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ronji's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
schmee_again's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
I am continuing to enjoy Elizabeth George's murder mysteries
billymac1962's review against another edition
1.0
I raced to the bookstore (Shirley Leishman's in Ottawa) where I bought A Great Deliverence to thank the girl there who had recommended it to me, and to pick up this one.
Sadly, this one didn't do much for me. I found the story boring, and Barbara Havers was really getting on my nerves. Now I have no desire to read more in the series.
Too bad, after enjoying the first one so much.
Sadly, this one didn't do much for me. I found the story boring, and Barbara Havers was really getting on my nerves. Now I have no desire to read more in the series.
Too bad, after enjoying the first one so much.
hectaizani's review against another edition
2.0
Book 2 in the Inspector Lynley/Detective Havers series.
Sent to Scotland to investigate a murder that involves a Lord, Lynley soon learns that he's not above class predjudice. With Havers' help he discovers that everything is not what it seems, and that he may be blinded by love. Good character development, and the story was more inviting to me than the first book in the series.
Sent to Scotland to investigate a murder that involves a Lord, Lynley soon learns that he's not above class predjudice. With Havers' help he discovers that everything is not what it seems, and that he may be blinded by love. Good character development, and the story was more inviting to me than the first book in the series.
kathlgpa's review against another edition
3.0
Although I was recommended this as a locked-room mystery it didn't feel like much of one to me.
I guess I should have looked at when the book was published because I was having trouble placing it (post-WW2 but not present day). Knowing it was published in 1989 would have given me better context.
The mystery itself sucked me in after the first third but it took a while.
A playwright is killed at a remote Scottish hotel during a run through of her production with the actors and director. Several highly questionable things are done by those present before the case is assigned to Detective Inspector Lynley of Scotland Yard and his partner Inspector Havers. Although all the suspects are from within the household they face several obstacles and interference trying to sort out what is relevant to their case. It seems everyone had a reason to want the playwright dead.
While the characters were all well written the writing itself seemed long-winded and overly descriptive. It wasn't until the case had moved away from the small setting and opened up that it became more interesting.
I am also getting a little tired of all the investigators getting overly involved or having personal interest in the cases. Call me old school but I want everyone to be objective (thanks a lot Holmes and Poirot).
The most compelling part of the story was actually a very small part of a linked case and the family it affected. Other than that the mystery and characters are forgettable to me.
I guess I should have looked at when the book was published because I was having trouble placing it (post-WW2 but not present day). Knowing it was published in 1989 would have given me better context.
The mystery itself sucked me in after the first third but it took a while.
A playwright is killed at a remote Scottish hotel during a run through of her production with the actors and director. Several highly questionable things are done by those present before the case is assigned to Detective Inspector Lynley of Scotland Yard and his partner Inspector Havers. Although all the suspects are from within the household they face several obstacles and interference trying to sort out what is relevant to their case. It seems everyone had a reason to want the playwright dead.
While the characters were all well written the writing itself seemed long-winded and overly descriptive. It wasn't until the case had moved away from the small setting and opened up that it became more interesting.
I am also getting a little tired of all the investigators getting overly involved or having personal interest in the cases. Call me old school but I want everyone to be objective (thanks a lot Holmes and Poirot).
The most compelling part of the story was actually a very small part of a linked case and the family it affected. Other than that the mystery and characters are forgettable to me.