (From an old H.B. fan)
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, but not up to her standard
Review: I am a huge Elizabeth George fan, so it pains me to say that this book was a little sub-par. With many other mystery writers, I have experienced great frustration with the whole reader-knows-something-but-the-characters-don't scenario. One of the things I have always loved about George was the fact that she never pulled that on me. However, in reading this book, I found myself impatiently waiting hundreds of pages for SOMEONE besides me to figure out Nicola's occupation. Perhaps I was conditioned by George's obsession with sexual deviance of one form or another, but it all seemed pretty darn obvious to me. I think that is an indication that the author got a little sloppy. Let's hope this book is an aberration and not an indication of a trend.
Rating:
Summary: And one star is a stretch.
Review: I have enjoyed her other books immensely, but I really had to struggle to get to page 33. . .I gave up then. This one is a big disappointment.
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