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Inspector Lynley #22
A Slowly Dying Cause: The New York Times Bestseller, A Page-Turning Mystery Featuring Thomas Lynley
Listening Length: 19 hours and 53 minutes
Amid the beauty of Cornwall’s coastline, the death of a local man shatters the peace with its violence. The body of Michael Lobb was discovered in his family’s tin and pewter workshop, and Detective Inspector Beatrice Hannaford is brought in to investigate. Suspicion quickly develops when it emerges that a mining company had been trying to buy the man’s land, and Lobb was the only remaining obstacle to the deal going through.
But every step of Bea’s investigation provokes more questions than answers, and the complexity of the case develops further as Lobb’s family life, rife with mistrust and deception, comes to light. With cryptic alibis and shifting motives, the tangled web of intrigue soon draws in her colleagues Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers, who must search for a killer in a community that has very little trust in outsiders . . .
Amid the beauty of Cornwall’s coastline, the death of a local man shatters the peace with its violence. The body of Michael Lobb was discovered in his family’s tin and pewter workshop, and Detective Inspector Beatrice Hannaford is brought in to investigate. Suspicion quickly develops when it emerges that a mining company had been trying to buy the man’s land, and Lobb was the only remaining obstacle to the deal going through.
But every step of Bea’s investigation provokes more questions than answers, and the complexity of the case develops further as Lobb’s family life, rife with mistrust and deception, comes to light. With cryptic alibis and shifting motives, the tangled web of intrigue soon draws in her colleagues Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers, who must search for a killer in a community that has very little trust in outsiders . . .
20 pages, Audible Audio
First published September 16, 2025
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About the author
Elizabeth George
102 books5,466 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Susan Elizabeth George is an American author of mystery novels set in Great Britain. Eleven of her novels, featuring her character Inspector Lynley, have been adapted for television by the BBC as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.
She was born in Warren, Ohio, but moved to the San Francisco Bay Area when she was eighteen months old. She was a student of English, receiving a teaching certificate. While teaching English in the public school system, she completed an advanced degree in psychology.
Her first published novel was A Great Deliverance in 1988, featuring Thomas Lynley, Lord Asherton, a Scotland Yard inspector of noble birth; Barbara Havers, Lynley's assistant, from a very working-class background; Lady Helen Clyde, Lynley's girlfriend and later wife, of noble birth as well; and Lynley's friends Simon and Deborah St. James.
This Elizabeth George is distinct from the other author named Elizabeth George (Christian author).
Series:
* Inspector Lynley
Susan Elizabeth George is an American author of mystery novels set in Great Britain. Eleven of her novels, featuring her character Inspector Lynley, have been adapted for television by the BBC as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.
She was born in Warren, Ohio, but moved to the San Francisco Bay Area when she was eighteen months old. She was a student of English, receiving a teaching certificate. While teaching English in the public school system, she completed an advanced degree in psychology.
Her first published novel was A Great Deliverance in 1988, featuring Thomas Lynley, Lord Asherton, a Scotland Yard inspector of noble birth; Barbara Havers, Lynley's assistant, from a very working-class background; Lady Helen Clyde, Lynley's girlfriend and later wife, of noble birth as well; and Lynley's friends Simon and Deborah St. James.
This Elizabeth George is distinct from the other author named Elizabeth George (Christian author).
Series:
* Inspector Lynley
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 506 reviews
September 24, 2025
Spoilers below
This is a slow-paced book that isn't really a police investigation as the Cornwall investigation team make a fast off-page arrest leaving a case full of holes: no weapon, no motive, they haven't bothered with fingerprint tests or opened the safe in the victim's office to find his will, just make assumptions and guesses. Lynley and Havers aren't called in as advertised in the blurb: they happen to be staying at Lynley's vast ducal family estate of Howenstow and Barbara Havers is contacted by Dairdre (yes, she's back!) and offers to spend her holiday as an assistant to the solicitor on the case for free. At about 75% Havers finds the weapon but that barely moves the case on - and at about 80% the lawyers finally find the will (in the victim's safe, exactly where you'd expect) and the journal of the murdered man, which we've already been drip-fed, and somehow Lynley and Havers are given the moral foreground .
All the space that should have been filled by the investigation is instead shared between backstory from the journal and various relationships of the family of the victim and various hangers-on: the woman concerned with her best friend's cheating boyfriend, the endless maneuverings of a dodgy 'ecomining' company wanting to buy up land in Cornwall, the adult ex-teacher having an affair with his teenage pupil. Indeed, the latter seems to be the theme of the book: how toxic men abuse and victimise women: This series has always been character-driven and it's one of George's strengths that she creates complex situations and characters - here, though, most of this is essentially filler and stand-in for the murder investigation which barely gets off the ground. The truth is transparent from early on, in my case, and so there is no 'ah!' moment at the end - instead, I was waiting for Lynley and co. to catch up even though my insight comes from the journal that they don't have access to till close to the end. It's not a structure that worked for me and many of the relationships depicted felt like clichés.
And oh, the nuisance of Dairdre being brought back along with all her family! She's a character who has never gelled with me and here we're given an out of the blue revelation at the end which seems both a bit emotionally cheap and, sadly, to indicate the unconvincing love affair with Lynley is back on.
There's some comic relief as Barb visits Lynley's 'family pile' and wins over his family, of course. Back in London, Isabel Ardery is back and Winston Nkata makes a blink-and-you'll-miss-him appearance. Some of Barb's more cartoonish characteristics are dialled down but it's still crazy that an intelligent police sergeant in the Met should think it's ok to turn up to work wearing a ridiculous slogan t-shirt, clown-striped drawstring trousers, red trainers with unbrushed teeth and uncombed hair - Barb is not an idiot even if she is suffering from repressed grief. And we see the proof when she goes shopping for some decentish clothes to take to Lynley's home, so why wouldn't she have bought herself an everyday appropriate work wardrobe?
I really wish this had been a proper murder investigation with the team, rather that using the excuse of someone else's case to get Lynley, Havers and Dairdre all together in Cornwall as hangers-on. I also baulked at the (American?) romanticizing of the English aristocracy making them eccentric 'just like us' despite the uniformed butler: so we're given the sister who 'comically' can't make pastry or cook even while I was wondering who exactly is cleaning and doing all the housework in this vast estate and massive house while they pretend it's a family home, and agonize on how terrible it will be to be forced to open it to the public to pay for roof repairs. But no need for the latter because Judith has enough money of her own to pay for the whole thing! Lynley who must be close to 40, surely, is still bumbling along unable to make toast and finding the idea of scrambled eggs or an omelette baffling. It's all so irritating in a man who is also supposed to be the genius of Scotland Yard and the catch of all catches for women.
I'm so nostalgic for the earlier entries in this series where the police investigations were riveting, fascinating and took centre stage with all the great character work as supporting acts to give meat to the crime - here that dynamic is reversed, there's barely an investigation and we end up embroiled in the lives of so many almost random characters. George has such a skill to create people and situations that pull us in but they used to drop out of the investigation and lead back to it - here, it's like the murder case is mere excuse to create pen portraits of people and places in Cornwall, with barely a concern for the whodunnit aspects that fall by the wayside.
More 'slice of life' and indulgent 'Lynley and Havers go to Cornwall' than the murder thriller I was here for - and my heart truly sank at the end with its Dairdre and Lynley revelations.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC via NetGalley
This is a slow-paced book that isn't really a police investigation as the Cornwall investigation team make a fast off-page arrest leaving a case full of holes: no weapon, no motive, they haven't bothered with fingerprint tests or opened the safe in the victim's office to find his will, just make assumptions and guesses. Lynley and Havers aren't called in as advertised in the blurb: they happen to be staying at Lynley's vast ducal family estate of Howenstow and Barbara Havers is contacted by Dairdre (yes, she's back!) and offers to spend her holiday as an assistant to the solicitor on the case for free. At about 75% Havers finds the weapon but that barely moves the case on - and at about 80% the lawyers finally find the will (in the victim's safe, exactly where you'd expect) and the journal of the murdered man, which we've already been drip-fed, and somehow Lynley and Havers are given the moral foreground .
All the space that should have been filled by the investigation is instead shared between backstory from the journal and various relationships of the family of the victim and various hangers-on: the woman concerned with her best friend's cheating boyfriend, the endless maneuverings of a dodgy 'ecomining' company wanting to buy up land in Cornwall, the adult ex-teacher having an affair with his teenage pupil. Indeed, the latter seems to be the theme of the book: how toxic men abuse and victimise women: This series has always been character-driven and it's one of George's strengths that she creates complex situations and characters - here, though, most of this is essentially filler and stand-in for the murder investigation which barely gets off the ground. The truth is transparent from early on, in my case, and so there is no 'ah!' moment at the end - instead, I was waiting for Lynley and co. to catch up even though my insight comes from the journal that they don't have access to till close to the end. It's not a structure that worked for me and many of the relationships depicted felt like clichés.
And oh, the nuisance of Dairdre being brought back along with all her family! She's a character who has never gelled with me and here we're given an out of the blue revelation at the end which seems both a bit emotionally cheap and, sadly, to indicate the unconvincing love affair with Lynley is back on.
There's some comic relief as Barb visits Lynley's 'family pile' and wins over his family, of course. Back in London, Isabel Ardery is back and Winston Nkata makes a blink-and-you'll-miss-him appearance. Some of Barb's more cartoonish characteristics are dialled down but it's still crazy that an intelligent police sergeant in the Met should think it's ok to turn up to work wearing a ridiculous slogan t-shirt, clown-striped drawstring trousers, red trainers with unbrushed teeth and uncombed hair - Barb is not an idiot even if she is suffering from repressed grief. And we see the proof when she goes shopping for some decentish clothes to take to Lynley's home, so why wouldn't she have bought herself an everyday appropriate work wardrobe?
I really wish this had been a proper murder investigation with the team, rather that using the excuse of someone else's case to get Lynley, Havers and Dairdre all together in Cornwall as hangers-on. I also baulked at the (American?) romanticizing of the English aristocracy making them eccentric 'just like us' despite the uniformed butler: so we're given the sister who 'comically' can't make pastry or cook even while I was wondering who exactly is cleaning and doing all the housework in this vast estate and massive house while they pretend it's a family home, and agonize on how terrible it will be to be forced to open it to the public to pay for roof repairs. But no need for the latter because Judith has enough money of her own to pay for the whole thing! Lynley who must be close to 40, surely, is still bumbling along unable to make toast and finding the idea of scrambled eggs or an omelette baffling. It's all so irritating in a man who is also supposed to be the genius of Scotland Yard and the catch of all catches for women.
I'm so nostalgic for the earlier entries in this series where the police investigations were riveting, fascinating and took centre stage with all the great character work as supporting acts to give meat to the crime - here that dynamic is reversed, there's barely an investigation and we end up embroiled in the lives of so many almost random characters. George has such a skill to create people and situations that pull us in but they used to drop out of the investigation and lead back to it - here, it's like the murder case is mere excuse to create pen portraits of people and places in Cornwall, with barely a concern for the whodunnit aspects that fall by the wayside.
More 'slice of life' and indulgent 'Lynley and Havers go to Cornwall' than the murder thriller I was here for - and my heart truly sank at the end with its Dairdre and Lynley revelations.
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for an ARC via NetGalley
December 28, 2025
This is book 22 of the Inspector Lynley series and one of my absolute favorites. The books are lengthy, each coming in over 600 pages but I savor every single one of them. I always try to set aside the perfect week to sit back and enjoy my visits with some of my favorite characters.
The crime:
Michael Lobb was found murdered in his home. There’s no shortage of suspects, ranging from family to employees, as well as a company that was determined to buy his land. They’ll have their hands full with this case! We’re taken back in time to learn more about Michael, his divorce and marriage to his much younger wife.
The detectives:
Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers are two of the best inspectors (IMHO) Scotland Yard has to offer.
This pair of characters are exceptional both together and on their own. I love the respect and more importantly, the friendship between the two. I also enjoyed the time spent on their own personal family issues. A glimpse of how life changes no matter your status in life.
My only (slight) grievance was wanting more from these two. They truly didn’t make a full appearance in the story till 40% or so.
The audio was narrated by Simon Vance who absolutely brilliant!
✍️ Elizabeth George
🎧 Simon Vance
⏳ 20 hours +
🗓️ Available Now
📈 4.5/5🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 Police procedural, murder mystery
The crime:
Michael Lobb was found murdered in his home. There’s no shortage of suspects, ranging from family to employees, as well as a company that was determined to buy his land. They’ll have their hands full with this case! We’re taken back in time to learn more about Michael, his divorce and marriage to his much younger wife.
The detectives:
Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers are two of the best inspectors (IMHO) Scotland Yard has to offer.
This pair of characters are exceptional both together and on their own. I love the respect and more importantly, the friendship between the two. I also enjoyed the time spent on their own personal family issues. A glimpse of how life changes no matter your status in life.
My only (slight) grievance was wanting more from these two. They truly didn’t make a full appearance in the story till 40% or so.
The audio was narrated by Simon Vance who absolutely brilliant!
✍️ Elizabeth George
🎧 Simon Vance
⏳ 20 hours +
🗓️ Available Now
📈 4.5/5🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 Police procedural, murder mystery
September 29, 2025
what happened to Elizabeth George?
In this novel George relies on constant sexual encounters to embellish a plot that doesn’t need it. Less is more
In this novel George relies on constant sexual encounters to embellish a plot that doesn’t need it. Less is more
October 11, 2025
Not a lot to like abt this entry in the series. Lynley and Havers don't even show up til abt 1/2 way through & they are not actually involved in solving the crime -- they're taking a week off at chez Lynley in Cornwall. Except for Lynley and the lawyers, all the men in the book are, at best, unsavory. Aside from Havers, Harriman and Lynley's mother and sister, most of the women are pretty unlikeable too, except for Trahair who's pitiable and pathetic. Unlike George's previous Lynleys, there is an awful lot of fairly graphic sex flying around in this book and, frankly, it wasn't necessary to the plot and I found it very much out of place. The biggest problem herein is that I didn't feel sorry for anyone involved in the murder -- I thought they all deserved one another and everything that happened to them and then some. Despite all the time spent setting up the trim details surrounding the murder, most of the questions raised remained unanswered, particularly w/regard to the fates of the conspirators and the murderer. After 640 pages, a couple more devoted to an epilogue that tied things up wouldn't have been much to ask. VERY disappointed in this one.
September 19, 2025
I have read some of the Inspector Lynley books since the first one - and decided that this one sounded interesting.
I had forgotten that Elizabeth George is American and though she might have help with the police procedural aspects, she often falls flat on the idioms of life in England especially.
Sadly this book was not one of her best - and I didn’t get much beyond 15% which is extremely unlike me. I rarely don’t finish a book even if not completely gripped.
Too many characters, not much action- other than the murder - and far too long to even skim through. I never did sort out who the perpetrator was.
Sorry just not for me - and possibly my last encounter with Inspector Lynley books other than maybe on the TV.
I had forgotten that Elizabeth George is American and though she might have help with the police procedural aspects, she often falls flat on the idioms of life in England especially.
Sadly this book was not one of her best - and I didn’t get much beyond 15% which is extremely unlike me. I rarely don’t finish a book even if not completely gripped.
Too many characters, not much action- other than the murder - and far too long to even skim through. I never did sort out who the perpetrator was.
Sorry just not for me - and possibly my last encounter with Inspector Lynley books other than maybe on the TV.
November 21, 2025
It’s interesting that I didn’t even finish the last one and that I said that Havers was turning into a caricature of herself. It is more so the case here.
This is a novel about toxic masculinity and in places it made me very uncomfortable. Far too much gratuitous sex told from perspective of salivating middle aged man about young girl. I see the author’s point (I think) but I don’t think the novel needed it.
I do keep going back for more. The last review I wrote for book 21 said I was calling it a day on the series and I did nearly stop. But it got better once the ott characters of Linley and Havers got involved.
This is a novel about toxic masculinity and in places it made me very uncomfortable. Far too much gratuitous sex told from perspective of salivating middle aged man about young girl. I see the author’s point (I think) but I don’t think the novel needed it.
I do keep going back for more. The last review I wrote for book 21 said I was calling it a day on the series and I did nearly stop. But it got better once the ott characters of Linley and Havers got involved.
October 5, 2025
What a disappointment.
If you want to be depressed by all that is wrong with human relationships, read this not really a murder mystery that focuses on all that is wrong with male/female relationships. For over 600 pages. I sloughed through the WHOLE text hoping to see a glimmer of the old Elizabeth George. That didn’t happen.
If you want to be depressed by all that is wrong with human relationships, read this not really a murder mystery that focuses on all that is wrong with male/female relationships. For over 600 pages. I sloughed through the WHOLE text hoping to see a glimmer of the old Elizabeth George. That didn’t happen.
September 27, 2025
It hasn't been the same since Helen died. I loved these characters so much and with every new release my hope rises and I am so often disappointed. This is another new murder mystery, with loads (too many?) of colorful (too colorful?) characters and another deeply perverse sets of motivations and so many (far too many!) secrets and family dramas and extra forgotten relatives coming out of the woodwork. And zero Deborah, zero Simon, far too little of the home team with cameos only for most of them. The ones who make appearances feel like approximations of their former selves, with a familiar trait being a bit overplayed. Barbara's arc is somewhat believable except I don't believe this really was her first visit to Lynley's Cornwall property? And I very much don't believe her timidity about the visit this time. Aside from all that, well, I will soldier on and read these every single time there is another. And I will continue to hope for justice and closure on Helen's story. I would VERY MUCH like a followup to What Came Before he Shot Her, please, and anyone who knew me when THAT book came out knows how surprising it is that I want to go back there but I am not satisfied with the way those characters were left. Boo. That said, I freaking love Lynley so much and this one did okay by him, so, three stars even though this whole review is basically me complaining.
Edit to add: reviewed the series and it was a false memory- this WAS Barbara's first visit to the estate.
Edit to add: reviewed the series and it was a false memory- this WAS Barbara's first visit to the estate.
September 24, 2025
I liked this overall but the investigation wasn’t as interesting as the backstory to the crime. We invest all this time in these characters and the reveal didn’t have any payoff, we don’t really get to see everyone’s reaction. It was a little anti-climatic. Also, I didn’t understand the point of the side plot with Nick and Gloriana at all but even that didn’t really reach a resolution.
October 9, 2025
So, mixed review on this one. EG has always been my favourite mystery crime author. I fell in love with her Insp. Lynley books when I was working in Switzerland back in 1993. I was an au pair and one day I was changing the sheets in my boss's bedroom and I noticed her bookshelves. I was really lonely and so I borrowed some of her books to read in my tiny basement bedroom three storeys below. She had about five Lynley novels and I ate them all up. So good. Her writing was top notch.
Lately I feel like we have to wait what feels like YEARS between books. In fact this book came 2.5 years after the previous one which was four years after the one before. And tbh it's same old, same old. I am tired of the way she writes. Firstly, you can tell she's not British and I used to make excuses for her but now it's glaring. I will give you two examples: in this book she describes calling emergency services as "triple nine", a small detail I know but we all say "999". And the other thing she is fond of saying (other than the Lord's name as a swear word at least 20 times), is when someone vomits she refers to it as "sicking up". I have NEVER heard anyone use that term. We all say threw up or puke or barf or just plain vomit. And I'm going to call it the Ricky Gervais effect because she overuses the c-word too. Boring.
The main problem I have are the caricatures of the characters (say that ten times fast). Havers is a very smart police woman yet her personal life is a disaster and she hasn't grown up or evolved at all. So unbelievable. The whole class system is done to death by EG. In every single book. DULL. Working class people come across as crass and stupid whereas the upper class come across as the opposite. Yuck.
With this particular story it took so long to bring both Havers and Lynley into the story. Too much time taken with the main storyline taking place in Cornwall. And too many subplots. And then I was deeply unsatisfied with the ending. The two people who were behind the murder get away with it basically by manipulating a gullible man. And none of it really made sense. I didn't understand why a young attractive woman would shack up with a much older man who lived in a pokey old dark cottage in the middle of nowhere running a not very profitable business. We had no closure. No insight as to why. I wanted to see the real Kayla but we never did. We got to see the murdered man's POV. And also what was with some of the names? Maiden? Bran? Goron? What?
If I'm being honest EG's writing started going downhill once Lynley's wife was murdered. I also don't get why we never hear of Simon and Deborah anymore. They were very much a part of the early books. And the relationship with Daidre just feels so out of whack. Again, none of it rings true.
So. yes, EG's Lynley books now feel very old fashioned and dated. I cringe every time the police receptionist/assistant Dee Dee has a scene. It all feels forced and fake. Stop.
Finally I hope the new tv series is better than the original because I never felt Lynley, Havers or Helen were cast correctly.
Lately I feel like we have to wait what feels like YEARS between books. In fact this book came 2.5 years after the previous one which was four years after the one before. And tbh it's same old, same old. I am tired of the way she writes. Firstly, you can tell she's not British and I used to make excuses for her but now it's glaring. I will give you two examples: in this book she describes calling emergency services as "triple nine", a small detail I know but we all say "999". And the other thing she is fond of saying (other than the Lord's name as a swear word at least 20 times), is when someone vomits she refers to it as "sicking up". I have NEVER heard anyone use that term. We all say threw up or puke or barf or just plain vomit. And I'm going to call it the Ricky Gervais effect because she overuses the c-word too. Boring.
The main problem I have are the caricatures of the characters (say that ten times fast). Havers is a very smart police woman yet her personal life is a disaster and she hasn't grown up or evolved at all. So unbelievable. The whole class system is done to death by EG. In every single book. DULL. Working class people come across as crass and stupid whereas the upper class come across as the opposite. Yuck.
With this particular story it took so long to bring both Havers and Lynley into the story. Too much time taken with the main storyline taking place in Cornwall. And too many subplots. And then I was deeply unsatisfied with the ending. The two people who were behind the murder get away with it basically by manipulating a gullible man. And none of it really made sense. I didn't understand why a young attractive woman would shack up with a much older man who lived in a pokey old dark cottage in the middle of nowhere running a not very profitable business. We had no closure. No insight as to why. I wanted to see the real Kayla but we never did. We got to see the murdered man's POV. And also what was with some of the names? Maiden? Bran? Goron? What?
If I'm being honest EG's writing started going downhill once Lynley's wife was murdered. I also don't get why we never hear of Simon and Deborah anymore. They were very much a part of the early books. And the relationship with Daidre just feels so out of whack. Again, none of it rings true.
So. yes, EG's Lynley books now feel very old fashioned and dated. I cringe every time the police receptionist/assistant Dee Dee has a scene. It all feels forced and fake. Stop.
Finally I hope the new tv series is better than the original because I never felt Lynley, Havers or Helen were cast correctly.
June 29, 2025
Michael Lobb runs a family tin and pewter company in Cornwall, England. His bloodied corpse is discovered in the opening pages of Elizabeth George's gripping new mystery A Slowly Dying Cause, and we wonder, what is it about tin men and heartlessness?
Lobb has a bitter ex, pissed-off kids, a much younger wife, skeezy brother, sketchy employees, and that just scratches the granite surface surrounding the crime scene. A massive cast of characters (and suspects) are introduced and we learn of Micheal’s relationship to the them largely through his own words. First person chapters from the murder victim/Mike are woven throughout the main narrative of A Slowly Dying Cause, and we are invited to judge the reliability of his POV ourselves. This is a story-telling technique Elizabeth George has perfected.
Lithium extraction, vintage clothing, thermal brine, surfing, baking, geocaching, tap-dancing; topics are here for readers of all interests. The headliners of this long-running series, DI Thomas Lynley and DS Barbara Havers, take a little time to appear, but they do in top form. Havers is dealt a tough hand early in the novel, but Lynley’s autopilot of virtuosity assists with magnificent grace and humor. Thank god for it because most of the men in the book are grimy.
Voices are authentic, be it a landed earl, a frumpy cop, a horny towny; George captures tone and atmosphere with precision as her characters speak and act believably. This is a mystery to savor, its length is well justified. While not always white-knuckled reading, innovative plot threads web outward and spool back on themselves.
An especially fun sequence results in Havers accompanying Lynley to the family estate (long time readers of the series will lap these scenes up). Thomas saying coyly to Barbara, “Feel free to explore, if you get lost somewhere in the house, ring me on my mobile.” A teaser for what's to come.
A Slowly Dying Cause is the most satisfying entry in the Lynley/Havers series in over a decade. Longtime fans will leave greatly rewarded and new readers can effortlessly dive into one of the best running mystery series in publication. I did not see the finale coming - it's sentimental, grim, and a gut punch the likes of the ending of A Great Deliverance.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Viking for a review copy.
Lobb has a bitter ex, pissed-off kids, a much younger wife, skeezy brother, sketchy employees, and that just scratches the granite surface surrounding the crime scene. A massive cast of characters (and suspects) are introduced and we learn of Micheal’s relationship to the them largely through his own words. First person chapters from the murder victim/Mike are woven throughout the main narrative of A Slowly Dying Cause, and we are invited to judge the reliability of his POV ourselves. This is a story-telling technique Elizabeth George has perfected.
Lithium extraction, vintage clothing, thermal brine, surfing, baking, geocaching, tap-dancing; topics are here for readers of all interests. The headliners of this long-running series, DI Thomas Lynley and DS Barbara Havers, take a little time to appear, but they do in top form. Havers is dealt a tough hand early in the novel, but Lynley’s autopilot of virtuosity assists with magnificent grace and humor. Thank god for it because most of the men in the book are grimy.
Voices are authentic, be it a landed earl, a frumpy cop, a horny towny; George captures tone and atmosphere with precision as her characters speak and act believably. This is a mystery to savor, its length is well justified. While not always white-knuckled reading, innovative plot threads web outward and spool back on themselves.
An especially fun sequence results in Havers accompanying Lynley to the family estate (long time readers of the series will lap these scenes up). Thomas saying coyly to Barbara, “Feel free to explore, if you get lost somewhere in the house, ring me on my mobile.” A teaser for what's to come.
A Slowly Dying Cause is the most satisfying entry in the Lynley/Havers series in over a decade. Longtime fans will leave greatly rewarded and new readers can effortlessly dive into one of the best running mystery series in publication. I did not see the finale coming - it's sentimental, grim, and a gut punch the likes of the ending of A Great Deliverance.
Thanks to Edelweiss and Viking for a review copy.
September 22, 2025
I've read this series on and off for many years, and Elizabeth George knows how to tell a story with a compelling mystery at its heart.
Beautifully set in Cornwall, this book features a complex and layered plot and a diverse cast of well-developed characters. I would describe this as a literary mystery, as there is quite a bit of psychological depth, and the book is equal parts character and plot-driven. Through multiple POVs, we deep dive into these flawed characters' inner workings and secrets, which drives the tension.
DI Thomas Lynley and DS Barbara Havers take some time to appear in the story, but the wait is worth it. I love their dynamic and how they pursue their investigation. Both are smart, strong characters. He is an intellectual aristocrat committed to justice, and she is working-class, sometimes abrasive, and brilliant with great instincts. Their backgrounds and styles may clash, but they have come to respect one another and make a fantastic team. Each of them has some ongoing family drama, but this book would work as a standalone for anyone wanting to jump in here.
The mystery is intriguing, with twists and turns that kept me on my toes and thinking. The conflicts between the characters are detailed in such a way that I changed my theory more than once, with the question of why someone might have committed the crime being as important as who. This is a lengthy story and several subplots run through it, but it is meticulously plotted, and seeing how they come together at the end is satisfying. And there is quite a bit of social commentary woven in as well.
Thank you to Viking Books for the gifted review copy.
*4.5 rounded up
Beautifully set in Cornwall, this book features a complex and layered plot and a diverse cast of well-developed characters. I would describe this as a literary mystery, as there is quite a bit of psychological depth, and the book is equal parts character and plot-driven. Through multiple POVs, we deep dive into these flawed characters' inner workings and secrets, which drives the tension.
DI Thomas Lynley and DS Barbara Havers take some time to appear in the story, but the wait is worth it. I love their dynamic and how they pursue their investigation. Both are smart, strong characters. He is an intellectual aristocrat committed to justice, and she is working-class, sometimes abrasive, and brilliant with great instincts. Their backgrounds and styles may clash, but they have come to respect one another and make a fantastic team. Each of them has some ongoing family drama, but this book would work as a standalone for anyone wanting to jump in here.
The mystery is intriguing, with twists and turns that kept me on my toes and thinking. The conflicts between the characters are detailed in such a way that I changed my theory more than once, with the question of why someone might have committed the crime being as important as who. This is a lengthy story and several subplots run through it, but it is meticulously plotted, and seeing how they come together at the end is satisfying. And there is quite a bit of social commentary woven in as well.
Thank you to Viking Books for the gifted review copy.
*4.5 rounded up
October 23, 2025
I will skip the pot summary (available online) and give a review as a lifelong fan of EG - I have read all of her books and am very vested in the series and characters. Becoming less of a fan as her books seem to get longer and longer and slower and slower. too protracted. I miss the pre-Helen death books which were a manageable length and deep on the personas and issues of the personalities and the complicated psychology behind families and relationships. Plus faster pace. I also miss the original characters and- as said in prior reviews- abhor the addition of loveless, dramatic and lifeless Daidre Thahair and her family. This was only Lynley and Barbara (same old, no personality progression). Was not pleased to see that E George is obsessed with Daidre and her family as characters - all of whom were the central characters to this book. Let Lynley move on already to someone worthy and less complicated in a negative way!!!! Just an overall negative and unsympathetic character and storyline for her books. this may be my last!
This book was very long-- 600+ pages-- could have been told in 300. Very slow and laborious start and finally picked up towards the end. Much less focus than usual on those closest to the victim and less of a 360 degree reflection of various viewpoints.
This book was very long-- 600+ pages-- could have been told in 300. Very slow and laborious start and finally picked up towards the end. Much less focus than usual on those closest to the victim and less of a 360 degree reflection of various viewpoints.
October 21, 2025
Standout quote that sums up the story quite nicely:
"There it was again, the family alibi. She was beginning to think the whole steaming lot of them were involved in the death of Michael Lobb, as if the Orient Express had come to Cornwall."
Overall, it felt overly long and I got bogged down in the details, and my emotional reactions to the emotional abuse, and sexual abuse between some of the family relationships. It was hard to like any of the characters, especially as most seem to lack any integrity.
However, I loved the tender conversation between Lynley and Dairdre at the very end. Here are some excerpts:
"Whatever it was that she wanted to say to him he needed to allow her to find a way to say it."
"Dairdre, you are so much more than you can possibly see."
"It's not in your power to decide who loves you. It's not how life works."
"You've decided even for these few moments only, there exists someone in your world worthy of your trust. I want you to see what that means. You can recover and you will."
"There it was again, the family alibi. She was beginning to think the whole steaming lot of them were involved in the death of Michael Lobb, as if the Orient Express had come to Cornwall."
Overall, it felt overly long and I got bogged down in the details, and my emotional reactions to the emotional abuse, and sexual abuse between some of the family relationships. It was hard to like any of the characters, especially as most seem to lack any integrity.
However, I loved the tender conversation between Lynley and Dairdre at the very end. Here are some excerpts:
"Whatever it was that she wanted to say to him he needed to allow her to find a way to say it."
"Dairdre, you are so much more than you can possibly see."
"It's not in your power to decide who loves you. It's not how life works."
"You've decided even for these few moments only, there exists someone in your world worthy of your trust. I want you to see what that means. You can recover and you will."
October 4, 2025
The best book in the series so far! Note also that it can perfectly well be read as a stand alone, it’s not strictly necessary to read the 20-odd books before.
I read my first Elizabeth George book, «for the sake of Elena» in 1994 and loved it. It was profoundly influential, even spurred my love for pet rats. In 2005 I read «with no one as witness» while on holiday on an isolated island off the coast of Bergen in Norway. I finished the book after my pregnant sister and her husband had left — they live in another country from me — and cried for at least half a day afterwards.
It’s now 2025 and I am still reading Elizabeth George. The funny thing is though, that only three years have passed in the lives of the characters from the events that passed in the book I read in 2005. This dissonance and the very simple motive behind the murder in this book, are the only downers. The character tapestry is rich and riveting, in the kind of way one rarely finds anymore.
Michael Lobb has been found dead in his workshop. The pool of blood and missing weapon immediately points to murder. He is found by a representative from EcoMining who desperately wants to buy the property. Michael’s much younger wife Kayla faints when she hears the news.
The inner life of nearly everyone we meet is described in detail. We also get the diary of Michael Lobb, where he describes how he met Kayla and divorced his wife and was estranged from his children. It takes a long time before detective Barbara Haver and inspector Thomas Lynley show up because it’s not their case. Eventually they become involved as a favor to the accused man’s sister who cannot possibly imagine that her brother, who worked for Michael, could have killed him.
I loved every sentence. I even wrote down a quote found on Barbara Haver’s t-shirt at one point (I intend to cross stitch it): «At my funeral, take the bouquet off the coffin and throw it into the crowd to see who is next».
I read my first Elizabeth George book, «for the sake of Elena» in 1994 and loved it. It was profoundly influential, even spurred my love for pet rats. In 2005 I read «with no one as witness» while on holiday on an isolated island off the coast of Bergen in Norway. I finished the book after my pregnant sister and her husband had left — they live in another country from me — and cried for at least half a day afterwards.
It’s now 2025 and I am still reading Elizabeth George. The funny thing is though, that only three years have passed in the lives of the characters from the events that passed in the book I read in 2005. This dissonance and the very simple motive behind the murder in this book, are the only downers. The character tapestry is rich and riveting, in the kind of way one rarely finds anymore.
Michael Lobb has been found dead in his workshop. The pool of blood and missing weapon immediately points to murder. He is found by a representative from EcoMining who desperately wants to buy the property. Michael’s much younger wife Kayla faints when she hears the news.
The inner life of nearly everyone we meet is described in detail. We also get the diary of Michael Lobb, where he describes how he met Kayla and divorced his wife and was estranged from his children. It takes a long time before detective Barbara Haver and inspector Thomas Lynley show up because it’s not their case. Eventually they become involved as a favor to the accused man’s sister who cannot possibly imagine that her brother, who worked for Michael, could have killed him.
I loved every sentence. I even wrote down a quote found on Barbara Haver’s t-shirt at one point (I intend to cross stitch it): «At my funeral, take the bouquet off the coffin and throw it into the crowd to see who is next».
September 16, 2025
Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley are back, in the twenty-second Lynley novel, A Slowly Dying Cause. The story is set in Cornwall, where the violent death of Michael Lobb shatters the lives of his first wife, his children, and his second wife. It’s suspicious enough that his body was found by a representative of Cornwall EcoMining, a company keen on acquiring his family’s land, and it’s made even worse when Michael is revealed to have been the majority owner of the business and the sole obstacle preventing a deal from being made.
Eventually, layers of estrangement and deception within Lobb's family life are revealed, shifting the focus of suspicion.
I'm not a multiple POV fan, so I had to really pay attention to keep on top of everything. Sadly, I failed miserably. This is a 656-page book with many POV throughout the book. The murder victim's POV was the one I found most interesting, and I just wanted to know who had killed him and how the crime would be solved. Alas, this is not your usual murder mystery.
In all honesty, I blame myself for not having read the previous books in the series. Undoubtedly, A Slowly Dying Cause would have made more sense to me had I done so. Still, I give thanks to the publisher for giving me the chance to jump in at book #22.
Thank you, #Viking, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. A Slowly Dying Cause has an expected publication date of September 23, 2025.
#Crime #culturalUK #Mystery #Series
Eventually, layers of estrangement and deception within Lobb's family life are revealed, shifting the focus of suspicion.
I'm not a multiple POV fan, so I had to really pay attention to keep on top of everything. Sadly, I failed miserably. This is a 656-page book with many POV throughout the book. The murder victim's POV was the one I found most interesting, and I just wanted to know who had killed him and how the crime would be solved. Alas, this is not your usual murder mystery.
In all honesty, I blame myself for not having read the previous books in the series. Undoubtedly, A Slowly Dying Cause would have made more sense to me had I done so. Still, I give thanks to the publisher for giving me the chance to jump in at book #22.
Thank you, #Viking, for providing this book for review and consideration via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own. A Slowly Dying Cause has an expected publication date of September 23, 2025.
#Crime #culturalUK #Mystery #Series
October 10, 2025
When a book is advertised as being part of the Detective Lynley series, one would expect him to make more than a cameo appearance. He doesn't appear until 25% of the book is read. Then in very brief moments until about 80%. I found the rest of the characters to be shallow. Not up to the standards I've come to expect from this author.
November 6, 2025
Ich freu mich immer wenn ein neuer Band dieser Reihe erscheint, denn sie begleitet mich gefühlt schon mein Leben lang :) Der erste Band kam damals 1988 raus - und dementsprechend gibt es in den alten Bänden noch einige gesellschaftliche Klischees, die man heute nur noch schwer nachvollziehen kann. Aber die Autorin ist mit ihren Charakteren gewachsen und so haben alle viele Veränderungen durchgemacht.
Meist haben ihre Bücher ein etwas längeres Vorspiel, bis ein Mord geschieht und die Aufklärung beginnt. Hier aber werden einige Figuren nur kurz in Szene gesetzt, so dass man sie schon gut greifbar hat, und das Mordopfer wird schnell entdeckt.
Interessant ist, dass der Ermordete sozusagen in einem Rückblick von seinem Leben erzählt. Aus seiner Sicht erfahren wir von den Wendungen und Entscheidungen, die sein Leben beeinflusst haben und wie er zu seiner Familie steht. Er wirkt dabei etwas "plump" und unbeholfen, was ihn mir etwas unglaubwürdig macht als Geschäftsmann, und ich war mir nicht so ganz sicher, wie weit ich seinen Erinnerungen trauen kann -bzw. ob er uns hier nicht Lügen auftischt.
Ansonsten ist er ein Mann, der mir sowas von unsympathisch ist, das ich gar nicht weiß, wo ich anfangen soll. Er hält sich für den Mittelpunkt der Welt, wenn es ihm gut geht, muss es allen anderen gut gehen, sein Wille geschehe und seine Frau "besitzt" er. Immer wieder betont er, dass sie ihm "gehört" und ist natürlich extrem eifersüchtig, misstrauisch, berechnend und besitzergreifend. Aber auch in anderen zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen sehe ich keine Empathie für ihn - als wäre teils im Teenager Alter hängen geblieben und teils gefühlsmäßig abgestumpft bzw. eben nur auf sich selbst bezogen.
Insgesamt dreht es sich viel um Beziehungen, um Frauen in Beziehungen - und nicht nur in der Ehe oder Liebe, sondern auch in der Familie. Dabei zeigt sich sehr schön, wie verschieden jeder Mensch ist und natürlich auch jede Frau. Manche wollen Kinder, manche nicht, manche eins, manche mehr, manche hängen am liebsten 24 Stunden an ihrem Partner, andere ziehen eine lockere Beziehung vor, manche sind gerne Hausfrauen, andere wollen sich gerne in ihrer Arbeit entfalten und ihrer Berufung nachgehen...
Mir ging während dem Lesen auch immer wieder der Titel durch den Kopf: Wer Zweifel sät. Ich dachte, dadurch müsse es jemanden geben, der heimlich etwas macht, der falsche Fährten auslegt oder Misstrauen stiftet ... dafür kam jeder und niemand in Frage und lange wusste ich nicht, was ich von den einzelnen Figuren halten sollte.
Es dauert allerdings schon etwas, bis Insp. Lynley auftaucht - und mit ihm Barbara Havers. Aber das ganze Vorgeplänkel war auch wichtig, um die Figuren alle besser kennenzulernen, denn da gibt es einige, die per se verdächtig sind. Die junge Ehefrau des Opfers, die Ex-Frau, die mittlerweile erwachsenen Kinder, Angestellte usw., die aber alle schon gut umrissen und mit einigen wichtigen Details vorgestellt wurden, die sie interessant machen.
Der Fall bringt Lynley mit einer Person aus seiner Vergangenheit in Berührung und auch Barbara hat wieder einige private Sorgen, die sie eher verdrängt als sich ihnen stellt.
Es wirkt eher wie ein Kriminalroman gemischt mit Familiendramen - denn es werden viele Personen und ihre privaten Umstände mit hineingezogen. Auch wenn das interessant war, fand ich es schon schade, dass die "richtigen" Ermittlungen erst im letzten Drittel so wirklich in den Fokus gerückt werden. Vorher ging das ein bisschen in den vielen Facetten der Figuren unter und ich hatte das Gefühl, dass die Rolle der Frau in verschiedenen Beziehungen zwischen Lügen und Wahrheit hier vor allem zum Thema gemacht werden.
Den Schreibstil fand ich dieses Mal etwas merkwürdig. Vom Aufbau her war es zwar ebenfalls anders als sonst, aber dennoch wie gewohnt: also anfangs etwas ruhiger, alle Charaktere werden eingeführt, wie sie Ticken, ihre Gewohn- und Eigenheiten, bis sich dann die Spannung aufbaut, wer dahinterstecken und wie alles zusammenhängen könnte.
Aber die Sprache hier allgemein war schon etwas platt und manche Phrasen wirkten antiquiert und nicht so ganz stimmig. Ob es an der Übersetzung oder am Original liegt weiß ich natürlich nicht; bei Krimis darf es für mich gerne ein einfacher Stil sein, aber ich fand alles im Gegensatz zu den früheren Büchern ungewohnt farblos und etwas überholt.
Die Spannung, die sonst einen fesselnden Sog entwickelt, hat etwas auf sich warten lassen. Ich hing zwar durchaus an der Geschichte und wollte das Buch nicht weglegen, aber auch hier kam es mir nicht so aufregend vor wie ich es gewohnt bin. Trotzdem war ich gerade von den Figuren fasziniert, die alle speziell und nicht immer sympathisch sind.
Eine sehr ungewöhnliche Fortsetzung die sich von den Vorgängern komplett abhebt - ich hab es gerne gelesen, wurde gut unterhalten, aber habe den üblichen hohen Spannungsfaktor vermisst und war auch ein bisschen enttäuscht, dass Lynley und Havers hier so wenig Zeit einberaumt wurde, die dadurch für mich nicht mehr richtig greifbar wurden.
Meist haben ihre Bücher ein etwas längeres Vorspiel, bis ein Mord geschieht und die Aufklärung beginnt. Hier aber werden einige Figuren nur kurz in Szene gesetzt, so dass man sie schon gut greifbar hat, und das Mordopfer wird schnell entdeckt.
Interessant ist, dass der Ermordete sozusagen in einem Rückblick von seinem Leben erzählt. Aus seiner Sicht erfahren wir von den Wendungen und Entscheidungen, die sein Leben beeinflusst haben und wie er zu seiner Familie steht. Er wirkt dabei etwas "plump" und unbeholfen, was ihn mir etwas unglaubwürdig macht als Geschäftsmann, und ich war mir nicht so ganz sicher, wie weit ich seinen Erinnerungen trauen kann -bzw. ob er uns hier nicht Lügen auftischt.
Ansonsten ist er ein Mann, der mir sowas von unsympathisch ist, das ich gar nicht weiß, wo ich anfangen soll. Er hält sich für den Mittelpunkt der Welt, wenn es ihm gut geht, muss es allen anderen gut gehen, sein Wille geschehe und seine Frau "besitzt" er. Immer wieder betont er, dass sie ihm "gehört" und ist natürlich extrem eifersüchtig, misstrauisch, berechnend und besitzergreifend. Aber auch in anderen zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen sehe ich keine Empathie für ihn - als wäre teils im Teenager Alter hängen geblieben und teils gefühlsmäßig abgestumpft bzw. eben nur auf sich selbst bezogen.
Insgesamt dreht es sich viel um Beziehungen, um Frauen in Beziehungen - und nicht nur in der Ehe oder Liebe, sondern auch in der Familie. Dabei zeigt sich sehr schön, wie verschieden jeder Mensch ist und natürlich auch jede Frau. Manche wollen Kinder, manche nicht, manche eins, manche mehr, manche hängen am liebsten 24 Stunden an ihrem Partner, andere ziehen eine lockere Beziehung vor, manche sind gerne Hausfrauen, andere wollen sich gerne in ihrer Arbeit entfalten und ihrer Berufung nachgehen...
Mir ging während dem Lesen auch immer wieder der Titel durch den Kopf: Wer Zweifel sät. Ich dachte, dadurch müsse es jemanden geben, der heimlich etwas macht, der falsche Fährten auslegt oder Misstrauen stiftet ... dafür kam jeder und niemand in Frage und lange wusste ich nicht, was ich von den einzelnen Figuren halten sollte.
Es dauert allerdings schon etwas, bis Insp. Lynley auftaucht - und mit ihm Barbara Havers. Aber das ganze Vorgeplänkel war auch wichtig, um die Figuren alle besser kennenzulernen, denn da gibt es einige, die per se verdächtig sind. Die junge Ehefrau des Opfers, die Ex-Frau, die mittlerweile erwachsenen Kinder, Angestellte usw., die aber alle schon gut umrissen und mit einigen wichtigen Details vorgestellt wurden, die sie interessant machen.
Der Fall bringt Lynley mit einer Person aus seiner Vergangenheit in Berührung und auch Barbara hat wieder einige private Sorgen, die sie eher verdrängt als sich ihnen stellt.
Es wirkt eher wie ein Kriminalroman gemischt mit Familiendramen - denn es werden viele Personen und ihre privaten Umstände mit hineingezogen. Auch wenn das interessant war, fand ich es schon schade, dass die "richtigen" Ermittlungen erst im letzten Drittel so wirklich in den Fokus gerückt werden. Vorher ging das ein bisschen in den vielen Facetten der Figuren unter und ich hatte das Gefühl, dass die Rolle der Frau in verschiedenen Beziehungen zwischen Lügen und Wahrheit hier vor allem zum Thema gemacht werden.
Den Schreibstil fand ich dieses Mal etwas merkwürdig. Vom Aufbau her war es zwar ebenfalls anders als sonst, aber dennoch wie gewohnt: also anfangs etwas ruhiger, alle Charaktere werden eingeführt, wie sie Ticken, ihre Gewohn- und Eigenheiten, bis sich dann die Spannung aufbaut, wer dahinterstecken und wie alles zusammenhängen könnte.
Aber die Sprache hier allgemein war schon etwas platt und manche Phrasen wirkten antiquiert und nicht so ganz stimmig. Ob es an der Übersetzung oder am Original liegt weiß ich natürlich nicht; bei Krimis darf es für mich gerne ein einfacher Stil sein, aber ich fand alles im Gegensatz zu den früheren Büchern ungewohnt farblos und etwas überholt.
Die Spannung, die sonst einen fesselnden Sog entwickelt, hat etwas auf sich warten lassen. Ich hing zwar durchaus an der Geschichte und wollte das Buch nicht weglegen, aber auch hier kam es mir nicht so aufregend vor wie ich es gewohnt bin. Trotzdem war ich gerade von den Figuren fasziniert, die alle speziell und nicht immer sympathisch sind.
Eine sehr ungewöhnliche Fortsetzung die sich von den Vorgängern komplett abhebt - ich hab es gerne gelesen, wurde gut unterhalten, aber habe den üblichen hohen Spannungsfaktor vermisst und war auch ein bisschen enttäuscht, dass Lynley und Havers hier so wenig Zeit einberaumt wurde, die dadurch für mich nicht mehr richtig greifbar wurden.
October 28, 2025
Elizabeth George can be long winded and take quite awhile to get all the players in her mysteries set down. This was no exception. The murder happened quickly in just the first few chapters but the players and their various soap operas took pages and pages. The story focuses around the man murdered, Michael Lobb and his young 2nd wife. When he is murdered there are plenty of persons to choose from and seems to be no question that he was likely being killed for his land. But who will profit by it is the question.
More a soap opera than a police procedural. George's books are a long running series that focus on the two British cops, Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers. Unfortunately it took over 1/2 of this long book before they became involved and then only as minor characters. Still an enjoyable if overly complicated mystery and I had a pretty clear picture of the culprits at page 450. And the audio by Simon Vance was exquisite as always. Vance is a master and I love hearing him read.
More a soap opera than a police procedural. George's books are a long running series that focus on the two British cops, Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers. Unfortunately it took over 1/2 of this long book before they became involved and then only as minor characters. Still an enjoyable if overly complicated mystery and I had a pretty clear picture of the culprits at page 450. And the audio by Simon Vance was exquisite as always. Vance is a master and I love hearing him read.
October 25, 2025
Not enough Linley and Havers. They don’t show up at all for 100+ pages and then not much till over half way through. I got so tired of the Michael parts and Kayla. Henshaw and Freddie and EcoMining storyline was unnecessary. The Bea part was tiresome. It was a real slog.
November 2, 2025
Ich bin ja eine treue Seele und fand auch andere Bücher zwischendrin nicht sonderlich überzeugend...
leider gehört dieser Titel auch dazu.
Zäh erzählt ist schon mal der erste Kritikpunkt, viel Personal mit ausgewalzten Hintergrundgeschichten, die letztlich keine Rolle spielen...
auch die Art und Weise, wie Havers und Lynley hier involviert werden in den Fall ist alles andere als überzeugend.
Generell ist die gesamte Ermittlung Recht fadenscheinig.
Werde ich auch einen Band 23 lesen? ziemlich sicher...
leider gehört dieser Titel auch dazu.
Zäh erzählt ist schon mal der erste Kritikpunkt, viel Personal mit ausgewalzten Hintergrundgeschichten, die letztlich keine Rolle spielen...
auch die Art und Weise, wie Havers und Lynley hier involviert werden in den Fall ist alles andere als überzeugend.
Generell ist die gesamte Ermittlung Recht fadenscheinig.
Werde ich auch einen Band 23 lesen? ziemlich sicher...
October 12, 2025
A slowly dying series. The splendid pacing and characters of the early novels has dissipated down to nought. So much foot dragging detail. What a slog fest. Can’t recommend.
December 25, 2025
Well, this was different. I had a mish-mash of feelings while reading this book -- I disliked it at the beginning and seriously considered a DNF, but persevered. When were Lynley and Havers going to show up? Are they going to show up? Ahh, finally they showed up; maybe it will improve now. It did, sort of. Okay, it got even better. By the end of it, I loved it.
4 stars only because it took so long to love it.
4 stars only because it took so long to love it.
October 8, 2025
Barbara Havers & Lynley elevate the book from 1 star to 3, even though they virtually breeze through a plot, cluttered with too many peripheral characters and narrative dead ends (though I admit I enjoyed the Mary Quant lady, in her Twiggy makeup, trying to catch the wind, or whatever).
I'll likely read the next one, too, but I really wish she'd kill a lot more of her darlings.
I'll likely read the next one, too, but I really wish she'd kill a lot more of her darlings.
November 18, 2025
What in the world… why were there 900 different plots in this story? The whole story of Michael’s daughter and her friend? The land buyer and his underage girlfriend? I don’t even know. I almost didn’t finish it and then DI Lynley and Havers showed up-way too late. I finished it on principle but did not like it. ☹️ And it took me almost 3 weeks to finish bc I just kept falling asleep.
September 20, 2025
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
It was so good to get back to the Inspector Lynley series which I started nearly 30 years ago. I've mostly read them but I've listened to the last few. I also watched the PBS show which took some different plots. I believe there's a new version of the tv series coming also.
The storytelling alternates between several points of view. We have Michael Lobb ( the murder victim), Det. Hannaford who investigates the murder, the daughter of the victim, a mining salesman, and then our long term characters with DI Thomas Lynley, DS Barbara Havers and Daidre Trahair. The story is quite long and with layers of personal and professional aspects, many details around the murder mystery.
Michael's story goes back many years to when he and his first wife went on vacation cruise and he fell in love with an Australian server. Michael started an affair with Kayla and eventually divorced his wife. His daughter never reconciled with him, but the son eventually did. It continues to almost up to his murder as he continues to be obsessed with Kayla but learns some distressing things.
Det Hannaford does a reasonable job of investigating until there is a confession. She has issues in her personal life. Her ex-boyfriend wants her to marry but she likes her independence. There were reasons she had her son and has raised him on her own.
The mining salesman has a pushy young girlfriend who wants to marry and live with him right away. He needs to save some money and ensure his work but wants to do that. He has not taken advantage of her. He is busy trying to buy Michael Lobb's property but Michael is against it. Michael's brother, his wife Kayla, and everyone else would be in favor. So Michael's death paves the way for them.
DI Lynley is back to his family home in Cornwall because the roof has to be replaced and he needs to figure out how to pay for it. Options are slim. They do look at whether they might sell some land or lease some to the mining company or whether to open the home to tourists which would require more costly renovations. He brings Barbara with him because she has been ordered to take leave as her mother has just died. Barbara comes along and goes to work for the defense attorney as Daidre's brother has been charged with Michael Lobb's death. Oh the complex web that is woven.
I do think this was overly long with some plot lines which were rather depressing as they didn't end well for anyone. At least, the story would have been fine with less of them. The daughter's story where she was worried about her best friend ended badly. I suppose it gave us insight into the daughter and her character, that she wasn't involved in killing her father. Also the personal side of the mining salesman could be viewed the same.
Michael's story was also a bit longer than needed and a bit disgusting how obsessed he was with Kayla. The married man with children in his 40s taking up with an 18 year old girl. Michael and Kayla were married 14 years when he was killed. We don't get Kayla's viewpoint only seeing her through the others.
Tommy and Barbara don't get into the investigation until something like halfway through. The truths are found and decisions are made about the family home. I did enjoy all the personal and career parts with Tommy, his family, Barbara and even Daidre. In fact, we learn much more about Daidre and her family, the things she faced as a child. It is more clear why she broke up with Tommy and doesn't feel she can have a relationship. I'll always enjoy having more of this series and these well known to me and much loved characters.
Narration:
Simon Vance is a favorite narrator of mine. He did so well with all the voices and it was such a pleasure to listen. Each character sounds just as I have come to recognize and enjoy. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
It was so good to get back to the Inspector Lynley series which I started nearly 30 years ago. I've mostly read them but I've listened to the last few. I also watched the PBS show which took some different plots. I believe there's a new version of the tv series coming also.
The storytelling alternates between several points of view. We have Michael Lobb ( the murder victim), Det. Hannaford who investigates the murder, the daughter of the victim, a mining salesman, and then our long term characters with DI Thomas Lynley, DS Barbara Havers and Daidre Trahair. The story is quite long and with layers of personal and professional aspects, many details around the murder mystery.
Michael's story goes back many years to when he and his first wife went on vacation cruise and he fell in love with an Australian server. Michael started an affair with Kayla and eventually divorced his wife. His daughter never reconciled with him, but the son eventually did. It continues to almost up to his murder as he continues to be obsessed with Kayla but learns some distressing things.
Det Hannaford does a reasonable job of investigating until there is a confession. She has issues in her personal life. Her ex-boyfriend wants her to marry but she likes her independence. There were reasons she had her son and has raised him on her own.
The mining salesman has a pushy young girlfriend who wants to marry and live with him right away. He needs to save some money and ensure his work but wants to do that. He has not taken advantage of her. He is busy trying to buy Michael Lobb's property but Michael is against it. Michael's brother, his wife Kayla, and everyone else would be in favor. So Michael's death paves the way for them.
DI Lynley is back to his family home in Cornwall because the roof has to be replaced and he needs to figure out how to pay for it. Options are slim. They do look at whether they might sell some land or lease some to the mining company or whether to open the home to tourists which would require more costly renovations. He brings Barbara with him because she has been ordered to take leave as her mother has just died. Barbara comes along and goes to work for the defense attorney as Daidre's brother has been charged with Michael Lobb's death. Oh the complex web that is woven.
I do think this was overly long with some plot lines which were rather depressing as they didn't end well for anyone. At least, the story would have been fine with less of them. The daughter's story where she was worried about her best friend ended badly. I suppose it gave us insight into the daughter and her character, that she wasn't involved in killing her father. Also the personal side of the mining salesman could be viewed the same.
Michael's story was also a bit longer than needed and a bit disgusting how obsessed he was with Kayla. The married man with children in his 40s taking up with an 18 year old girl. Michael and Kayla were married 14 years when he was killed. We don't get Kayla's viewpoint only seeing her through the others.
Tommy and Barbara don't get into the investigation until something like halfway through. The truths are found and decisions are made about the family home. I did enjoy all the personal and career parts with Tommy, his family, Barbara and even Daidre. In fact, we learn much more about Daidre and her family, the things she faced as a child. It is more clear why she broke up with Tommy and doesn't feel she can have a relationship. I'll always enjoy having more of this series and these well known to me and much loved characters.
Narration:
Simon Vance is a favorite narrator of mine. He did so well with all the voices and it was such a pleasure to listen. Each character sounds just as I have come to recognize and enjoy. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
November 26, 2025
Elizabeth George is good at creating complex situations and not telling you what to think about them. The heart of this mystery is the relationship between the murdered man, Michael Lobb, and his wife Kayla. Michael left his first wife and children when he was in his 40s to marry Kayla, who was only 19 at the time. While most people would likely consider that to be a not great situation, over the course of the narrative, we begin to question who is actually manipulating whom.
The ambiguities are amplified by the fact that part of the novel takes the form of Michael's diary, where we see his conflicting behaviors play out: lust and selfishness coupled with a rather pitiful self-delusion. And while the narrator jumps around to multiple characters' perspectives, we never get a scene from Kayla's point of view, leaving us to wonder about her original intentions and how much of her behavior was an evolving reaction to the situation versus a calculated scheme. I've found myself thinking about the story quite a bit.
It's hard to believe that I've been through 22 of these very long novels. George might feel the same, since regulars Lynley and Havers take a bit of a backseat in this one. I found the new characters refreshing, and there were enough unresolved storylines that I wouldn't be surprised if we see some of them again.
The ambiguities are amplified by the fact that part of the novel takes the form of Michael's diary, where we see his conflicting behaviors play out: lust and selfishness coupled with a rather pitiful self-delusion. And while the narrator jumps around to multiple characters' perspectives, we never get a scene from Kayla's point of view, leaving us to wonder about her original intentions and how much of her behavior was an evolving reaction to the situation versus a calculated scheme. I've found myself thinking about the story quite a bit.
It's hard to believe that I've been through 22 of these very long novels. George might feel the same, since regulars Lynley and Havers take a bit of a backseat in this one. I found the new characters refreshing, and there were enough unresolved storylines that I wouldn't be surprised if we see some of them again.
November 19, 2025
As sumptuous as the softest duvet, this is a novel to sink into, slowly, letting the six or so POV narrators take you on a journey — a winding journey, each of which will lead to something, — be it an interesting character interlude, or a major development to the novel’s central murder mystery.
What follows is more than six-hundred pages of almost pure character development. This is a read for those who enjoy detailed, intricate, beautiful prose, and an incredibly astute eye for what makes us humans tick, deep inside — warts, weaknesses and all. Although, as always, there is a mystery to be solved, readers of this series are well aware that more, much more, is at play here than a single murder plot-line. In this case, the murder mystery is set in atmospheric Cornwall, revolving around the ancient art of tin-smithing, played against the fortunes available through the current-day eco-mining of lithium. Underlying at all, a number of darker themes are lurking, including the hideously omnipresent exploitation of minors, women, and the vulnerable.
Between these pages, the reader will be presented with an opportunity to read more of DI Thomas Lynley and his background, with a peek, this time, inside the family manor, where Tommy, along with mother Daze, and sister Judith are facing some serious domestic challenges. Along with developments to the world of his trusty side-kick DS Barbara Havers, who is facing a personal crisis of her own.
One of my favorite authors, it has been far too long since the last DI Lynley mystery was released. This reader, for one, hopes the wait for the next is not nearly as long.
A library read, and once well worth sitting out the wait-list, this latest installment, number 22 in the series, is a welcome addition to the set.
What follows is more than six-hundred pages of almost pure character development. This is a read for those who enjoy detailed, intricate, beautiful prose, and an incredibly astute eye for what makes us humans tick, deep inside — warts, weaknesses and all. Although, as always, there is a mystery to be solved, readers of this series are well aware that more, much more, is at play here than a single murder plot-line. In this case, the murder mystery is set in atmospheric Cornwall, revolving around the ancient art of tin-smithing, played against the fortunes available through the current-day eco-mining of lithium. Underlying at all, a number of darker themes are lurking, including the hideously omnipresent exploitation of minors, women, and the vulnerable.
Between these pages, the reader will be presented with an opportunity to read more of DI Thomas Lynley and his background, with a peek, this time, inside the family manor, where Tommy, along with mother Daze, and sister Judith are facing some serious domestic challenges. Along with developments to the world of his trusty side-kick DS Barbara Havers, who is facing a personal crisis of her own.
One of my favorite authors, it has been far too long since the last DI Lynley mystery was released. This reader, for one, hopes the wait for the next is not nearly as long.
A library read, and once well worth sitting out the wait-list, this latest installment, number 22 in the series, is a welcome addition to the set.
December 28, 2025
Basically, a soap opera, a lot of stuff about a leaky roof, "reformed" "cute" aristocrats, Ardery has a cameo, oh, and, yes, there's a murder on the side lines.
The Lynley series itself is "A Slowly Dying Cause" - and rightly so.
The Lynley series itself is "A Slowly Dying Cause" - and rightly so.
December 10, 2025
I have followed the PBS series of Inspector Lynley for decades, and recently, a few new ones came out as well. Enjoyed them all! So when I saw that she had written a new one, I raced to put in on hold, not having a clue as to its length…it is a hefty 640 pages. It took me forever, but I liked it very much. It was just too long for my patience level, I think. In Cornwall, which was interesting for sure, and the characters are so varied, and fascinating.
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