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A review by kathydavie
A Suitable Vengeance by Elizabeth George
5.0
Fourth (publication-wise) in the Inspector Lynley mystery series set in modern-day London, A Suitable Vengeance is so incredibly well titled as vengeance abounds throughout the story. Tommy’s anger with his mother, Deb’s anger with Simon, Peter’s anger with Tommy, Justin and Mick’s actions, Sidney’s emotions, Mark’s activities…it’s endless.
The Chronology of the Series
A Suitable Vengeance is, chronologically, first in the series as it tells the tale of Deborah’s return from school in America with her engagement to Tommy during her visit with Tommy’s family in Cornwall. ALL of which takes place well before A Great Disappearance in which Barbara Havers is collecting Tommy for a case from Simon and Deborah’s wedding.
The Story
So, that said, lordy, what a convoluted, swirling tide of clues is this. The primary story is of Simon’s desperate and undeclared love for Deborah set against her and Tommy’s involvement, which leads us to the family weekend at Tommy’s estate in Cornwall, Howenstow---Tommy has proposed and Deborah is to meet the family.
And what a weekend to remember. The local Lothario is murdered with a particularly nasty cut with more murders following and all the suspects are connected to Howenstow. Tommy may be Scotland Yard but we’re not on his patch. And this is where I get frustrated with George. Tommy is a Detective Inspector with Scotland Yard and he is screwing up all over the place not behaving like the policeman he is. He does nothing to secure the initial crime scene. He withholds evidence. He searches for evidence on his own. Why not hire on some divers to search the sea for the case instead of having a couple of the lads diving with masks and snorkels??
My Take
I guess I’m expecting the world especially with how masterfully George pulls all these red herrings into a simple cohesive solution. George is amazing in her attention to detail, the situations she creates, and the tension she builds (even though I have a pretty good idea of how things will end as I’m already three stories into the future when I read this story).
The Cover
The cover is rather painterly with a very suitable subject---the rocks off the Cornish coast which play such a role in opening the case.
The Chronology of the Series
A Suitable Vengeance is, chronologically, first in the series as it tells the tale of Deborah’s return from school in America with her engagement to Tommy during her visit with Tommy’s family in Cornwall. ALL of which takes place well before A Great Disappearance in which Barbara Havers is collecting Tommy for a case from Simon and Deborah’s wedding.
The Story
So, that said, lordy, what a convoluted, swirling tide of clues is this. The primary story is of Simon’s desperate and undeclared love for Deborah set against her and Tommy’s involvement, which leads us to the family weekend at Tommy’s estate in Cornwall, Howenstow---Tommy has proposed and Deborah is to meet the family.
And what a weekend to remember. The local Lothario is murdered with a particularly nasty cut with more murders following and all the suspects are connected to Howenstow. Tommy may be Scotland Yard but we’re not on his patch. And this is where I get frustrated with George. Tommy is a Detective Inspector with Scotland Yard and he is screwing up all over the place not behaving like the policeman he is. He does nothing to secure the initial crime scene. He withholds evidence. He searches for evidence on his own. Why not hire on some divers to search the sea for the case instead of having a couple of the lads diving with masks and snorkels??
My Take
I guess I’m expecting the world especially with how masterfully George pulls all these red herrings into a simple cohesive solution. George is amazing in her attention to detail, the situations she creates, and the tension she builds (even though I have a pretty good idea of how things will end as I’m already three stories into the future when I read this story).
The Cover
The cover is rather painterly with a very suitable subject---the rocks off the Cornish coast which play such a role in opening the case.