Rating: 
Summary: Does Bantam need editors??
Review: At first I didn't think that I'd like this book as much as the others in the series because there seemed to be so much about racism and I didn't think I'd get past that. But Ms. George has a way of bringing you into her own world no matter what your preconceived notions are. This book is a wonderful thriller, and a masterpiece of psychological suspense. In this book Barbara Havers is on her own, and the book does not suffer for that. Barbara is a wonderful character and we really get into her head with this book. Believe me it's a worthwhile place to be. She is, I think, one of the best female detective characters that I have ever read. This book is so well written, and so complex, and there are all kinds of twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing. I can't say enough good about it.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Story, Disappointing Resolution Yet Again
Review: Elizabeth George creates fascinating, believable characters. Her treatment of the "Pakistani Question" in Britain is thorough and unbiased. For instance: one of the main characters, Sahlah, is a young Pakistani woman who, though raised in England, realizes that she can never be as "free" as an English girl, and this is presented in a very believable manner.The story revolves around the murder of her fiance, and how this could potentially be a racial fire-keg in the small town where the murder occurs. During the course of the investigation, the lives of countless characters are examined, and the reader is drawn into caring about many of them (especially Rachel, the girl with the deformed face.) Unfortunately, the same thing happened with this book that happened with the last three E. George books that I've read. Suddenly I see that I only have 20-30 pages left, and I think, "how can she possibly resolve all of the issues that she's raised?" And, of course, she doesn't. This reader was left with a VERY unsatisfied feeling. Hey, Elizabeth, what about Rachel and her new flat? What about the baby? Where is Muhammed? What will happen to Yumn? You have left far too much for the reader to figure out for himself. Murder mysteries should not be like the lady and the tiger!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, like all of its predecessors
Review: I consider Elizabeth George to be the best living writer of mysteries, by a wide margin. In this book, Barbara Havers goes more or less "solo" by getting involved in a case outside of London where she is supposed to be on vacation. In addition to being a superb mystery, this book examines the racial friction generated by the influx of Pakistani immigrants into a seaside resort town in England. I can't speak for the accuracy of her analysis, but her portrayals of the cultural misunderstandings between the police and the immigrant community ring true to my ears. I don't recommend this book as your introduction to Elizabeth George's mysteries. The previous books introduce both of the main characters, Havers and her boss, Inspector Lynley. This book makes several references to the things she learned from Lynley, and to their partnership. The reader will understand those references much better if (s)he has read at least one of the previous books. However, I want to vehemently disagree with a couple of previous reviewers who downgraded this book on the grounds that Havers is a less interesting character than the absent Lynley. I think Havers is a MUCH more interesting character than the pampered and superficial Lynley. I didn't miss him at all in this book. As always, George's writing, characterizations, and plotting put her in a class of her own among mystery writers. This is not a little paperback for an afternoon; it's a real novel. If you love mysteries or if you simply love well-written, thought-provoking fiction, you should read every one of Elizabeth George's books.
Rating:
Summary: One of her best.
Review: I have read all of Elizabeth George's books and this one stands out as the best. She is a very good mystery writer. I love her books because it takes me so long to read them. I can usally devour a book in a day or two but these books always take me at least a week and a half or so.
Her writing style is similar to Anne Rice's in that it is very descriptive and minute. She can take one moment in time and make it last 3 or 4 pages. Some people don't like this sort of writing, calling it flowery and over descriptive but I love detailed character studies of people that show their motivations, thoughts, feelings, etc... leading up to the showdown moment fraught with tension when Lynley and Havers almost always foil the bad(?) guys. The only thing is, by the time you read all this about these characters, there are no black and white, bad or good, just human beings trying to get through their lives.
If you want a GOOD long mystery that slowly and surely draws you into peoples lives, then pick up any of Ms. George's novels.
Rating: 
Summary: pare it down, please!
Review: I really enjoyed this book because I have always wanted to see more of the Havers character and this book is entirely devoted to her. Her neighbor, Azhar, and his daughter go to a seaside town in Essex to help out some family members. Barbara, being on medical vacation from the beating she received at the end of the last book, goes there to help out, thinking that Azhar will be out of his depth dealing with a criminal investigation. I was surprised at some of the things that she missed during her investigation particularly something with regards to her acting superior officer. The best part of the book for me was the personal interaction betwen Havers and Azhar. I am glad to see her get a personal life other than dealing with her parents' problems. The ending has a major twist and, having already bought the next book in the series, I did something I have never done before and peeked at the beginning to see what the ramifications of that twist would be....so, I guess I will be "forced" to read on...
Rating:
Summary: pare it down, please!
Review: I would have given this book a rating of 1 out of 5, except that the plot was interesting. This is the third Elizabeth George book I have read, but I couldn't get through this one. The author has an obsessive compulsive style of writing that is irritating--every bite taken, every sip taken--is added as a boring beat, until I want to scream, get on with the story--move it along! Finally, when I realized there were at least 300 more pages to go, I skipped to the end. This author would benefit from an editor who would dare to tell her to cut out a lot needless, uninteresting details. I do think she has good plots, but I don't think I'll be buying any more of her books.
Rating:
Summary: Thanks to God, and Allah too
Review: Someone has murdered Mr. Haytham Querashi, a recent Pakistani immigrant, in Balford-le-Nez, a small, economically depressed town on the coast of Essex, England. Mr. Querashi was to soon wed the beautiful Sahlah, daughter of Akram Malik. In the Pakistani tradition, the parents of the bride and groom had arranged the marriage. As part of the deal, Mr. Querashi had become Production Manager in Mr. Malik's mustard factory where he displaced the last non-Pakistani, full-time employee. Just a few weeks ago Mr. Malik became the first Pakistani on the Town Council when his formidable adversary, the aging Agatha Shaw, was forced to resign due to a stroke. Despite her condition and Malik's appointment, Mrs. Shaw, with the help of her grandson Theo, is determined to obtain the Council's approval for her project. She is resolute in the renovation and development of the pleasure pier to attract tourists, resuscitate the town's economy and thus assure her legacy as savior of the community. Querashi's death is threatening to ignite smoldering racial tensions, however. The Asian's in general and Malik's son in particular suspect the murder was racially motivated and expect the police will ignore white suspects and blame a Pakistani. Enter Sgt. Barbara Havers, who is conveniently vacationing in the town, to mediate with the Pakistani as police liaison. As the case proceeds, Barbara discovers that nearly all the players have something to hide, including her self. Indeed, the title of this English mystery novel should be "Deception on Their Minds." Elizabeth George is a master of this genre. Her characters are believable, the events are realistic, the scenes evolve with interesting complexity and the plot is superb, although sometimes I found her style more descriptive and dragging than in her prior novel, "In the Presence of the Enemy." And unlike her previous novel, I had the killer figured in this one before the cops did. "Deception" is unusual and outstanding, however, for George's treatment of the culture clash. Her characters cover the full spectrum of personalities one would expect to find in her hypothetical community. Thanks to God and Allah too, she does it without the least bit of moralizing.
Rating:
Summary: The very best thriller!!!
Review: The book is excellent, like all of its predecessors because Elizabeth George knows how to spell-bound her readers. In this book Barbara is on her one solving a mystery among Pakistani immigrants into a seaside resort town in England. Some potential readers might think that Barbara Havers can't manage alone. Ah, but they are very wrong, as Barbara shows more depth and real-life than the classy and superficial Lynley. The book is stunning, and you can believe me because I've read them all!! It is however not recommendable to read af the first of all the writers novels, as she makes several references to the things from previous episodes and novels and to her partnership with Lynley. The reader will understand those references much better if (s)he has read at least one of the previous books. In Denmark (where I come from) we love her books and Elizabeth George is one of the most popular criminal writers from USA.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Whodunnit - keeps you guessing all the way
Review: This is my second foray into the world of Barbara Havers, and what a redemption for her! She certainly showed a far more human side than in "A Great Deliverance", and I welcomed the absence of her partner Lynley and his equally irritating new bride. (They were on Honeymoon and instantly forgotten). I love a book that casts suspicion on everybody, and this one certainly does that. Almost everyone has a motive, and as mentioned previously, a lot of the characters are so unlikeable that you're just begging for them to be guilty of SOMETHING diabolical. I felt that Elizabeth George has done justice to both sides of the race argument, and both the racists and the activists against racism are equally loathsome. I have no idea how accurately this portrayal of a Muslim family is depicted, but it certainly gave me a lot to think about. If this book is far removed from Elizabeth George's usual style then I'll bide my time before reading another. On the other hand, if I knew I'd enjoy it as much as I did this one I'd read the whole series one after another.
Rating:
Summary: Racial tensions
Review: While her boss Thomas Lynley is away on his honeymoon, Sergeant Barbara Havers spends recovery time after being the victim of a shooting, on a so-called holiday at Balford-le-Nez, a seaside community with a growing population of Asians. She joins forces with a former colleagus Emily Barlow, who has been recently promoted to the rank of Detective Chief Inspector, and whom Barbara admires greatly for her superior police work.
The body of a recent Pakhistani immigrant has been discovered on the beach and has been identified as the man brought to England as the prospective husband of the daughter of the towns' wealthiest businessman. The son of the businessman is intent on raising racial conflict in the town, leaving the police to wonder at his motives.
It's a good murder/mystery story with plenty of twists and turns and, although rather wordy, is nevertheless a good, long read.
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