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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this book but it is very long - longer than it probably needed to be. It could have benefitted from some editing. The introduction of the wonderful character Inspector Salvatore Lo Bianco felt like a TV series setting up a spin off. Although I wouldn't object to a series of Lo Bianco mysteries! And his interactions with Barbara Havers are a highlight of the book. As other reviewers have noted, a lot of Italian is included without translation. In some cases, context clues provided an explanation, but far too often I had to use a translator, which disrupted the flow of reading the book.
Painfully boring and disappointing read. This might very well be the death knell of the Lynley series, which I have loved for years. The story could have been told at half the length. There was no suspense in the story, as the killer was glaringly obvious. The plot was thin and plodding. Lots of untranslated Italian phrases, which come across as showing off on the part of George. I read Italian, but can imagine how frustrating the lack of translation would be to readers who do not. Havers was beyond irritating, moving from one irrational, hysterical outburst to another. Lynley might as well not have been included in the story, so little did he contribute to it. You owe your fans more than this, Ms. George.
1. Lynley is uncharacteristically useless.
2. Havers is uncharacteristically stupid.
3. Way too much Italian.
4. The plot is kind of lame and boring and also contrived and not believable?
This is the third Lynley book in a row that I didn’t like and that I suspect is being written by someone else because it reads like fan fiction by someone who didn’t totally get what made the characters compelling in the first place. It’s the first one that I had to literally force myself to finish, and I only did it because the next two are supposed to be better.
2. Havers is uncharacteristically stupid.
3. Way too much Italian.
4. The plot is kind of lame and boring and also contrived and not believable?
This is the third Lynley book in a row that I didn’t like and that I suspect is being written by someone else because it reads like fan fiction by someone who didn’t totally get what made the characters compelling in the first place. It’s the first one that I had to literally force myself to finish, and I only did it because the next two are supposed to be better.
Did not disappoint. Another great detective novel by Elizabeth George.
I was asked by Dutton books if I'd like to review Elizabeth George's newest book "Just One Evil Act". Although I'd never read a book by this incredibly popular author, I had heard great things from one of my very good friends, Sherry. Sherry and I share a love of the mystery genre. We pass books back and forth and sometimes even coordinate who's buying what new book in a series so there isn't an overlap with an author we're both crazy about. About a week or so before I got this Dutton offer Sherry had lent me three Elizabeth George books, explaining that she's an American author who writes novels set in Great Britain. She also has a British style of writing. Now I was excited, I had four NEW novels, I could really get to know the characters and story line!
I started the latest tome (I mean I had been asked to review it after all, lol) and got about ten pages in. I realized I really, really wished I knew more about the characters NOW. Luckily, it was that night that I noticed the BBC had started airing the television series "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries" on our local channel. What luck!! I put the series on permanent tape and watched my first Lynley mystery right then and there. Loving the Lynley character and mystery series was a shoe in, even though I usually don't go for the British-type authors and mystery series, I found Lynley especially likable and his sidekick Sargent Havers a spectacular foil for his character. YAY, I had a new series of which I knew there were at least eighteen mysteries to devour. Happy Camper Here!
Ok, so I picked up this 700+ page book again. Now that I knew the general outline of the characters, I was ready to really enjoy a good mystery. Unfortunately, knowing who Lynley/Havers were didn't improve my reading enjoyment. It isn't the characters who make this book unenjoyable or even that it's mystery is convoluted with many twists and turns and extra characters, it's that this book could use a really good editor. Seriously, two hundred pages could easily be cut from this book and no story or plot line would be affected. It's a shame. After reading "Just One Evil Act" I went and read reviews on her other previous books, and then, much unlike me, I read reviews on THIS book. I have to admit I was relieved to find both that her other books have great reviews generally and this one seems to almost universally be thought of as long winded.
I hate writing bad reviews. I want to support authors. I can't imagine how much effort it must take to write even one book, but to keep a series interesting, on track and lively must be doubly difficult. I therefore find it hard to admit just how annoying I found reading this book to be. I was actually yelling at the book many times, telling the author to GET ON WITH THE STORY ALREADY!!
The story mainly takes place in Italy with Havers as the main character trying to solve the kidnapping of young Hadiyyah, her friend Azhar's daughter. The story idea and the look into Havers' character was the thing that initially appealed to me about this, the eighteenth book in George's Inspector Lynley series. I was excited to learn more about Barbara Havers, and I did throughout this book, but it was a painful trip. I slogged through way to many descriptions of the surroundings to get the wanted nuggets of information. One of the other huge mistakes, in my humble opinion, was the use of so many Italian sayings without an english translation. I found myself thinking I should be reading this book with a Italian to English dictionary on side.
I guess what I'm saying is if you're thinking of trying an Elizabeth George book, don't try this one first, start at the beginning of the series. She's well worth reading, this book just isn't the one to start with. On the other hand, if you're a die-hard fan like my friend Sherry you're probably gonna have to slog through seven hundred pages, if just to get the information out of it so you can get to the next book that I'm sure George will be writing in 2014. This may be a two out of five star book for me but I'm gonna continue watching the Lynley mysteries on TV (it's on tonight, YAY!) and I'm also going to read those other three borrowed George books. I really believe the author is worth a second (and even third) look. Everyone deserves a second chance, right? Right!
I started the latest tome (I mean I had been asked to review it after all, lol) and got about ten pages in. I realized I really, really wished I knew more about the characters NOW. Luckily, it was that night that I noticed the BBC had started airing the television series "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries" on our local channel. What luck!! I put the series on permanent tape and watched my first Lynley mystery right then and there. Loving the Lynley character and mystery series was a shoe in, even though I usually don't go for the British-type authors and mystery series, I found Lynley especially likable and his sidekick Sargent Havers a spectacular foil for his character. YAY, I had a new series of which I knew there were at least eighteen mysteries to devour. Happy Camper Here!
Ok, so I picked up this 700+ page book again. Now that I knew the general outline of the characters, I was ready to really enjoy a good mystery. Unfortunately, knowing who Lynley/Havers were didn't improve my reading enjoyment. It isn't the characters who make this book unenjoyable or even that it's mystery is convoluted with many twists and turns and extra characters, it's that this book could use a really good editor. Seriously, two hundred pages could easily be cut from this book and no story or plot line would be affected. It's a shame. After reading "Just One Evil Act" I went and read reviews on her other previous books, and then, much unlike me, I read reviews on THIS book. I have to admit I was relieved to find both that her other books have great reviews generally and this one seems to almost universally be thought of as long winded.
I hate writing bad reviews. I want to support authors. I can't imagine how much effort it must take to write even one book, but to keep a series interesting, on track and lively must be doubly difficult. I therefore find it hard to admit just how annoying I found reading this book to be. I was actually yelling at the book many times, telling the author to GET ON WITH THE STORY ALREADY!!
The story mainly takes place in Italy with Havers as the main character trying to solve the kidnapping of young Hadiyyah, her friend Azhar's daughter. The story idea and the look into Havers' character was the thing that initially appealed to me about this, the eighteenth book in George's Inspector Lynley series. I was excited to learn more about Barbara Havers, and I did throughout this book, but it was a painful trip. I slogged through way to many descriptions of the surroundings to get the wanted nuggets of information. One of the other huge mistakes, in my humble opinion, was the use of so many Italian sayings without an english translation. I found myself thinking I should be reading this book with a Italian to English dictionary on side.
I guess what I'm saying is if you're thinking of trying an Elizabeth George book, don't try this one first, start at the beginning of the series. She's well worth reading, this book just isn't the one to start with. On the other hand, if you're a die-hard fan like my friend Sherry you're probably gonna have to slog through seven hundred pages, if just to get the information out of it so you can get to the next book that I'm sure George will be writing in 2014. This may be a two out of five star book for me but I'm gonna continue watching the Lynley mysteries on TV (it's on tonight, YAY!) and I'm also going to read those other three borrowed George books. I really believe the author is worth a second (and even third) look. Everyone deserves a second chance, right? Right!
I loved this book. Loved it. As in missed sleep for three nights, ignored my child, and my dog went hungry. I've been reading Lynley mysteries for years, and unlike a lot of other readers, think they're getting better and better.
The plotting, is edge of your seat plotting. There wasn't a moment when I didn't want to know what in the heck Barbara Havers was going to do. She had the police, the press, her friends, and circumstances pulling her in every direction. I find her character compelling and her solutions to her problems fascinating.
There are many who feel George has hit series fatigue, I'm just the opposite. I think she's in her stride and I can't wait to read the next book. I think the turn for me was Deception on His Mind. That book (in addition to making me fall in love with Hadiyya), really connected me to Havers. This was also one of the first books to get away from Lynley and the St. James' who on their own can be quite boring.
Then George really hit her stride with What Came Before He Shot Her. To date, I still feel that's her best book until this one. I read her paranormal YA, the Edge of Nowhere and didn't think it served her writing talents. Nor did Believing the Lie which started great, but the book ended after the story was over.
This book brings it back. Can't wait for the next installment.
The plotting, is edge of your seat plotting. There wasn't a moment when I didn't want to know what in the heck Barbara Havers was going to do. She had the police, the press, her friends, and circumstances pulling her in every direction. I find her character compelling and her solutions to her problems fascinating.
There are many who feel George has hit series fatigue, I'm just the opposite. I think she's in her stride and I can't wait to read the next book. I think the turn for me was Deception on His Mind. That book (in addition to making me fall in love with Hadiyya), really connected me to Havers. This was also one of the first books to get away from Lynley and the St. James' who on their own can be quite boring.
Then George really hit her stride with What Came Before He Shot Her. To date, I still feel that's her best book until this one. I read her paranormal YA, the Edge of Nowhere and didn't think it served her writing talents. Nor did Believing the Lie which started great, but the book ended after the story was over.
This book brings it back. Can't wait for the next installment.
this. was. exhausting.
barbara havers' neighbours, and friends, taymullah and his daughter haddiya, have been two characters i've come to enjoy in george's stories. there's a bit of mystery with taymullah, and with the tension between him and barbara. and young haddiya is just a bucket of joy. this instalment in the series really focuses on these three and their relationships, and how much of her own life barbara is willing to sacrifice for her friends. george also takes things international with a large chunk of the book set in italy. this should have been a much better reading experience for me... but it wasn't.
barbara's character is in a state of frenzy throughout most of the book, and george's muddled plots style seemed extra disordered. together, these two aspects of the story were frustrating, very tiring, and seemed to bloat the novel unnecessarily.
on the upside, salvatore - lynley's italian counterpart in lucca - is lovely.
(FYI about the use of italian in the novel: i've read many reviews that complained about the inclusion of untranslated italian throughout. this was actually something i enjoyed quite a lot. i don't speak italian, but i've found that my french skills are often enough to help with spanish and italian, to the point i am able to understand and follow along. i thought it worth mentioning as this one aspect did seem to come up a lot with reviewers.)
barbara havers' neighbours, and friends, taymullah and his daughter haddiya, have been two characters i've come to enjoy in george's stories. there's a bit of mystery with taymullah, and with the tension between him and barbara. and young haddiya is just a bucket of joy. this instalment in the series really focuses on these three and their relationships, and how much of her own life barbara is willing to sacrifice for her friends. george also takes things international with a large chunk of the book set in italy. this should have been a much better reading experience for me... but it wasn't.
barbara's character is in a state of frenzy throughout most of the book, and george's muddled plots style seemed extra disordered. together, these two aspects of the story were frustrating, very tiring, and seemed to bloat the novel unnecessarily.
on the upside, salvatore - lynley's italian counterpart in lucca - is lovely.
(FYI about the use of italian in the novel: i've read many reviews that complained about the inclusion of untranslated italian throughout. this was actually something i enjoyed quite a lot. i don't speak italian, but i've found that my french skills are often enough to help with spanish and italian, to the point i am able to understand and follow along. i thought it worth mentioning as this one aspect did seem to come up a lot with reviewers.)
Elizabeth George had me nervous and on edge for the majority of this book… another fantastic entry in the Lynley series, with Barbara Havers doing her level best to destroy her career while helping her friend and his daughter… outstanding novel!
This is the 1st I've read in the DI Lynley series & I enjoyed it. It was a long read for a police procedural, but it was a page turner for most of its 700 pages. Loved the setting in Tuscany & most of the characters, although I did find DS Havers a bit too stereotypical for a dishevelled, calorie munching, chain smoking law officer. Lots of twists & turns but the outcome was a bit too neatly tied up, & not very realistic. Definitely worth looking for others in the series.
I love this series, but this is a bit too long and not as good as some of its predecessors. There was too much untranslated unnecessary Italian thrown around here - after establishing the setting, some of that should and could have been dropped. I was also irritated by some descriptions of Barbara Havers near the end - essentially laying out the idea that, yeah she's a mess, but she could be really pretty if she tried.... Ugh, I don't want that.