Don't let the over 900 pages scare you away-this is the best Elizabeth George in a while. For many of those over 900 pages you're not sure how all the different story lines are going to come together-but in her uniquely amazing fashion, Ms. George pulls it off.
The introduction of a new Police character (Isabelle) is handled with great style,l very complex and tragic, really-and the character of Thomas Lynley takes on more depth, I think. I also enjoyed the beginning of a 'transformation' of Barbara Havers. Of all of the characters in the Inspector Lynley series, she is my favorite.
If you did not like the last two or three of E. George's books-please give this one a go-you will not be disappointed. Hope she keeps it going for a long time!!

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I was getting worried about her books after the last couple, but this one is back on form. Very good.

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Good, as always. Elizabeth George is my favorite mystery writer. Keeping this one to add to my Elizabeth George collection.

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After two somewhat disappointing books (at least by Elizabeth George standard, in my opinion), I feel as though she has returned. Beautifully written, suspenseful with that raw darkness running through it, I found this book hard to put down. Here and there, the story reverts to a seemingly unrelated crime, the abduction and murder of a young toddler, which I found very difficult to read it was so evil. But the thing that bothered me most about that aspect of the book is the similarities it shares with an actual crime that occurred in Britain several years ago - so similar, that it felt like exploitation to me. In my opinion, Ms George has the creative talent to have made up an equally dark and disturbing crime to fulfill it's role in this story, and she should have done that.

That aside, this was an excellent story, a classic George novel where the mystery comes together in an unexpected way, and no one is who you think they are. WHere I was growing away from Elizabeth George books after the last two, I am back on board, eagerly awaiting what's in store for D.I. Thomas Lynley and Sargeant Barbara Havers.

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Another in the series of Inspector Thomas Lynley novels with the usual cast of characters (Simon St. James, his wife Deborah, Barbara Havers, Winston Nkata among others). This novel adds a character, a new boss named Isabelle, and with her, a relationship that seems uncharacteristic of Thomas. However, the actual murder and its solution are were in the fine tradition of this series. If you are or have been a fan of these in the past, this one won't disappoint you.

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