To this day, the low, thin wail of an infant can be heard in Keldale’s lush green valleys. Three hundred years ago, as legend goes, the frightened Yorkshire villagers smothered a crying babe in Keldale Abbey, where they’d hidden to escape the ravages of Cromwell’s raiders.Now into Keldale’s pastoral web of old houses and older secrets comes Scotland Yard Inspector Thomas Lynley, the eighth earl … eighth earl of Asherton. Along with the redoubtable Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, Lynley has been sent to solve a savage murder that has stunned the peaceful countryside. For fat, unlovely Roberta Teys has been found in her best dress, an axe in her lap, seated in the old stone barn beside her father’s headless corpse. Her first and last words were “I did it. And I’m not sorry.”
Yet as Lynley and Havers wind their way through Keldale’s dark labyrinth of secret scandals and appalling crimes, they uncover a shattering series of revelations that will reverberate through this tranquil English valley—and in their own lives as well.
From the Paperback edition.
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The sexual mores might be dated, but the excellent audio book of this novel propelled me through coping with my son’s flu. Really well done and I’m so glad I finally got to this classic book.
Love most of the series… this first book kept me reading
A great first in series murder mystery
I have read many of the Inspector Lynley mysteries and was glad to be able to read the beginning of the series.
This book is well written and is hard to put down but be advised the subject matter is a bit gritty and a little hard to take but the story, I feel, is worth it.
Not the best of the series. In this one Sgt. Havers is so beyond the pale that it’s difficult to read.
great read
This series, I am on number 4 so far, has just grabbed me and won’t let go. The characters are so interesting, the mysteries are very well set up and the prose is well-written. Making my winter shorter by taking me somewhere else ;>)
I am an inveterate reader and usually enjoy books by this author. I had trouble getting into this one maybe because it is pretty slow moving
Elizabeth George does not write bad books. She is one of my favorite authors.
I love her books. This one was a really good read. I couldn’t put it down until it was finished.
I think this was the first British police mystery I ever read.
Vintage Elizabeth George. A lot of characters to keep up with but filled with beautiful descriptions and a complex plot.
A worthwhile read with twists!
This is the first of the Inspector Lynley novels. I love that the series is about the same group of people and that each novel is not just about the crime, it tells the characters’ stories as well. After reading all of these books the characters feel like old friends to me. At the same time, each is a crime story and each is quite different. …
I love the Lynely books but this one was exceptional. The story takes twists and turns and it is difficult to put it down. The characters are well developed and one learns to know and love them. I look forward to more in this series.
Typical Elizabeth George book. Grabs you and doesn’t let go until the end. Love her books. Wonderful characters.
Anything by Elizabeth George is worth reading and this book is the start of an incredible series.
Every Elizabeth George book is worth reading.
Exceptionally good writing as always from Elizabeth George.
All of Elizabeth George’s books that have Thomas Lynley are good books. He is an Earl that works for Scotland Yard. Her books are very well written and the ending is always a surprise.