TBR

What a smashing book. It's the first book in a series of murder mysteries investigated by Scotland Yard Detective Inspector lynley and his sidekick Detective Sgt Barbara Havers. Inspector Lynley is upper crust and the 8th Earl of Asherton. He is also charming, good looking and just a really nice character. This is the first time that DI Lynley and DS Havers have worked together. DS Havers is dumpy, plain, comes from the wrong side of the tracks and is deeply resentful. She has an enormous chip on her shoulder, but a very quick mind. She suspects that the only reason she has been told to work with the DI is because there is no chance that he would seduce her (notwithstanding everyone else in the CID detest her!). That aside, this is a really good yarn set in deep Yorkshire. A man has been found decapitated and his daughter, with axe in hand, has confessed to the murder, but did she really do it? All is soon revealed with many shocking revelations to keep you turning page after page.

The books have been serialised on TV, although I watched one episode recently and disliked it. In fact I would not watch any more because I thought they would turn me off the books. I have heard the books are far superior and if this book is anything to go by I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

I am now going to start a bookring, order as follows:

1. Loopy1 - UK - read
2. Moondreamer - UK - read
3. WistfulDragon - UK - read
4. Jalna - UK - read
5. Mytilusgirl - read
6. Sandyundead - UK - read
7. Katweeble - UK - read
8. MoJeDenUK UK - returned 11/8

The book arrived safely in Kent this morning - many people seem to have read the Lynley books and then hated the tv series. I started with the tv series, then went on to the books and enjoy both - although the books I've read seem to differ wildly from the tv episodes of the same story!
I look forward to reading this first one in the series, thanks.

A thrilling, exciting book. I started by feeling irritated at how much of the main characters' private lives were shown alongside the murder investigation, but by the end of the book everything had fallen into place, and the word that springs most to mind is mirrors - as each character found part of their own life mirrored in the circumstances around the murder.
Very likeable, believable characters - don't you just want to give Havers a good talking to? - and I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
I still like the tv series though! I think that having watched the programme first, the books add to them.

Arrived safely, thank you. One of those books which, while looking at the BCID, I just happened to read the first page or two. Some 50 pages later I managed to put it down! First impressions are that it's extremely well written, with far more depth than comes across in the TV series (some episodes of which I've seen and liked). I've also found the background to how Havers and Lynley came to work together interesting - and illuminating!

I read this with great enjoyment, and will be trying to find all the other books by this author. First impressions did not lie - I continued to find it well-written with a lot of depth, and I enjoyed the development of Lynley and Havers' relationship as well as the careful resolution of the plot. I too found the characters believable, also acting consistently, and their different backgrounds seemed more integral to them than on TV.

I am about to post it on to WistfulDragon.

Thanks for starting the ring, MoJeDenUK!

Thanks, it got here - along with a brilliant comic postcard! It's 3rd on my immediate toobies, but as one of those is a one-dayer, I should get to it soon.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, which was a relief as I also enjoyed the series on TV. But you have to keep in mind that the two are only peripherally related! Apart from the total difference in appearance of the main characters - Lindly is either blonde or very dark, Havers is either dumpy or slender - there are significant differences in the story line. But this is all to the good, so long as you expect there to be differences, and don't rely on your 'prior knowledge'.
The portrayal of the characters, even those quite peripheral to the story, is vivid and engaging. There are enough details in the story to avoid making it obvious which ones are clues - a definite bonus in a who dunnit. What is also nice is that it is also very much of a why dunnit - when the pieces fall into place the motivational forces behind the behaviours of each of the characters are very clear.
All in all an excellent book, well worth reading. On it's way to Jalna, hopefully tomorrow.

This is my first reading of an Inspector Lynley book - nice to get in at the start of a series for a change. I've enjoyed the tv series - except for really disliking Havers! - so it will be interesting to see how the books compare.

I loved this book! The only tiny difference to what stuck in my mind from the tv series was that in the book Lynley is blond, not dark, and that didn't see right somehow. Surprisingly enough, I did not find Havers nearly so irritating in the book. Perhaps that is because we are given more of her background and her feelings and it's more easy to understand her and sympathise with her to a certain extent.

I'm very keen now to read more of the Inspector Lynley mysteries.

The book is moving on to-day, 25 June.

Arrived this morning. Once again, excellent timing as I finished my last ring last night.

Thank you MoJeDenUK and Jalna!

I really enjoyed this! I'd only ever caught a couple of Inspector Lynley t.v. episodes and had thought they were fine, but nothing great. Once again, the book has *far* exceeded the t.v./film version, adding lustre, depth and characterization.

I shall certainly be keeping a keen eye for the next in this series.

Thank you MoJoDenUK!

One of many many many books that I caught at the National Meet in Birmingham today - thanks for organising it Steve! Thank you mytilusgirl!

This was an excellent book. Elizabeth George's language is incredibly rich, making the book a pleasure to read. The story was surprising, and I certainly couldn't work out who did it. I enjoy watching the tv series, and feel that the books do add to it - although I agree that it doesn't seem right that Lynley is blond. It was just what I needed after some of the heavy books I have read recently. This will be passed to katweeble when I go home next week.

Passed to me by my granddaughter, sandyundead. I enjoy the TV series and would like to see how the books compare.

For me, this was too wordy. I prefer the TV dramatisation - the characters are much better in real life! I will now pass it on to katweeble.

Just received -looking forward to reading this next (Mount tbr will have to wait)

Anyone else for for the ring or is it going home next?

Loved the story - was late to work a few mornings as I struggled to put it down.
Going home now - but I am afraid it looks the worse for its journey - all pages present just not well connected.

Thought I better warn before it arrives!

Just put into the post back to its home

Thanks for sharing it Maureen

Delivered to me in the post today, thanks, and you're right, it really is in a very sad state. I've tried to patch it up with some sellotape but I think it's probably too far gone now. Me thinks I will have to buy another copy and either cremate or bury this one. I'll keep it for now until I can replace it. Perhaps I'll give it to DH to read first!!!

Placed on the charity table in aid of Diabetes