A review by nonna7
Deception on His Mind by Elizabeth George

4.0

This riveting book with so many possibilities was published in 1997 and deals with the racial issues involved in Pakistani immigration to the UK. Lynley has just married the love of his life. Barbara Havers, his partner, is recovering from being hurt in the line of duty. Lynley is off on his honeymoon after ordering her to take a vacation. However, Barbara doesn't know anything about relaxation. She is undecided about what to do until she learns that a Pakistani immigrant has been murdered in a seaside town where a former police classmate, Emily, is already a DI. She also learns that her neighbor, Azhar, a university professor whose 8 yr old daughter, Hadiyyah, has adopted Barbara as her "friend," is on his way to the town to act as a liaison with the police on behalf of the Pakistani community. He has been summoned by his cousin despite being estranged from the family. The murdered man was a newly arrived immigrant who was working in a condiment factory owned by a wealthy Pakistani businessman. He was also betrothed to the daughter of that same man. Barbara offers her services to her old mate, Emily without telling her that Azhar is actually a neighbor. The title is well named here - there is a lot of deception going on. This is a story with so much context and richness. It's also very long - over 700 pages. Still, it's well worth reading, but then I think everything Ms. George writes is well worth reading.