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A review by booksuperpower
A Banquet of Consequences by Elizabeth George
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