“Elizabeth George reigns as queen of the mystery genre. The Lynley books constitute the smartest, most gratifyingly complex and impassioned mystery series now being published.” —Entertainment WeeklyOne of the most acclaimed entries in Elizabeth George’s New York Times bestselling Inspector Lynley series—a masterfully structured, multilayered jigsaw puzzle of a mystery rich with intrigue and … multilayered jigsaw puzzle of a mystery rich with intrigue and atmosphere
On compassionate leave after the murder of his wife, Thomas Lynley is called back to Scotland Yard when the body of a woman is found stabbed and abandoned in an isolated London cemetery. His former team welcomes his return; they don’t trust their new department chief, Isabelle Ardery, whose off-putting manner leaves them on edge. Lynley may be the sole person who can see beneath his superior officer’s hard-as-nails exterior to a hidden—and compelling—vulnerability.
While Lynley works in London, his former colleagues Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata follow the murder trail south to the New Forest—a beautiful and strange place where animals roam free, the long-lost art of thatching is very much alive, and outsiders are suspect. What they don’t know is that more than one dark secret lurks within the secluded woodlands, and that their investigation will lead them to an outcome that is both tragic and shocking.
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She is a great writer with appealing characters.
There were some difficult themes in this book: a toddler’s murder, the responsibility of child criminals, and the effects of neglect and abuse.
Well written
Elizabeth George is one of my favorite writers. I have read all of her books and especially enjoy the Inspector Lynley series. I anxiously await each new release. Her books are well written with realistic plots and multifaceted characters. You’re drawn immediately into the story and are happy to visit with characters you have come to love from …
Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Barbara Havers work separately under a new superintendent to find a killer. Two story lines come together in a surprising way. A good read.
Competent procedural who-done-it with few editorial lapses to interrupt the story.
An great read from an admired mystery writer.
All of Elizabeth Georges books are fantastic.
Not her best.
George is a master story teller and this is a great example. The depicts the culture accurately and poignantly.
The entire series by Elizabeth George is outstanding. The books have in-depth and realistic character development, realistic and thought-provoking life challenges, including issues surrounding relationships, work, and class. Highly recommend for anyone interested in mysteries that explore the human condition.