A review by nonna7
A Suitable Vengeance by Elizabeth George

5.0

I am working my way through the early Elizabeth George books. This one is particularly interesting because it explains a LOT about the later ones. In this book, Deborah Cotter, daughter of Simon St James' valet, who grew up in St James home has returned to England after 3 years in the United States studying photography. She has won some prize money, enough to buy a new camera and lens collection. She is also engaged to Lynley, close friend of Simon's. Simon has been unable to express his love for Deborah. When she left England she was only 17. He was 28. Now she is back. Lynley has visited a number of times and has proposed marriage which she has accepted. So now they are making a trip to Cornwall where Lynley's home as Lord Atherton is located. He announces that they will marry and make their home in Cornwall. In the meantime, he has to deal with his younger brother who is a drug addict. Then a local journalist who is married to a young woman who does some work on Lynley's estate is murdered and castrated after his death. He is known to have been a womanizer so the theory is that that he has crossed someone's husband/lover. However, it's far deeper than that. What a story! We learn about Lynley's deep estrangement from his mother, his brother's problems and so much more. This was a really excellent book with a lot of twists and turns as well as a lot of emotion. Fans know he does NOT marry Deborah.