In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner

As a mystery, this book feels like it cheats to me, since the most sideways of references to what turns out to be the motive for murder doesn't come up until around page 300, halfway through the book. But this only bothered me intellectually (my guess for the murderer was flat-out wrong, of course), since the novel itself was gripping enough that I was emotionally involved the entire time. (And, of course, 300 pages with that motive in play is longer than many whole novels.) Like the best of George's Lynley novels, In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner is as much an investigation into the murdered as the murderer, a character that everybody knew but no one knew. The constant peeling back really worked, and though Lynley and Havers's show more relationship here is fractious, it's back in the book. My favorite of the three Lynley novels I read this summer by far. (But why does Elizabeth George think that "role" has a circumflex over the o? Every time I read "rôle" I'm knocked right out of the story as I rôll my eyes.) show less

Elizabeth George has a way of making me love her while pissing me off at the same time. I'm not sure what it is. It may be that I think she's an upstart American author writing mysteries set in England. It may be that she's much too wordy, that perhaps her books could be a bit shorter if she wasn't so fond of pontificating.

Whatever the case, I find myself reading all of her novels (in order), and some I love, and some I find just "meh."

This is an Elizabeth George book that I loved. The character development was extraordinary, and I found myself waking up an hour earlier each morning just to delve into the covers of my tattered little paperback novel. George's character, Barbara Havers, is so unlike any other female detective that I show more know. She's coarse, unattractive, dumpy, unsophisticated, and yet she has so much heart, which makes up for her flawed appearance and manner of speech. She handles herself admirably in this novel, and we look to the more elegant Lynley instead to be the boorish and unforgiving character. It's refreshing to see a man who has so much turn out to be graceless and out of touch with what's really going on with the story. Bravo, Barbara! Bravo.

I recommend the book highly to anyone who has never read a Lynley/Havers novel, and perhaps a few who gave up on them in earlier works. show less

The theme of this addition to the mystery series featuring New Scotland Yard Detectives Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers is best expressed by the author’s epigraph: “’How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is, To have a thankless child!’ – King Lear.” (The irony of her dedication “In loving memory of my father” is not lost.) Many of the characters seem to have father issues – with either literal or symbolic fathers – and therein lies the rub. And of course there are a variety of murders. Complicating the solving of these crimes, however, is a tension between Lynley and Havers as a result of Havers’ escapades detailed in George’s previous book, “Deception on His Mind.” I don’t believe I’d always feel show more totally clued in had I not read the preceding book, but on the other hand, it wouldn’t have mattered much.

George is writing in good form again, with a great talent for pithy and witty descriptions that capture a character – or even two at once. For instance, in describing Samantha McCallin’s feelings for her father, George writes: “not that Samantha didn’t mourn her father’s passing herself. She did. But she’d long ago seen that Douglas McCallin’s first love was the family biscuit factory – not the family itself – and consequently his death seemed more like an extension of his normal working hours than a permanent parting.” Or there is this observation by Barbara Havers when she confronts a female suspect for the first time: “Her wide eyes looked black, but a lengthier look at them revealed that her pupils were so enlarged that they covered all but a thin edge of iris. The effect was disconcerting, but it was also revealing. Drugs, Barbara realized. Tsk, tsk, tsk. No wonder she was jumpy, with the cops on her doorstep.”

The book begins with two grisly murders in Calder Moor (“a wild and deadly place”) in Derbyshire. The plot proceeds with the usual sex, violence, and attempts at personal relationships throughout, and ends up with a general reconciliation of the characters. No surprises there. But George’s execution makes it an exercise worth taking.

Protagonists:
Julian Britton, his alcoholic father Jeremy, and his cousin Samantha
Nicola Maiden, her ex-undercover-agent father Andy and her mother Nancy
Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his wife Helen, Countess of Asherton
Simon St. James, forensic scientist, Lynley’s oldest friend, and his wife Deborah
Detective Inspector Peter Hanken of Buxton in the Calder Moor area
Detective Constable Winston Nkata, who works with both Lynley and Havers
Detective Constable Barbara Havers (she was recently demoted)
Taymullah Azhar and his daughter Hadiyyah, Barbara’s neighbors
Terence Cole, Vi Nevin, and Shelly Platt, protoges of Nicola
Matthew King-Ryder, a truly thankless child of thirty or so

(JAF) show less

Not too much to say except that reading about the fallout from Haver's actions in the last book drove this one a lot. Havers is still with the force, but demoted. Lynley feels as if Havers was not properly punished for what she did and is reluctant to work with her again. Through a new case though (the investigation into two young people who are found murdered) Havers works mostly with Winston Nkata in this one. So we get to see a new dynamic between long standing characters. And we get to see more changes between Lynley and Helen now that they are married. Per usual, Lynley is angry that Helen dares to act independent of him. I thought the case was interesting, but the why behind it was pretty ridiculous. Usually that would be enough show more for me to lower a star. However, I read the next book in the series already, and this one is practically Shakespeare compared to that one.

"In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner" has Lynley asked to investigate from a former undercover who was well renowned in the police force. The man's twenty year old daughter is found dead and a nearby young man is also found. Through a lot of twists and turns, Lynley finds out about a darker life that the young woman was embarking on. What I thought was interesting about this one is that so many people were setting out to protect others, but in the end, if any of them had been honest about things, I think a different ending would have happened.

Lynley is a prig in this one. He's pretty ticked that Havers disobeyed a direct order and he wants her to show some contrition about what she did. This of course gets back to Lynley not really liking it when the women in his life don't act as he wants then to. Heck, this book sets up several unpleasant revelations regarding how he views his now wife. She is supposed to agree with him always and not take anyone else's side. This view of marriage is quite grim.

Havers though she's feeling thrown due to the ultimate decision about her police fate and now with Lynley not really talking to her or wanting to talk to her, is still focused on showing him what she can do. She also wants to prove him wrong and I can't blame her. I loved her burgeoning friendship with Winston though. He truly sees Havers for how she is and how good she is. Something Lynley often does not.

The writing was good, but could have been cut way back. Per usual George throws in POVs via a variety of people I won't get into here. The flow does work though because she keeps the book moving pretty crisply until you find out who the murder is and I really went what and shook my head.

The ending leaves things on a more hopeful and friendly note with Havers and Lynley though. show less

I know who done it! I know who done it! HA!

Another favorite author and detective discovered compliments of PBS "Masterpiece Mystery." I have not been reading the Inspector Lynley series in order. This is because I am having difficulties coming across used copies of the author. I know that sounds cheap, but I am cheap. And, it seems a tragedy of tragedies to spend money on shipping for a paperback book. So, I haunt the library cast-off book store where the lovely volunteer keeps her eyes open for any Elizabeth George coming through the stacks of contributions. I truly believe the author is fully worth the $1 I spend per book.

George is one of those mystery writers that is good at the details. There is no anger as a result of facts and show more clues added at the last minute. The clues are there for you to follow the leads. Her writing does take you down some twists that can make you think you know who is guilty only to have the suspect vindicated. But, that is the fun of a mystery, is it not?

Inspector Lynley of the books is a much more complicated man than the character depicted in the BBC series. The BBC Lynley seems to have it more together while coming off as a bit of a prig, while George's Lynley is more complicated and introspective. BBC Lynley is always right, even while he treats his wife somewhat badly, while George's Lynley admits when he is wrong and at least tries to treat his wife well. Lynley's BBC wife is not as strong as George's character, and George's DI Havers is a much more intriguing mess of a character than the BBC Havers. George's books are long...but great companions for long plane trips with several transfers.

My one criticism: Watermelon Pop-Tarts?? (O_o) Eeeewwwww! show less

this one... was a bit all over the place in a clunky way. much of it was interesting, and the tension between havers and lynley - and havers' entire situation and manner - is palpable (ugh!! so tense!!), but a whole lotta what the hell is served up here, in book #10. so far, not my favourite in the series, though still useful in moving the characters forward in their development. winston gets a bit more stage time here which was very enjoyable! i hope that continues.

I've always enjoyed reading Elizabeth George mysteries because of the high quality of the writings as well as the analytical descriptions of her characters and settings.
However, none of her characters, whether they be good or bad, are genuinely likeable. Lynley is a turnoff, he's arrogant and a self-righteous prig. Helen, while nice, is somewhat pretentious. Havers is more sympathetic, but her defeatist attitude is annoying. Simon and Deborah are quiet but not particularly engaging. As for the rest of the characters, they may be interesting, but they're simply not the kind of people you'd want to be friends with.
In this novel, Barbara is treated badly (again), she needs a friend, and George should lighten up on her. Lynley is a show more pompous prat; and he and Helen would, in real life, be in the divorce court – if they ever made it to the altar in the first place. The plot is weak and George is over obsessed with sex. The ending is ridiculously convoluted, improbable, verbose, and pretentious (even a quote from Orwell, for heaven's sake!). There are too many coincidences and loose ends that are never explained. Six hundred pages is absurd; a few hundred could be cut out easily.

BUT.... I couldn't put the book down and read it in two solid sittings, so she is clearly doing something right! show less