Believing the Lie is an Inspector Lynley mystery. Although George's books are long, they read very quickly. Unfortunately, I have not enjoyed the series as much since she killed off Helen.Description from Amazon: Inspector Thomas Lynley is mystified when he's sent undercover to investigate the death of Ian Cresswell at the request of the man's uncle, the wealthy and influential Bernard Fairclough. The death has been ruled an accidental drowning, and nothing on the surface indicates otherwise. But when Lynley enlists the help of his friends Simon and Deborah St. James, the trio's digging soon reveals that the Fairclough clan is awash in secrets, lies, and motives.
What I like: the book reads very quickly and does keep my attention. I like Barbara Havers and Winton (although Winton is not really a part of this one). As a side note, Barbara mentions Lynley's Lobb shoes. I looked Googled it, and Lobb's boots and shoes are quite expensive -- check the price list. Got several grand to spare, get a pair of Lobb's boots.
Not so much:
1) Simon and Deborah St. James have, in the last several books, become more and more annoying. The plot line about their inability to have a child is supposed to support the main plot line, but is irritating. Deborah's behavior is idiotic.
2) The reporter for the scandal sheet and his "girl friend" -- silly. Their phone conversations are too silly to discuss. Not a bad idea, but ultimately, a failure.
3) Lynley's attraction to Isabelle. Didn't like it much in the previous book, either, but at least it is resolved in this one.
4) The story line with Tim, Ian's young and troubled son--he was an interesting character until it just got out of hand. Troubled is one thing, where George carries it, quite another.
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Remember these are just my personal opinions. I used to love this series, but ...
Fiction. Mystery. 2012. 624 pages.
Aren't her books getting longer and longer and longer too? What's that about? I'm so behind on this series. Maybe 5 books back or so. I know about Helen. Can't decide whether to quit this one entirely. I may. So many other series out there. I've quit Patricia Cornwell and both the Kellerman's. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read her yet but the book I got - for the Sake of Elena or something like that - is an older one, so I hope it will be quite good.
ReplyDeleteSome series are so long, maybe this one has run out of steam?
I've gotten a couple of books behind on this series but I still enjoy George's work...at least up to where I am. The last two are both on my shelf, paitently waiting for me to get around to them, because I buy them when they first come out. Something about 600+ pages, though, does not inspire me to start reading a mystery.
ReplyDeleteKay - I quit Cornwell several years ago; tried one of her books since then and remembered why I quit!
ReplyDeleteI'll continue with George's next one, but not so eagerly! :\
Carolina - I've been reading her for a long time, and yes, maybe the series has run out of steam. I always enjoy Barbara Haver's eccentricities, though.
Sam - George's books have been hit or miss with me for a while now, but I keep hoping!
Agree with you completely on all points. I can't read this series any more.
ReplyDeleteKim - I'm wondering if I should go back and read some of the earlier book for comparison. What changed so much over the years, the books or me?
ReplyDeleteJenclair:
ReplyDeleteThat is a good question. I read the first 8 or 9 books but remember really enjoying the first 5 or 6 and then becoming less interested. The back story of the relationships between Lynley, Helen, Simon, Deborah, and Havers were well played and as the books went on that was lost, for me anyway.
Kim - I certainly don't remember having the antipathy for Deborah in the earliest books, but for the last few years, I've found her a completely unsympathetic character. I haven't found the mysteries as interesting either, but the digressions to include so much of the personal relationships are a distraction that doesn't help.
ReplyDeleteI am really out of touch with this series, which i used to follow faithfully. Wonder why she would kill off Helen after all the work in getting them together in the first place! :-)
ReplyDeleteAnne-- I don't know! It took me a while to really appreciate Helen, but just when I was enjoying their relationship--bam! I almost quit reading the series then.
ReplyDelete