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philantrop's review against another edition
1.0
Sodium azide? Just take it and be done with it, George.
This book was so extraordinarily bad, I don't even know where to start criticizing it.
I've read all the Lynley novels and enjoyed them greatly until one of the protagonists was killed off. From then on, not only a life derailed but the entire series and its author.
It looks like George would much prefer to become known for "serious" books instead of mysteries but doesn't understand she simply doesn't have it in herself to ever really succeed at that.
Instead, she keeps writing horribly bad books that deserve no praise at all because they fail at being mysteries and serious social criticism both.
Just calling it a Lynley novel doesn't really make it one and this certainly was the last sham I've fallen victim of.
This book was so extraordinarily bad, I don't even know where to start criticizing it.
I've read all the Lynley novels and enjoyed them greatly until one of the protagonists was killed off. From then on, not only a life derailed but the entire series and its author.
It looks like George would much prefer to become known for "serious" books instead of mysteries but doesn't understand she simply doesn't have it in herself to ever really succeed at that.
Instead, she keeps writing horribly bad books that deserve no praise at all because they fail at being mysteries and serious social criticism both.
Just calling it a Lynley novel doesn't really make it one and this certainly was the last sham I've fallen victim of.
kimmerp's review against another edition
5.0
Love the wordy detail, the plot, etc. Ending was a bit different, but satisfying.
jamread2021's review against another edition
5.0
Elizabeth George and the Lynley series continue to be a favorite. This latest book in the series did not disappoint.
capuletsbirdie's review against another edition
4.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this as my first Elizabeth George book and getting to know Thomas Linley and Barbara Havers through it; even though I didn't know about these characters from former books of the series, I could still follow their stories and could sympathise with their past.
And oh, how sick to the stomach I feel about you'll know who.
And oh, how sick to the stomach I feel about you'll know who.
harrietnbrown's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars for this (as usual) wonderfully written, deeply character driven story, because the first half takes way too long to get going and the whole thing could have used tightening and editing. Still, a lot to like here.
kaiteeyaeko's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book. I can't say I was surprised by the mystery/crime -- but I think that comes down to the fact that I watch too many procedural crime dramas.
I found that George crafts her characters with great care, and that was what drew me through. She also knows what she's doing when it come to dropping just enough breadcrumbs -- I felt the suspense quite thoroughly. I've been having trouble sleeping lately, and this book kept pulling me forward. I kept having the "just a little further, I have to know!" Moments.
This is the first Inspector Lynley book I've read. I didn't need the history of the characters to enjoy the book, but I am looking forward to going back to the beginning and meeting these characters at an earlier point in their arcs.
I found that George crafts her characters with great care, and that was what drew me through. She also knows what she's doing when it come to dropping just enough breadcrumbs -- I felt the suspense quite thoroughly. I've been having trouble sleeping lately, and this book kept pulling me forward. I kept having the "just a little further, I have to know!" Moments.
This is the first Inspector Lynley book I've read. I didn't need the history of the characters to enjoy the book, but I am looking forward to going back to the beginning and meeting these characters at an earlier point in their arcs.
booksuperpower's review against another edition
4.0
A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George is a 2015 Viking publication.
This is yet another long running series, this being the nineteenth Inspector Lynley mystery, that I have been neglecting for a good long while. Although I have a few older titles in the series sitting on my shelf that have yet to be read, I couldn’t help but picking up this latest installment from my Overdrive library account.
I have kept up with the series well enough to know that a huge change took place a little while back and since then the series seems to have lagged a bit. However, I thought this one was really good, despite the fact Lynley is on the outskirts of the story with his sole contribution being to try and get Barbara back in the good graces of their boss.
When a popular feminist author dies unexpectedly, a heart attack is blamed, but a good friend of the author insisted upon further test, which resulted in the realization that the woman had been poisoned. Right on the heels of this discovery, the author's friend nearly dies the same way. Coincidence? I think not.
Barbara is still living with the threat of a transfer hanging over her head, so she’s really trying to tone down her usual antics, which has put a damper on her crime solving abilities. Still, she manages to stumble across this particularly puzzling situation, quite by accident, and finds herself working the case,although it’s not really in her jurisdiction, and the evidence is very thin and circumstantial.
Lynley plays a fatherly role with Barbara, keeps the brass off her back, and stands guard. However, that’s about the extent of his role in this one. The only other time we hear from him is when he is dealing with his complicated love life.
While, I have not always enjoyed the author’s choices when it comes to the main characters, it does keep the series from falling into a formulaic, unimaginative pattern.
With this story, the emphasis is on creating an interesting character study for all the people involved, and author as no qualms about addressing and creating true, diabolically evil characters or addressing topics that make even the most jaded crime reader feel a little squeamish. The atmosphere is heavy and dark as taboo topics and actions threaten to see the light of day.
But. After all is said and done, it looks like Barbara is starting to get her groove back, but Lynley is still dealing with a huge life change that has him off his game I think. Only time will tell how he sorts things out. Hopefully, the wait between books won’t be so long, but, even if there is a wait, I have all those older titles to tide me over.
I’m glad I picked this one up, as it’s whetted my appetite for more British mysteries and has re-enforced my faith in this series.
4 stars
This is yet another long running series, this being the nineteenth Inspector Lynley mystery, that I have been neglecting for a good long while. Although I have a few older titles in the series sitting on my shelf that have yet to be read, I couldn’t help but picking up this latest installment from my Overdrive library account.
I have kept up with the series well enough to know that a huge change took place a little while back and since then the series seems to have lagged a bit. However, I thought this one was really good, despite the fact Lynley is on the outskirts of the story with his sole contribution being to try and get Barbara back in the good graces of their boss.
When a popular feminist author dies unexpectedly, a heart attack is blamed, but a good friend of the author insisted upon further test, which resulted in the realization that the woman had been poisoned. Right on the heels of this discovery, the author's friend nearly dies the same way. Coincidence? I think not.
Barbara is still living with the threat of a transfer hanging over her head, so she’s really trying to tone down her usual antics, which has put a damper on her crime solving abilities. Still, she manages to stumble across this particularly puzzling situation, quite by accident, and finds herself working the case,although it’s not really in her jurisdiction, and the evidence is very thin and circumstantial.
Lynley plays a fatherly role with Barbara, keeps the brass off her back, and stands guard. However, that’s about the extent of his role in this one. The only other time we hear from him is when he is dealing with his complicated love life.
While, I have not always enjoyed the author’s choices when it comes to the main characters, it does keep the series from falling into a formulaic, unimaginative pattern.
With this story, the emphasis is on creating an interesting character study for all the people involved, and author as no qualms about addressing and creating true, diabolically evil characters or addressing topics that make even the most jaded crime reader feel a little squeamish. The atmosphere is heavy and dark as taboo topics and actions threaten to see the light of day.
But. After all is said and done, it looks like Barbara is starting to get her groove back, but Lynley is still dealing with a huge life change that has him off his game I think. Only time will tell how he sorts things out. Hopefully, the wait between books won’t be so long, but, even if there is a wait, I have all those older titles to tide me over.
I’m glad I picked this one up, as it’s whetted my appetite for more British mysteries and has re-enforced my faith in this series.
4 stars
mindygough's review against another edition
3.0
As I've mentioned before, I like a weighty tome, so the nearly 600 pages of this book pleased me, and though it took me a long time to feel engaged, eventually I found the story had hooked me and I stayed up way too late reading . . .
Some quibbles:
- Why did Havers move in to the victim's home and drive her car? Weird, unprofessional - maybe a British thing?
- I felt Lily should have been involved more in the latter chapters than she was.
- The timelines were annoying, and as others have mentioned, don't seem to line up.
I didn't realize this was part of a series until l was midway - that explained some of the little details that were dropped in without any preamble or follow up.
And one serious problem that means I won't read this author again - she refers to Nkata as "the black" several times. Nope. Not ok.
Some quibbles:
- Why did Havers move in to the victim's home and drive her car? Weird, unprofessional - maybe a British thing?
- I felt Lily should have been involved more in the latter chapters than she was.
- The timelines were annoying, and as others have mentioned, don't seem to line up.
I didn't realize this was part of a series until l was midway - that explained some of the little details that were dropped in without any preamble or follow up.
And one serious problem that means I won't read this author again - she refers to Nkata as "the black" several times. Nope. Not ok.