This is a long book. George takes her time with the set up. It pays off though. Before long, the story becomes deeply engrossing. This time, we’re in Ludlow, in Shropshire. Detectives from New Scotland Yard are sent up to check on an investigation into the suicide while in custody of a church deacon. The deacon’s father packs clout. He’s denying that his son was a paedophile, or a suicide. The investigators’ only mission is to determine whether the investigation was handled correctly.
Of course, things go awry. DCI Isabelle Audery has a drinking problem. DS Barbara Havers is there to put her feet wrong so they can transfer her away from the Met. Havers starts to uncover things. Audery insists that Havers leave some information out of the report. Hmm. DI Thomas Linley is sent back there with Havers (who is desperately wanting to avoid her tap dancing show - don’t ask). We’re introduced to a fascinating set of characters whose psychology George portrays brilliantly. They range from the savvy septuagenarian, to the drunken students, to the classy senior policewoman (who’s good at sex games), to the Indian paediatrician cut off from her family to the PCSO who might not be as clean and affable as he seems. There are more. It becomes very convoluted as Linley and Havers disentangle a sad sequence of events. Justice is finally achieved, of course, but not without a great deal of toing and froing. Meanwhile, there’s pressure to get results fast and keep the MP and Home Secretary happy. Audery’s drinking gets worse. Her ex wants to take their sons to New Zealand. The classy senior policewoman is set upon directing and preserving her son’s life, even though she suspects him of rape.
It’s as though George has written three books in one, so dense is the material. The psychology between the classy policewoman and her husband is particularly good, as is everything to do with the Lomax family (which contains the savvy septuagenarian and the Indian paediatrician). The clues are well-sorted, though they should have established just when the CCTV angle was changed and what the duty log showed, for comparison. The stuff about the stole colours was good. Just shows you need to know everything when you try to solve a crime. Including how to launch an air glider. As usual with a Linley book, it’s incredible that an American can write so well about England. The sad fact of defunding the police (like the NHS) doesn’t go unnoticed. Begone, civil society!


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Punishment She Deserves: Inspector Lynley Bk 20: An Inspector Lynley Novel: 20 Paperback – 12 March 2019
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Elizabeth George
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Elizabeth George
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Product details
- Publisher : Hodder Paperbacks; 1st edition (12 March 2019)
- Language: : English
- Paperback : 608 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1444786644
- ISBN-13 : 978-1444786644
- Dimensions : 12.8 x 5.2 x 19.8 cm
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Best Sellers Rank:
213,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 5,590 in International Mystery & Crime (Books)
- 92,026 in Religion & Spirituality (Books)
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Product description
Review
Rich with descriptive detail and emotional nuance. Several alternating plot threads unspool at length, all of which weave tightly together with pleasing inevitability . . . What has been said before deserves repeating: From suspense to social commentary, from violence to pathos, from villainy to possible redemption, Ms. George can do it all, with style. ― Wall Street Journal
Bolstered by George's polished prose, the twentieth Lynley mystery moves briskly along, showing the author at the peak of her powers. ― Booklist (starred review)
She's a designer of fastidious mosaics that never fail to intrigue ― Guardian
Presses all the buttons to make us hoover her stuff up ― Daily Telegraph
She writes extremely well, plots brilliantly and reaches an emotional level deeper than most ― The Times
The best plotter in the mystery game, [her] elegant literate flow puts many Brits to shame ― Time Out
Bolstered by George's polished prose, the twentieth Lynley mystery moves briskly along, showing the author at the peak of her powers. ― Booklist (starred review)
She's a designer of fastidious mosaics that never fail to intrigue ― Guardian
Presses all the buttons to make us hoover her stuff up ― Daily Telegraph
She writes extremely well, plots brilliantly and reaches an emotional level deeper than most ― The Times
The best plotter in the mystery game, [her] elegant literate flow puts many Brits to shame ― Time Out
Review
Stunning 20th Thomas Lynley novel. George tackles a number of emotionally charged social issues with sensitivity and grace. Exquisitely rendered characters and a powerful sense of place enhance the meticulously crafted mystery, which satisfies as a standalone while furthering the series arc. - Publishers' WeeklyGeorge threads in the activities - and the secrets - of the people of Ludlow, eventually tying the various plotlines into the crime at the center of this well-wrought mystery. George's Inspector Lynley series is more about characters than crime, and she is sympathetic to the human failings of those characters.The sheer size of this book shouldn't dissuade readers: bolstered by George's polished prose, the twentieth Lynley mystery moves briskly along, showing the author at the peak of her powers. - BooklistPraise for Elizabeth George:Her crime novels combine Victorian craftsmanship, psychological observation and ingenious plotting. George's celebrated attention to detail keeps the reader totally immersed. Bliss. - SagaShe's a designer of fastidious mosaics that never fail to intrigue - GuardianShe writes extremely well, plots brilliantly and reaches an emotional level deeper than most - The TimesPresses all the buttons to make us hoover her stuff up - Daily TelegraphThe best plotter in the mystery game, [her] elegant literate flow puts many Brits to shame - Time Out
Book Description
A perfect Mother's Day gift for mums who love great crime fiction.
Award-winning author Elizabeth George delivers another masterpiece of suspense in her Inspector Lynley series.
From the Publisher
Elizabeth George is the internationally bestselling author of highly acclaimed novels of psychological suspense in the Inspector Lynley series. Her work has been honoured with the Anthony and Agatha awards, the Grand Prix de Litterature Policiere, and the MIMI, Germany's prestigious prize for suspense fiction. Her novels have been adapted for television by BBC TV. Elizabeth George lives Seattle, in the state of Washington.
About the Author
Elizabeth George is the internationally bestselling author of twenty psychological suspense novels, four young adult novels, two books of non-fiction and two short-story collections. Her work has been honoured with an Anthony Award, an Agatha Award, two Edgar nominations, and both France's and Germany's first prize for crime fiction. She has taught creative writing internationally and is the recipient of an honorary doctorate in humane letters and an honorary MFA in creative writing. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
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Customer reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,475 global ratings
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2 people found this helpful
Helpful
Reviewed in Australia on 15 July 2018
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A good story, l switched from reading this book, to it being my first audio book.
That was interesting found myself looking forward to the drive to and back from work and listening to the story. Gave this 4 stars because it wasn't a big thumping mega exciting page turning story, but rather something plausible (sort of) it touched strongly on human interaction's, thoughts feelings ...reactions and the mistakes when people misread one another. It was, l suppose, a 'true' story, something told well.
That was interesting found myself looking forward to the drive to and back from work and listening to the story. Gave this 4 stars because it wasn't a big thumping mega exciting page turning story, but rather something plausible (sort of) it touched strongly on human interaction's, thoughts feelings ...reactions and the mistakes when people misread one another. It was, l suppose, a 'true' story, something told well.
Reviewed in Australia on 5 October 2019
Verified Purchase
What a wonderful read especially as Barbara features so prominently in this story.
I am always amazed at how Elizabeth George can come up with such interesting stories.
I am always amazed at how Elizabeth George can come up with such interesting stories.
Reviewed in Australia on 12 April 2018
Verified Purchase
I love the complexity of the story. You never quite knew what would happen next. Havers and Lynley are almost friends you want cheer on and praise them for their persistence. Audrey is interest - nothing more to be said. Read and learn, enjoy!!
Reviewed in Australia on 19 April 2018
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What an amazingly talented writer Elizabeth George is- skillfully plotted mystery, rich background and deeply layered characters we cannot but help care about. Haversack and Lynsey are back and how!
Reviewed in Australia on 31 December 2019
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Once again Thomas and Barbara produce the goods. A complicated web of lies and half truths is slowly unravelled to reveal the unexpected conclusion. Well written as always.
Reviewed in Australia on 31 July 2018
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An Elizabeth George special. The characters are like old friends and I can't wait to meet them again.
Reviewed in Australia on 24 July 2018
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Havers was particularly annoying in this one, but that is part of her charm.
Top reviews from other countries

DT
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not up to the usual standard
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 August 2018Verified Purchase
I have read the whole Lynley/Havers series of books and usually love Elizabeth George's book. But... this time I was disappointed. The book was too long - or at least, there wasn't enough story to fill it. It felt as if the detectives were going round in circles for a lot of the book. It felt a bit dull, to be honest. In fact, I got the impression that George was tired of her characters and had lost interest in the book before she reached half way.
The other factor that I found distracting was the sheer number of literal errors. I could almost have believed that this book had never been proofread. Surely a publisher like Hodder can afford the services of a proofreader, especially for such a successful author? There were so many words missed out, words left in after editing, rogue words (Mr appeared randomly in the middle of one sentence) and spelling errors. All in all, it felt as if the book hadn't been properly developed or edited. This book was not up to the standard I've come to expect from George or her publisher.
If this is a sign of where book publishing is going in the UK, I'm very sad. I started my editorial career at Hodder and standards were high then. I hope the quality of this book is an anomaly, and not an indication of sinking standards.
The other factor that I found distracting was the sheer number of literal errors. I could almost have believed that this book had never been proofread. Surely a publisher like Hodder can afford the services of a proofreader, especially for such a successful author? There were so many words missed out, words left in after editing, rogue words (Mr appeared randomly in the middle of one sentence) and spelling errors. All in all, it felt as if the book hadn't been properly developed or edited. This book was not up to the standard I've come to expect from George or her publisher.
If this is a sign of where book publishing is going in the UK, I'm very sad. I started my editorial career at Hodder and standards were high then. I hope the quality of this book is an anomaly, and not an indication of sinking standards.
16 people found this helpful
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Roman Clodia
4.0 out of 5 stars
Absorbing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 March 2019Verified Purchase
Long and absorbing, character-driven, emotionally-intelligent especially around ideas of punishment (often erroneous and self-inflicted) and on parents (and bosses) who try to mould and manipulate their children (or subordinates).
George's tics are still here (Americanisms, irritating breaks into phonetics, bad London geography: Southall on the tube?) and Barbara Havers has become the star of the series over wooden, personality-free Lynley. The publisher's have let too many copy-editing errors through in the Kindle edition ... yet for all this, an engaging, complex investigation and some interesting character arcs.
George's tics are still here (Americanisms, irritating breaks into phonetics, bad London geography: Southall on the tube?) and Barbara Havers has become the star of the series over wooden, personality-free Lynley. The publisher's have let too many copy-editing errors through in the Kindle edition ... yet for all this, an engaging, complex investigation and some interesting character arcs.
5 people found this helpful
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Julia
1.0 out of 5 stars
Oh Dear...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2019Verified Purchase
So disappointed with this book! I have read all the Havers/Lynley books and loved every single one of them but I was sooo bored reading this. Really slow story, couldn’t warm to any of the characters at all and even Lynley and Havers are just not doing much at all in this book. Really hope the next one is better again.
6 people found this helpful
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liz white
3.0 out of 5 stars
So Disappointing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 December 2018Verified Purchase
Wow! I've waited ages to read this new Lynley novel and I've been left extremely unsatisfied by the whole experience. Far too long. Fabulous secondary story about Isabelle. Total tosh about tap dancing. More importantly, crimes against characters you have no empathy or sympathy with, absolutely no explanation as to why the baddie did it and a ridiculous suicide. Why does this author wait until the final few chapters to bring it all together? I love Lynley and Havers but I'll never get those hours back and want to say, Come on EG, you can do so much better!
4 people found this helpful
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Jayne Simpson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Vintage Elizabeth George
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 March 2019Verified Purchase
As always, great characters, the students, Missa & her family all totally believable. Lynley is the same as ever & feels like an old friend but the subtle development of Barbara 's character is masterful as is the elevation of Dee Harriman from merely a walk on part to an important thread in this narrative. As someone who was married to an alcoholic for 35 years and lived in Worcestershire for almost 70, I can attest to the accuracy of her research. As always, the wry humour of Barbara 's internal musings made me giggle out loud. Thanks E.G. & long may you continue!
2 people found this helpful
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