The career of playwright Joy Sinclair comes to an abrupt end on an isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands when someone drives and eighteen-inch dirk through her neck. Called upon to investigate the case in a country where they have virtually no authority, aristocratic Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, grapple for both a motive and a … murderer. Emotions run deep in this highly charged drama, for the list of suspects soon includes Britain’s foremost actress, its most successful theatrical producer, and the woman Lynley loves. He and Havers must tread carefully through the complicated terrain of human relationships, while they work to solve a case rooted in the darkest corners of the past and the unexplored regions of the human heart.
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Elizabeth George books are wonderful. Always look forward to her next one.
I have always loved Elizabeth George’s books. I don’t care for the TV series as they changed a lot.
I read this book quite a while ago but, as with all of Elizabeth George’s books, it was a real page turner. Realistic characters and an original plot. I would highly recommend it.
Elizabeth George is an exceptionally talented writer. Love her books.
I love how she draws her characters-plot twists are a bonus.
Very good. Hard put down. I lost a lot of sleep but it was worth it.
Loved it! Elizabeth George always delivers great reads!
Excellent mystery in the Inspector Lynley series with clever, erudite writing and amusingly rendered depiction of class in English society of the 1970s.
I love all of elizabeth Georges books. You can’t go wrong with anything she writes. Great mysteries, fantastic twists and wonderful Human interactions. G
All the Inspector Lynsey books are great. Read them in order.
I love her books.
Elizabeth George does it again! Love her finely molded characters and her great story telling.
I NEVER FINISHED THE BOOK.tHE PLOT WAS TOO JUMBLED, CHARACTERS STILTED, JUST DIDNT HOLD MY INTEREST
Not up to Elizabeth George’s ( admittedly high) standard. Slow moving, unattractive characters – and not enough Barbara Havers.
One of the better Inspector Lynley stories and Barbara is her usual abrasive self
One of my favorite authors. This did not disappoint!
Being a long-time E. George & Lynley fan, I’d forgotten how good the early books were. Great fun to revisit all the gang in their relative youths.
Payment in Blood, the second installment in the Inspector Lynley series, was a bit of the good, the bad, and the somewhat ugly for me. For anyone new to the series, I would highly recommend that you read the first book prior to this one or you will miss out on a significantly large part of what makes the book really good!
The Good:
The emphasis on personal relationships between the main characters is what ultimately makes this book so incredible. When a murder occurs and one of the suspects happens to be a Lord, complications arise. Detective Lynley is put on the case, even though the case itself should not have been assigned to Scotland Yard. Havers, against the wishes of Lynley, becomes his designated partner for the investigation. Upon arriving at the scene, Lynley is taken aback to learn that Lady Helen, a close friend of his, is a possible suspect. Her presence begins to taint all of Lynley’s assumptions about the case and narrows his perspective to a fault.
I loved the tension in this book. There are so many chasms amongst the main characters that it is entirely possible to get caught up in their personal affairs rather than the murder mystery itself. It was really interesting to see the vulnerable side of Lynley. In addition, the reader learns so much more in regards to the backstories of many characters. Relationships that were briefly touched upon in the first book become much more entangled in this one! Ultimately, the book ends on a cliff-hanger that ensured I will continue on with the series.
The Bad:
The mystery itself was a bit overwhelming for me. (I seriously considered creating a cheat sheet of characters and their relationships with one another!) With an overabundance of possible suspects, motives, and leads, I sometimes had to take a moment to catch my breath and think things through to keep it all straight. So many threads went in so many directions, that at times the story felt a little overwhelming. With that said, the complexity of the story kept me guessing as to which character ultimately committed the murders and why!
The Ugly:
The ugly wasn’t necessarily a negative aspect. Words were spoken that couldn’t be taken back. Actions were taken that had serious consequences for character relations. I couldn’t help but wonder what impact these things will have on my feelings towards the next book! I guess I’ll have to read it to find out!
Overall, I would definitely recommend this to others who like suspense/mystery books with a little nobility thrown in!