NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERDetective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley are forced to confront the past as they try to solve a crime that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of a quiet, historic medieval town in EnglandThe cozy, bucolic town of Ludlow is stunned when one of its most revered and respected citizens–Ian Druitt, the local deacon–is accused of a serious … deacon–is accused of a serious crime. Then, while in police custody, Ian is found dead. Did he kill himself? Or was he murdered?
When Barbara Havers is sent to Ludlow to investigate the chain of events that led to Ian’s death, all the evidence points to suicide. But Barbara can’t shake the feeling that she’s missing something. She decides to take a closer look at the seemingly ordinary inhabitants of Ludlow–mainly elderly retirees and college students–and discovers that almost everyone in town has something to hide.
A masterful work of suspense, The Punishment She Deserves sets Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Inspector Thomas Lynley against one of their most intricate cases. Fans of the longtime series will love the many characters from Elizabeth George’s previous novels who join Lynley and Havers, and readers new to the series will quickly see why she is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed writers of our time. Both a page-turner and a deeply complex story about the lies we tell, the lies we believe, and the redemption we need, this novel will be remembered as one of George’s best.
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Love the Lynley series and the way she writes. Holds your interest throughout the story.
I have always loved Elizabeth Georges books about Inspector Linley. The Punishment She Deserves, however seems over long and tends not to grip me in the way her previous books have done. Still, I’m glad she’s still writing.
I love this author and this novel lived up to expectations.
Best book I’ve read this year.
I love Elizabeth George’s books! The development of the characters as the series unwind is masterful and real. Additionally, there is also a mystery to unravel!
The Punishment She Deserves is another Lynley novel from Elizabeth George. If you like to feel you’re really in the scenes with the characters you’ll love this.
The story moves rather slowly at first but with a lot of information to take in. If you are tempted to skim, don’t, you’ll be rewarded in the last half for giving the first half all of your attention. This is not a narrative that rockets forward but rather one that almost lurches. The many characters seem a bit much initially but they become easier to keep track of after maybe the first third, mainly because they are well-drawn and distinctive.
There were a couple times I was afraid I was losing the thread of the mystery itself even while I was enjoying the story itself. If that happens to you don’t worry, it is a twisty mystery but the threads come together as you progress and by the end it all, or mostly, makes sense.
I would recommend this to fans of character driven mysteries and ones that almost immerse you in the surroundings. This is a slow-moving and intricate plot but much of what makes it seem convoluted at first is the sheer number of characters and subplots. Each is interesting and if you just allow yourself to go along for the ride without worrying too much about “getting it” I think you’ll enjoy both the ride and the destination.
Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads.
Thoughtfully presented and a good whodoneit too
Enjoy reading the Thomas Lynley series. Elizabeth George seems to do a lot of research in keeping her novels quite believable. Great reads.
George keeps her reader in suspense. You seldom figure out the culprit until the very end. Narrative flows smoothly and her characters become friends ( I. e. Lyndley and Barbara) . Superb stories .
Always love Elizabeth George novels and particularly like the Havens character. She has developed well over the years. This was a stand-out for Barbara.
Long book. Worth reading
One can never have too much of Elizabeth George.
Elizabeth George is one of our greatest living writers–The Punishment She Deserves is outstanding and complete, a mystery masterpiece. It has humor, anger, angst, frustration, love, misunderstanding and more. It’s hard to read anything for awhile after reading Elizabeth George–she so good that other books, even good ones, become problematic. Yes, in my opinion, she’s that good. Richard Hoe
Another great mystery from Ms. George’s Thomas Lynley/Barbara Havers series. She is a literary writer, with a wonderful sense of character and place. I enjoyed the subtle humor used to deepen the Barbara Havers character, as well as her insightful understanding of other characters’ very human failings. She appreciates that our human imperfections do not make us evil. She is one of my top four favorite authors across all genres.
At almost 700 pages this was a big book. Much could have been left out without hurting the story in any way. I am an Elizabeth George fan but lately her books have been difficult to read. This story was all over the place with many characters coming and going. There were also way too many subplots that were not necessary. It wasn’t a horrible book but it seems to me that only diehard fans will make the effort to get through the whole thing.
I always enjoy Elizabeth George and eagerly await her next book.
Great characters.
I have been reading Elizabeth George’s Inspector Lynley novels for 20 years, only one seemed like a waste of paper. The Punishment She Deserves is well-written, the characters grabbed me at the get-go and did not disappoint. My opinion: I recommend this book and the entire series (minus Careless in Red).
I used to enjoy George’s books and still see her as an amazing writer. However, I don’t like what she’s done with her series characters and grew impatient with the endless explorations of the many minor characters and their back stories, which had little to do with the main plot. I guess if I was expecting a mainstream literary novel I wouldn’t mind. However, this is an author who no longer follows the conventions of mystery writing. I’m disappointed.
Another in the line of wonderful Elizabeth George books. Look forward to all her new books.