The much acclaimed author of A Great Deliverance delivers her challenging second novel--a literate, vastly detailed, and intricately characterized piece which progresses from a frigid Scottish manor house/hotel to a swarming, theatrical London. Scotland Yard's Thomas Lynley (series detective and Earl of Asherton), unexpectedly assigned to a gory stabbing murder, uncovers deeply hidden family secrets and various psychological convolutions among suspects, but allows personal jealously to color his choice of prime suspect. A bit mechanical in places, and slow-moving in others, but steadily absorbing and masterful overall.
I don't read many mysteries, but Elizabeth George is my favorite mystery writer, and this book didn't disappoint me. It held my interest to the very end. And her characters are very well developed, which is unusual for mystery writers, in my experience.
Very good story. A little draggy in the begining but overall good.
Enjoying the series so far.
Someone drives a a knife through playwright Joy Sinclair's neck,murdering her. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley soon suspects Britain's foremost actress,it's most successful theatrical producer,and the woman Lynley loves.........