Product Description

New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George is back with a spellbinding tale of mystery and murder featuring Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley.

Customer Reviews (129)

Should I finish this book?
I used to love Elizabeth George's books. And then...I couldn't finish "What Came Before He Shot Her." "Careless in Red" was just okay--I did finish it, at least. And now I've slogged through about 200 pages of "This Body of Death" and I'm not sure I can go on. I don't think I care what happens. And really, I'm not sure how many more times I can read the word "comprised" before I throw the book across the room. So--I guess I've answered my own question. It's too bad, because when she was good, she was very, very good.

Makes me understand why the tv series ended
I was shocked when the Inspector Lynley mysteries on PBS were so abruptly ended--especially with Ms. George still alive & writing.Having read this book, it made me wonder if they had a look at her rough drafts of the last two or three books and knew how poorly they would be received.

It takes a lot to alienate readers who have been with the author from book 1, but this book is the final nail in the coffin.Long.Tedious.A hateful new character who is supposed to be both Lynley's new love interest AND a contender for Superintendent at Scotland Yard.Sure--I'm sure Scotland Yard would never notice that a candidate was a raving alcoholic who alienated her entire team within days, lied repeatedly, and whose incompetence caused accidents and deaths.Yeah--I'm sure they overlook such things.And of course it's easy to see why someone would be immediately attracted to such a person--alcoholism being so sexy.

I've enjoyed the series in the past, but life is way too short to read any of Elizabeth George's future books.

Excellent read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.Elizabeth Georgehas a wonderful writing style. And I was glad to see all thecast of characters returning to pick up their various stories.

I think people need to realize it's better to read Elizabeth George's book in sequence to follow the story lines because they can get pretty involved.

Elizabeth George is one of my favorite authors.I like her story lines. The characters in her books. It all wraps up into a very satisfying read on every book I have read.

The Best
It took a while for Ms. George to get her next one out but it was worth the wait. Good reading!

A Convoluted Plot
Thomas Lynley, still mourning the death of his wife, is called back to service with Scotland Yard when a young woman is brutally murdered in an isolated London cemetery. But Lynley is not in charge. He has been coerced by Isabelle Ardery, the new department chief, who seeks his assistance in gaining acceptance of her by his reluctant former team.

Lynley's intercession is demanded constantly as Ardery's management style rankles his colleagues, especially the fiery-tempered Barbara Havers.

It isn't long before Ardery's dominant streak, problems with her ex-husband and a tendency to seek relief in a bottle has the investigation headed in the wrong direction. It's up to Lynley's levelheadedness and Havers' stubborn determination to get things back on track.

There's a parallel narrative to the main story concerning a child abduction (based on an actual case) which seems a distraction at first but eventually fits into the whole in a somewhat surprising fashion.

There are some holes and questionable devices in this long novel. But there are also the perceptive characterizations, convoluted plot twists and power found in the earlier novels of the series.

This is not a novel for the squeamish or those who abhor long descriptive passages. I'll admit, some aspects of the child abduction sequence made me squirm. As to the descriptive passages, I admire George's talent in evoking a strong sense of place.
... Read more

Product Description
To this day, the low, thin wail of an infant can be heard in Keldale's lush green valleys.Three hundred years ago, as legend goes, the frightened Yorkshire villagers smothered a crying babe in Keldale Abbey, where they'd hidden to escape the ravages of Cromwell's raiders.

Now into Keldale's pastoral web of old houses and older secrets comes Scotland Yard Inspector Thomas Lynley, the eighth earl of Asherton.Along with the redoubtable Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, Lynley has been sent to solve a savage murder that has stunned the peaceful countryside.For fat, unlovely Roberta Teys has been found in her best dress, an axe in her lap, seated in the old stone barn beside her father's headless corpse.Her first and last words were "I did it.And I'm not sorry."

Yet as Lynley and Havers wind their way through Keldale's dark labyrinth of secret scandals and appalling crimes, they uncover a shattering series of revelations that will reverberate through this tranquil English valley—and in their own lives as well.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (73)

Unlikley Combination
Elizabeth George introduced police procedural fans to the unlikely combination of Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Barbara Havers. The past is always present in this complicated piece of detective fiction and nowhere are class differences handled with such adroit skill as in THE GREAT DELIVERANCE.
Havers has one last chance to make it before being pitched for Scotland Yard to street duty for the remainder of her career. The psychological suspense played against the often futile work of the detectives make for an engaging read.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS.

A Great Deliverance
I am an anglophile.I LOVE British TV, Music, Movies and especially, British books.Maybe it's my heritage or just an affinity for their culture.So, when EW listed an Elizabeth George book on their Summer Must Read List, I was intrigued.Imagine my surprise when I discovered that this is a BBC show(YAY!) but also written by a Yank!I am amazed just how British this book sounded for a gal writing from the States. The language was spot on.The scenary was impeccable.I had no trouble imagining fog drifting in over the countryside.There were no false notes.The characters had depth.I especially liked Havers's passion. Excellent job, Ms. George.

Lynley betrays his colleagues
I am an avid fan of the Inspector Lynley series, and bought "This Body of Death" in hardback. George is once again exploring the hell some children experience from abusive families/environments, and I find that both interesting and laudable.Unfortunately, Lynley, who has always been sensitive, intelligent, and brooding, has gone over the line into loser.The current Acting Superintendent, Isabelle Ardery, is an incompetent, abusive alcoholic. It's bad enough that Lynley shows dreadful judgment by sleeping with her, but he becomes an enabler (someone who makes excuses for an alcoholic/drug addict/abuser) by making excuses for her failure when Sir Hillier wants to fire her.Lynley has watched her abuse his colleagues, but he betrays them by getting Hillier to keep her on. It is this betrayal of his friends and colleagues that has disturbed me most, and for this reason I'll not be buying any more of George's books. Her exploration of what makes children commit crimes, and the long-term effects of that on their lives, is fascinating.What she has done to her main character is deplorable.

Entertaining story
This quirky mystery has so many twists and turns that the reader has to pay attention to keep up.The characters are entertaining and the plot moves quickly.I found myself getting interested, despite an initial reluctance to take this novel seriously.
What gets disturbing is the back-and-forth playoff between the main mystery and the sad story of the conflicts in the lives ofthe two main characters.At some point, the reader could say:Enough, already!The wrapup ending makes up for the earlier confusion.This is a nice 'escape' type novel, but not serious literature, by any means.Some of the plot is very contrived.

A Great Deliverance
In this writing, "A Great Deliverance", Elizabeth George has given us two unforgetable characters, Inspector Thomas Linsley, and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers.The two together work as a team as they try to solve the mystery of the beheaded farmer and his confessed killer, his daughter Roberta, whom all who know her do not think her capable of the deed.

George has developed two totally different characters, one is a debonair, elegant, aristocratic individual who reeks of the cosmopolitan, and the second as a fat, homely, ill-clothed country bumpkin.Each totally different in appearance and action from the other, but reflective of the trademark character George wants to create. The mystery is set in the English farming countryside and is not too complicated, even when one is slightly distracted by "asides" in the plot which appear unrelated to the solving of this gruesome crime.A good read!! ... Read more

Product Description
The career of playwright Joy Sinclair comes to an abrupt end on an isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands when someone drives an eighteen-inch dirk through her neck. Called upon to investigate the case in a country where they have virtually no authority, aristocratic Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, grapple for both a motive and a murderer. Emotions run deep in this highly charged drama, for the list of suspects soon includes Britain’s foremost actress, its most successful theatrical producer, and the woman Lynley loves. He and Havers must tread carefully through the complicated terrain of human relationships while they work to solve a case rooted in the darkest corners of the past and the unexplored regions of the human heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

A Change in Pace
PAYMENT IN BLOOD by Elizabeth George is a change in pace for the second round of this outstanding series. Lord Thomas Lynley is featured in this classic styled locked-room mystery as Barbara Havers was in A GREAT DELIVERANCE.
The story is an outstanding cozy/puzzle, but also an exercise in character development in this not-to-be-ignored police procedural series.
Nash Black, author of QUALIFYING LAPS

disappointed
What happened, Ms. George? This book dragged. Also, it seemed like the spark from the previous book was missing.

Inspector Lynley bemused
This is my first sampling of Ms. George's work. The mystery portion started off a bit muzzy, as the personal lives of the detectives involved sidetracked the actual detecting for a time. I must say that I found the bed hopping of almost every suspect to be a bit much to be believed (and yucky).

Overall though, I enjoyed the way the resolution came about. I also admired the loyalty and firm commitment to Inspector Lynley that his friends and co-workers, Havers and St. James displayed - giving me hope that there is more to him than he appears to be in this episode. Lynley's love interest (Lady Helen) was at times disappointing and somewhat predictable. Why all the angst between these longtime companions is a puzzlement to me. Don't they talk to each other? Maybe more to explain this in the books prior to this one?

a great page turner
This is my first Elizabeth George murder mystery and though it dates from 1989, it reads very here and now. She does an excellent job creating unique characters, each with a special quirk or two. The story has lots of twists without getting overly confusing and she didn't try and tie everything up in a perfect bow at the end. One still feels satisfied, however, with the conclusion.

Challenging and engrossing
Elizabeth George is starting to develop her confidence and skill as a mystery writer in this installment of Lynley and Havers.Too often, particularly in this genre, accolades are bestowed upon undeserving writers.Following up her first book, the award winning A Great Deliverance, with a more complex story that both engages and challenges the reader portends her bright future.The number of characters introduced and the interrelations alluded to forces the reader to reread early exchanges in order to fully appreciate the puzzle.Still, it is not like reading Joyce so don't let my comments scare off less confident readers.A mushy ending that had little to do with the meat of the mystery was the only major flaw in this superb novel. ... Read more

Product Description

He found the body on the forty-third day of his walk . . .

Customer Reviews (178)

Strong characters, powerful setting, but a bit light on plot
It's great to see Inspector Lynley back after the death of his wife, although there are certainly better novels in this excellent series by Elizabeth George.As far as Careless in Red goes, its chief attributes are deep and interesting characters and a tangible feeling of the power of place, in this instance the Cornwall coast.

The weak point here is plotting, which makes this novel less than a page turner yet certainly one to finish, despite its 700+ pages.I don't want to be a spoiler, so I will just say that the story drags somewhat, although it is hard to identify the character 'who done it' until well near the book's end, which I always view as a plus.And the incidental details about tin mining, the itinerant people called 'travelers,' and the sport of surfing add color and interest.(Who knew that England actually had a tourist business built around surfing?)

George's descriptions of Cornwall have convinced me that a trip there must go on my 'bucket list.'The countryside sounds starkly beautiful and the style of life still easy enough to offer genuine relaxation while on a holiday.

Over-written
I enjoyed Ms. George's earlier Lynleys and, of course, the excellent TV adaptations.But at her best the author tends to over-write-- and seems to have become obsessed with dysfunctional families.While this plot could have been interesting, half the book seems to be redundant and repetetive descriptions of families sniping at each other and the lead investigator's angry impressions and comments of just about everyone she encounters.She focuses ad nauseum on one suspect to the exclusion of everything else-- really a very poor detective when you stand back and look at her performance.Lynley here is at least focusing on that little thing call "motive," which Bea seems to have forgotten entirely. Her endless hatred for her divorced husband also wears.Please get back to the plot Ms. George-- and can we have one happy family-- just one? Forsyte.

What was the point?
I finished the book last night, and the story left me with one question, "what was the point of the whole thing?".It took 700+ pages to reveal the murderer who then isn't brought to justice.I realize that justice isn't always served in reality, but that's the thing with fiction.It isn't reality.If I want a story where the murderer isn't necessarily caught, tried, or convicted, all I have to do is read the newspaper where the entire situation is explained in 700 words.I also didn't see the point of Daidre and her story, other than to fill up 100 pages that could have easily been edited out of the book.
Of course, I still don't understand the point of killing off Helen in the previous book in the series, but this entire book seemed pointless once I got to the last page.
It seems pointless is the overall theme of this book, and if that continues to be the case with Elizabeth George's books, I think it will be pointless for me to continue buying them.I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone other than die-hard fans, and even then, I'd hesitate.
Hopefully the next book will be better.

CHARLES KEATING READS CARELESS IN RED
Charles Keating performs well but the script ( book) was not to my taste. Others might find it profound orpsychologically interesting but that is not what I want in a mystery. My taste runs to rather straightforward stories with a limited number of characters and a relatively rapid pace in unfolding the plot. I found this novel wearisome in its seemingly endless delineation of family dramas. I am quite prepared to find that others will revel in the plot and stylistic density as her depressed hero, Thomas Lynley, reluctantly helps lower ranking officers work on the case of an apparent murder. It is a matter of taste; other reviews should help the potential reader sort out the from more positive perspectives. I did not find it a fitting choice for light reading of a fast moving 'who dun it' sort.

careless in red
enjoyable but not as good as some of her other books.always enjoy the lynley series highly recommendWhat happened
before I shot her

... Read more

Product Description

The police never suspected a serial killer was at large until they found the fourth murdered boy -- the first white victim -- his body draped over a tomb in a London graveyard. Suddenly a series of crimes and a potential public relations disaster have Scotland Yard on the defensive, scrambling to apprehend a maniac while avoiding accusations of racism.

Customer Reviews (264)

Two Thumbs Up!Exceptional Character Development!
Although Elizabeth George has received some criticism for the turn this book takes (and I won't reveal), she never fails to amaze with the complexity and flesh-and-blood realness of her characters.The fast pace and twisting plot here will keep you reading way past your bedtime, while the depth and evolution of her characters and their relationships will make you feel like you know and love them yourself.Yes, there is sadness here, but you may shed a tear or two for the warmth, tenderness and loyalty shown in these characters' lives as well as the tragedies they endure.I have read eight of Elizabeth George's books, and this is the best one I have read to date. I'm so glad I haven't read them all yet!

Death of a Child
Elizabeth George reunites Havers and Lynley with a recently promoted Winston Nkata to delve into multiple murders by a serial killer. They worked to find the monster before he strikes again.
The pace is action packed as George delivers a polished police procedural who must endure the slap of racism while trying to do their job.
A good read, that may be over written as the author's work does seem to be rather wordy for the content.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Witness
In this book Elizabeth George acquaints the reader with the processes of tracking a serial killer who is at once ordinary and yet diabolical. The coordination of resources and man power to finally get the killer is detailed and organized. Many leads of followed, but he final result depends, again, on Barbara Havers unique insights and observations. Here ability to connect pieces of information leads to the rescue of Inspector Lynley himself.

In desperate need of an editor
There are some (but few) contemporary writers who can wallow in excess verbiage and pull it off - Reginald Hill is one. Elizabeth George is a prime example of one who cannot.If you are going to take what otherwise would be a ten word sentence and add a another 5, 10 or 15 words just for the fun of it, they had better serve a purpose.

Elizabeth George almost always adds endlessly thoughtless, pointless, redundant words to every sentence, and unless she is being paid by the quantity rather than the quality of her writing, she is just wasting a lot of paper that could better be used in its original form as trees.

With No One As Witness is at the very most, a 300-page story (and that is very generous) hidden in almost 800 pages of absolutely useless typing.More people can type than can write, and Elizabeth George is nothing but a very tedious typist. There might be some valid reason for this kind of writing for very young readers, but for reasonably intelligent adults this book is an affront to everything that makes good writing pleasant.

Beautifully written mystery.
Elizabeth George is second to none as a writer.This is a beautifully-written and moving mystery.Most highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
Deborah and Simon St. James have taken a holiday in the winter landscape of Lancastershire, hoping to heal the growing rift in their marriage.But in the barren countryside awaits bleak news: The vicar of Wimslough, the man they had come to see, is dead—a victim of accidental poisoning.Unsatisfied with the inquest ruling and unsettled by the close association between the investigating constable and the woman who served the deadly meal, Simon calls in his old friend Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley.Together they uncover dark, complex relationships in this rural village, relationships that bring men and women together with a passion, with grief, or with the intention to kill.Peeling away layer after layer of personal history to reveal the torment of a fugitive spirit, Missing Joseph is award-winning author Elizabeth George's greatest achievement.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

Too Many Subplots
A murder in the rectory, but why kill a priest who is about to perform a wedding ceremony? A strong beginning to a plodding novel as too many subplots clog the narrative.
Elizabeth George's MISSING JOSEPH is a must read for fans of B. Havers and Insp. T. Lynley, but it will take some careful reading to match all the characters to their purpose in the story.
Nash Black, author of QUALIFYING LAPS.

Missing Joseph
Elizabeth George has really extended herself in "Missing George"to the point where the whole story borders on the truly unbelievable.We have colorful and well developed characters, multi-faceted plots and subplots, with teenage problems, witchcraft practicing priest's housekeeper, salacious mother, obnoxious rapist constable, and last but not least the British aristocratic ex CID agent, Thomas Linley.Wow...what's left??

Well, there is more.We have thegroom who really doesn't love his pregnant bride to be, who happens to be very very rich, and a priest who doesn't show cause he's been murdered! Then there's the rectory housekeeper who has the hots for the errant groom and vice-versa.When all the above is sorted out and we come to the finish of this convoluted novel, the ending shocks us.Not George's best, by my standard, but readable and reasonably interesting.

E.J. Walden, author of "Operatin Snow Owl"

Writes like a real Brit
It's hard to believe that the author is an American.All of her books are set in England and she writes like a classic British mystery writer.The characters of the recurring actors develop through each new book and her ability to create brief vignettes of new characters is masterful.She can get a bit wordy and tiresome at times -- actually most of the time - but she is well worth reading.

pure George
Last year a friend gave me George's latest work and I got hooked on the life of the main character, Sir Thomas Lynley. After I finished that one, I realized I had to read the earlier works to understand the whole character development. George's attention to detail of the physical as well as the emotional aspects of the story are amazing. If you are a detective/mystery fan, I highly recommend any one of her books as a starting point. They can stand alone or as part of the whole series. Now I have to order a couple more. . . . . .

a fine examination of human nature and self preservation
I must say that I consider Elizabeth George my favorite author, and by far prefer her to P.D. James, who is more highly accaliamed than I understand.But back to this book, I found it to be one of my favorites from George, and I have read them all. One of her greatest strengths as an author is her choice of murderers.She rarely chooses someone who is simply mentally disturbed/perverted/psychopathic hiding in the shadows of some unpleasant trailer.She chooses to examine the killer that we all tend to put out of our mind- the ordinary person who is driven over the edge by extraordinary circumstances.She puts a face and a story with the idea of a murderer, and introduces them to us as a normal character.

Her books do tend to be so intricatly woven that they are probably not for everyone, but I find this writing style refreshing.Fast-paced american thrillers are not very relaxing, though they are entertaining and a quick read.George forces us as readers to slow down and smell the roses... and take in the english countryside... and stay for a cup of tea and a chat.No detail is left unnoticed, no character undeveloped.If this is her fault, it is also her strength.It sets her writing style apart and makes her truly unique in a genere that is synonomous with tired plotlines and standard characters.I hope she continues writing for many years to come! ... Read more

Product Description
Balford-le-Nez is a dying seaside town on the coast of Essex. But when a member of the town’s small but growing Asian community is found murdered near its beach, the sleepy town ignites. Intrigued by the involvement of her London neighbor—Taymullah Azhar—in what appears to be a growing racial conflagration, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers arranges to have herself assigned to the investigation. Setting out on her own, this is one case Havers will have to solve without her longtime partner, Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley—and it’s one of the toughest she’s ever encountered. For Havers must probe not only the mind of a murderer and her emotional response to a case unsettlingly close to her own heart, but also the terrible price people pay for deceiving others . . . and themselves.Amazon.com Review
In Deception on His Mind Sergeant Barbara Havers places herself at the center of an investigation in Essex concerning the mysterious death ofa recently arrived immigrant from Pakistan. Although still recovering fromthe broken ribs and nose (received at the end of In the Presence of theEnemy), Havers convinces herself that she needs to stay on the jobin order to help her neighbor Taymullah Azhar and his elfin daughterHadiyyah who have a familial connection to the dead man. As is typical withElizabeth George's novels (this is the 10th in a popular and powerful series), the murder and its investigation are the central feature of the story. But inthis case they are also the means by which she explores the Pakistaniexperience in a foreign and not always friendly culture. As Havers herselfnotes, the food may well have improved in Britain with an increasinglydiverse population, but that same population has "engendered a score ofpolyglot problems." Whether or not the dead man is a victim of a raciallymotivated crime is only one of the questions Havers tries to sort out. Theresult, with George's typically complex characterizations and deft plot turns,is a deeply satisfying novel. Fans of Havers's superior officer, ThomasLynley, and his lady love Helen Clyde will be disappointed as the twoare off ontheir honeymoon. But with Lynley out of the picture, Havers, with herprickly personality, caustic tongue, and sound investigative skills, comeswell and truly into her own. Nitpickers might question one aspect of thefinal denouement--motive and opportunity are securely in place but the meansare on the outskirts of unbelievable. Still, the book is a rich andenjoyable one that continues to tickle the imagination well after it hasbeen shelved amidst other favorites. --K.A. Crouch ... Read more

Customer Reviews (89)

Havers should butt out or in -- that is the question.
Elizabeth George is the first mystery author that I read who tried to handle the Pakistani population problem in Great Britain. Since that time I've read several and always come to the conclusion that is any vehicle without to lay blame on thewhite racial colonial system that existed before we were born.
Barbara Havers finds an idol whose investigation of a murder is tinged with racial overtones. She is shocked and hurt to discover the woman detective has feet of clay, but it becomes funny when one remembers earlier volumes where Havers damn every man who walked.
Georges' main characters are strong and vivid, but her grasp of social commentary is shallow.
The earlier books in the series are much better mysteries.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Cultural and Religious Errors Detract from Story too Much
I generally like Elizabeth George novels, but this one needed more research, apparently.Her story has at its heart Pakistani Muslims living in the UK, yet George displays shocking ignorance of the culture she spends so many wordy pages writing about.first of all, Pakistani Muslims by and large speak Urdu, not Arabic.Secondly, the dowry in Islam is required to be given from the man to the wife, not the other way around.It is primarily a Hindu, not Muslim, practice for the dowry to go from woman to man, although many Muslim families do prepare their version of a "hope chest" for their daughters to start her out in married life.She misrepresented the roles of women, arranged marriage, and even homosexuality.And she introduced some essential but strange concept of cutting off family that is 100% contrary to Islamic teachings.I wonder if she got her ideas from some amalgamation of Indian Hindu culture and popular media representation of Asians?In any case, it is so wrong on many points that it became impossible to overlook, confusing, and detracting from the story.I think Ms. George didn't try to be insulting by any means, but her lack of proper research is alarming, and it is more alarming that it was published with such inaccuracies, even as a work of fiction.

Havers at Center Stage
Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers is the principal character in this, the ninth of the Detective Lynley mystery novels.(Detective Lynley is away on his honeymoon.)A Pakistani immigrant is murdered in a seaside town where racial tension is already high, and one of the self-appointed leaders of the immigrant community tries to exploit the situation to his own advantage.Barbara's neighbor Taymullah Azhar, who has had some experience in mediating disputes of this kind, is called in to help the Pakistanis.Havers, on enforced leave because of the injuries she sustained in the previous installment (In the Presence of the Enemy), is concerned that he will endanger himself and his daughter Haddiyah, and manages to get herself assigned to the investigation.There is, of course, much more afoot than the murder that launches the story, and Havers soon finds herself at odds with both Azhar and her superior officer, one Emily Barlow, as she tries to find out what is really going on.Barlow is a domineering, take-no-prisoners personality type who is not disposed to tolerate either Havers' independent thinking or her insubordinate style.Their disagreements about the conduct of the investigation soon escalate, and as they close in on a suspect, Havers must make a terrible choice.

There are several things to recommend this novel besides the well-drawn plot: the author's portrayal of anti-immigrant feeling in the small town; the painful conflicts experienced by a young woman who has grown up in England in a traditional Pakistani family; and, most of all, the fuller picture of Barbara Havers.

Deception on His Mind
Book was Excellent.Developement of characters and plot allowed events to move on their own.Events happened as these personalities would have interacted

A favorite in the series
"Deception on his Mind" by Elizabeth George is, as always, a beautifully written book.Again, as always, I wonder how Ms George can get inside the heads of so many disparate characters.She has an awesome talent.

This tale features Barbara Havers as the main detective.The racism in England might be said to be another "character" in the book, and the conflict between the traditional Pakistani culture and the British culture figures prominently.Ms. George eschews the traditional sort of happy ending in books, but this one, nevertheless, is satisfying and rings true. ... Read more

Product Description
"The story begins with my father, actually, and the fact that I'm the one who's answerable for his death.  It was not my first crime, as you will see, but it is the one my mother couldn't forgive."

In her astonishing New York Times bestseller, acclaimed author Elizabeth George reveals the even darker truth behind this startling confession. Playing for the Ashes is a rich tale of passion, murder and love in which Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers once again find themselves embroiled in a case where nothing—and no one—is really what it seems.  Intense, suspenseful and brilliantly written, Playing for the
Ashes will make readers "search out the sleuthing pair's first six adventures...a treasure," as Cosmopolitan predicted in their review. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (55)

A STICKY WICKET
This is a thoroughly enjoyable and superbly crafted book, in which two apparently disparate strands of narrative become woven together, albeit not altogether convincingly. That's to say, there is much reliance on coincidence, and at nearly 700 pages the plot is in danger at times of sinking under its own weight. But that is offset by the interplay between characters, particularly Inspector Lynley and D/S Havers, and you can always skip some of the more introspective passages and cut to the chase. But to give this less than five stars is an insult, particularly when you compare the quality of the prose to that of some of the best-sellers. Note to proof-readers: It's Belleek!

Not up to this author's usual standards
I love Elizabeth George's Lynley / Havers series, but this particular novel has been a huge disappointment. The characters are so unappealing that you don't care wha happens to them at the end. The plot - or rather, a weird jumble of unconnected bits and pieces that pass for a plot - is very boring. A large chunk of the novel is narrated by a character who is so pompous that it is painful to read her endless musings about nothing.
The good news, though, is that this is probably the weakest book in the series. So pick up any other novel by George and you will be in for a real treat.

Great Plot--Poor Characters
The character of Olivia in Elizabeth George's PLAYING FOR THE ASHES is just plain weird. Despite the intricate plotting and intricate story line it was a difficult book to finish.
As a writer of romance Ms. George does not excel. Lynley and Helen seem pathetic cross matches rather than friends on the way to the alter. Maybe Ms. George should invest in a critical editor.
PLAYING FOR THE ASHES is not the worst in this series, but it will run it a close second.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS.

Skip this one
Skip this one if you are an Elizabeth George fan.There is not one sympathetic character in the lot, save Lynley and Havers and Lynley doesn't come off that good. Olivia is despicable and goes on and on for pages that should have disappeared under the editor's red pen.I suppose no one dares edit George now that she is such a huge success.Pity.The rest of the characters are totally without redemption, especially Jimmy, who may have the filthiest mouth yet.A little British slang goes a long way.Every other word about procreation is just too much.

Another excellent George
Elizabeth George continues her string of successful British mysteries (amazing, as she is an American).Even minor characters such as the milkman who appears for a few pages are believable people, and the plot is nicely complicated, involving the death of a cricket player (have no fear, my fellow Americans...it is not necessary to know anything about the game).The one discouraging note is that Inspector Lynley continues in his determination to marry Helen even though, as he admits on one page, she is entirely unsuitable for him. ... Read more

Product Description
Calder Moor is a wild and deadly place: many have been trapped in the myriad limestone caves, lost in collapsed copper mines, injured on perilous gritstone ridges. But this time, when two bodies are discovered in the shadow of the ancient circle of stones known as Nine Sisters Henge, it is clearly not a case for Mountain Rescue. The corpses are those of a young man and woman. Each met death in a different fashion. Each died violently. To Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, brought in to investigate by special request, this grisly crime promises to be one of the toughest assignments of his career. For the unfortunate Nicola Maiden was the daughter of a former officer in an elite undercover unit, a man Lynley once regarded as a mentor. Now, as Lynley struggles to find out if Nicola's killer was an enemy of her father's or one she earned herself, a disgraced Barbara Havers, determined to redeem herself in the eyes of her longtime partner, crisscrosses London seeking information on the second murder victim. Yet the more dark secrets Lynley and Havers uncover, the more they learn that neither the victims nor the suspects are who they appear to be. And once again they come up against the icy realization that human relationships are often murderous...and that the blood that binds can also kill.
Amazon.com Review
Award-winning novelist Elizabeth George (A Great Deliverance,Well-Schooled inMurder) returns with In Pursuit of a Proper Sinner, her10th installment in the Lynley-Havers series. Detective InspectorThomas Lynley has his work cut out for him: two mutilated corpses arefound in a prehistoric stone circle in Derbyshire. One is the daughterof Lynley's former mentor, Andy Maiden.

What's more, theinspector's partner, Barbara Havers, has been suspended and is facingcriminal charges of assault and attempted murder. Was Havers reallysaving a drowning child or was she disobeying orders? Why, then, didshe fire a rifle at the detective chief inspector, and how couldLynley ethically justify it? As he grapples with the ramifications ofhis partner's radical insubordination, the case in Derbyshire grows indaunting complexity.

Once again, Elizabeth George delivers anintricately woven plot, which efficiently navigates the reader throughnearly 600 pages. Along the way, readers will be introduced to adelightful cast of supporting characters from the dowdy Phoebe whofinds the first gory cadaver to the stately Andy Maiden: "His face wasdrawn with exhaustion, and his growth of peppery whiskers fanned outfrom his moustache and shadowed his cheeks." And, of course, fans willget an eyeful of George's trademark, her vivid descriptions of death:"At her feet, a young man lay curled like a foetus, dressedhead-to-toe in nothing but black, with that same colour puckeringburnt flesh from eye to jaw on one side of his face." --RebekahWarren ... Read more

Customer Reviews (134)

Partners at Odds
Elizabeth George's IN THE PURSUIT OF THE PROPER SINNER interweaves B. Havers and Insp. T. Lynley fighting each other with the smash production of David King-Ryder.
King-Ryder after two stage disasters works his magic and achieves a hit, before he kills himself.
The artistic character development and dense plotting of this novel will keep you reading late into the night. George keeps getting better and better as we explore her main characters and discover new personalities that lead to murder and death.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS.

Vintage George!
In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner by Elizabeth George is yet another mystery unlike any other.In this tale Inspector Lynley, the sleek aristocrat and his partner, the rumpled Constable Havers are at odds.He is always social perfection, but plagued by introspective doubts.She is a fashion train wreck and lucky if her socks match, but she knows who she is and doesn't waste time tearing herself up about it.Havers is one of my favorite characters because she so wonderfully depicts the attitudes of the English commoner.
While Lynley follows the evidence, but is hampered by his personal feelings about the suspects, Havers doesn't like the evidence and strikes out on her own to find new clues.The story is filled with interesting characters and places as the two sleuths shift constantly from blindly following their gut instincts to being coldly logical.Lynley's logical "by the book" investigation leads him from the murder scene on the moors to an elegant bed and breakfast, then to a crumbling manor house.While Havers' gut instincts send her bustling through the city's modern art scene and stumbling onto a social network of sadomasochists. The real question you keep asking yourself is which one is on the right trail.Like all George's stories you get to know places you've never been to and look deep into the people that inhabit them.A great read.

A Great Read
Elizabeth Georges books are always a great read! Her characters are wonderful and plots are always as twisted as a pretzel!

Makes you go 'Du-uh!'
I've read this book twice; when it first came out, and again this summer. Of course, the second time around I knew who the killer was, and remembered most of the plot, however, I do so enjoy George's earlier work that I've started re-reading her.
I've recommended, and will continue to recommend Elizabeth George's earlier work to anyone who likes a good suspence mystery or just an interesting, well-written read.
I've read them in order, but they don't need to be - she fills you in on what you may have missed, but does it in a way that makes you want to read a previous book in the series, in case you missed one.

Come to the point, already
I can't help but compare this book to the books of the mistress of the British murder mystery, Dame Agatha Christie. Agatha Christie could write a book with a good, tight plot that could keep you guessing to the very end without being 400+ pages long. I'm all for a good read, but I don't have to have the life's story of each character and know every passing mood or thought. This, to me, was character development at its most mind-numbingly boring pace. And I don't like Lynley. For a person who supposedly despises being reminded that he's an aristocrat, he certainly has some superior and condescending attitudes. Not a very matey fellow, our posh Lynley. I wanted to kick him in the arse. ... Read more

Product Description
When thirteen-year-old Matthew Whately goes missing from Bredgar Chambers, a prestigious public school in the heart of West Sussex, aristocratic Inspector Thomas Lynley receives a call for help from the lad's housemaster, who also happens to be an old school chum.Thus, the inspector, his partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, and forensic scientist Simon Allcourt-St. James find themselves once again outside their jurisdiction and deeply involved in the search for a child—and then, tragically, for a child killer.Questioning prefects, teachers, and pupils closest to the dead boy, Lynley and Havers sense that something extraordinarily evil is going on behind Bredgar Chambers's cloistered walls.But as they begin to unlock the secrets of this closed society, the investigation into Matthew's death leads them perilously close to their own emotional wounds—and blinds them to the signs of another murder in the making....


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Any Elizabeth George novel
Ever since reading the first Elizabeth George, Inspector Lynley novel, I've been a great fan. It's amazing how they could also create a series on Masterpiece Mystery where the characters are basically the same, but different. Good show.

Class Distinctions
The brutal torture and murder of school boy MatthewWhateley send Linley and Havers into the world of the British public school system. Havers' disdain for the British class system is down played in this intricately plotted novel.
Elizabeth George in WELL-SCHOOLED IN MURDER delves into the behind the scenes of British education system to the boys who build their own class within closed walls, which allows the older students to subjugate the younger ones to their rule.
Fans of this series will enjoy the exploration of the lives of Simon St. James and his wife Deborah.
A thoughtful presentation of an on going problem in all school systems.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS.

Well Schooled in Murder
Well written and easy to follow.The subject was pretty grisly.I'm not a mystery reader but my sister suggested I would like Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley.Liked his character a lot.Typical mystery these days where there are about 5-6 people who could have committed the murder.You don't find out until the final pages.Her style of writing is enjoyable.

Well Done!
Well Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth George is more a psychological drama couched in an English murder mystery, but then the best English murder stories always are.The author manages to shed light in dark places while being both entertaining and enlightening.A must read for all those who love classic English murder mysteries.
The murder of a poor boy at a school for wealthy children becomes the emotional trigger that sets everyone looking into themselves for who is to blame.Everyone was so involved with their own problems and keeping those problems secret that it is several days before the boy is even missed.It is how the characters respond to the building pressure as bit by bit their secrets are uncovered that creates the suspense and that's what makes this story unique. No one is afraid of the killer, they're all afraid of being found out.
Weaving continually through the story is a strong indictment against the traditional education of the wealthy.A boy born into a rich family is treated like a little prince.He has servants to do his every biding, eats only the best food and frolics away his days on the family's grand estate.Then he turns twelve and is booted off to a school that is cold, ugly and too far away for anyone to hear him screaming.He has to share a room with other boys and the food is terrible.His teachers range from senile to sadistic and violent bullying is laughed off as part of the coming of age ritual.Almost all British aristocrats pass through this trial by fire and that's why they always stand together, inside they are still frightened little boys, fearful of what will happen if they break ranks.
The students fear a loss of honor if they talk and the younger ones also fear retribution from the older ones.Detective Lynley went to the same kind of school, and feels the same pressures even now; most of the staff is in the same emotional bind.The `don't tattle' tradition is so pervasive that even those who are willing to talk, don't know who to talk too, everyone but the boy's parents and Sergeant Havers seems to have an old school tie.
There are numerous suspects and almost too many motives, but if you read carefully you might ferret out who killed the boy just before Lynley does.Like all great detective stories, it is a puzzle; by carefully piecing together the evidence Lynley follows the trail that leads to the last import clue, the old school tie.

Solid Mystery; Fast-Paced
"Well-Schooled in Murder" is the first Inspector Lynley novel I've ever read, and I must say that I liked it quite a bit. I see now from reading some other reviews on Amazon that it is probably best to read these novels in order, but I really had very little trouble figuring out the personal issues the characters were dealing with.

This is a solid, tightly-plotted book with tons of clues, red-herrings, and all the conventional trappings mystery fans expect of a British detective novel. In many ways, it goes above and beyond the typical mystery novel, in that George takes quite a bit of time to explain the inner workings of her characters. I must say that in the case of Deborah and Simon, I skipped over pages and pages of Deborah's incessant whining about her previous abortion and state of her marriage. It felt like such a conservative-esque cliche: woman has abortion, regrets it, and OOPS, now can't get pregnant and is tormented incessantly by this choice. This sub-plot had absolutely nothing (let me repeat that: nothing) to do with the mystery at hand, and I found it rather tiring to slog through. Perhaps I would have cared more about these people if I had read the earlier novels, but I found the book coming to a screeching halt any time Deborah or Simon was on the page.

Lynley himself is a well-drawn character, although he makes one decision about not turning in an admitted pedophile that I found morally repugnant. Apart from that and the moments with Deborah/Simon, this was a really great book that moves along at a quick pace, always giving the reader something to chew on. I will definitely be reading more novels in this series. ... Read more

Product Description

New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George serves up a century's worth of superb crime fiction penned by women. This veritable all-star team delivers tales of dark deeds that will keep you reading long into the night. Included are these works:

Customer Reviews (8)

A Moment on the Edge.
This was an amazing book for me. It brought back reminders of some great writers.
I cut my mystery reading teeth with these women and now I will search out some
titles that I may have passed by, the first time around.

Terrific Anthology
This is an excellent collection of short mysteries written by women writers and compiled by Elizabeth George.Having read all of George's novels, this inspires me to read many of the writers represented in this short-story anthology.

Great for Mystery Lovers
Elizabeth George is such a good mystery writer that it's no surprise that she'd edit a great collection of mystery stories. All are well-written and suspenseful. This book is a perfect gift for a mystery lover.

Great
I was very satisfied with the books, and I got them very fast, within couple days.

Fantastic book
I'm not normally a fan of short stories, but I decided that I couldn't pass up a book edited by one of my favorite writers, Elizabeth George. And I'm certainly glad that I gave this book a chance! It is filled with deliciously chilling stories that will haunt you long after you finish them. ... Read more

Product Description

A new cover and fresh updates enrich Elizabeth George’s bestsellingA Woman After God’s Own Heart^®(over 735,000 copies sold). This very popular selection for personal and groupstudy is filled with rich advice, spiritual wisdom, and practical applications.

With passion and personality, Elizabeth George shares how a woman canfollow God and seek His heart in every area of her life—

• her husband
• her children
• her home
• her walk with the Lord
• her ministry

There is peace and purpose for the woman who prepares her heart and mindto embrace God’s plan every day. This new look will complement the otherbestselling Elizabeth George titles loved by millions of women.

Customer Reviews (21)

Wife loved teh book
My wife had heard of this book from a friend so i got it for her she loved it

Challenging
This is not an easy book for a 21st century woman to embrace.I found it somewhat redundant - the point is made time and again that every aspect of our lives as women is to be put in God's hands through prayer - but the examples actually drove home the point in entertaining ways, so it wasn't boring.The difficult part didn't come because of the Christian teachings in the book, but in the level of faith the author exhorts us to have when we place all aspects of our lives into God's care.There are plenty of scripture references to ensure that sound Biblical principles underly the author's assertions.I hghly recommend this book.

wonderful book for wives and brides to be
I original checked this book out at my local library 2 months before my wedding and received some very helpful instructions from it so I decided to purchase it and read it from the beginning along with the study guide. I've enjoyed reading it and have taken the instruction given to heart.

book
A must read for every woman. Arrived in perfect condition and in a timely manner. Thank you!

good stuff
I have not read through the whole book yet but so far its a GREAT read!
It was SUPER fast shipping, I blinked and it was here! ... Read more

Product Description
In one of her most compelling mysteries, bestselling novelist Elizabeth George explores the darker landscapes of human relationships. Here she tells a gripping, suspenseful story of betrayal and devotion, war and remembrance, love and loss . . . and the higher truths to which we must all ultimately answer.

An isolated beach on the island of Guernsey in the English Channel is the scene of the murder of Guy Brouard, one of Guernsey’s wealthiest inhabitants and its main benefactor. Forced as a child to flee the Nazis in Paris, Brouard was engaged in his latest project when he died: a museum honoring those who resisted the German occupation of the island during World War II. It is from this period that his murderer may well have come. But there are others on Guernsey who want Guy Brouard dead. As forensic scientist Simon St. James and his wife, Deborah, soon discover, seemingly everyone on the history-haunted island has something to hide. . . . And behind all the lies and alibis, a killer is lurking.Amazon.com Review
In this latest from bestseller Elizabeth George, China River, recuperating from a failed love affair, agrees to accompany her ne'er-do-well brother Cherokee to the Channel Islands to hand-deliver a set of architectural drawings to an expatriate millionaire whose plans to fund a museum commemorating the war-time exploits of his Guernsey neighbors comes a cropper after he's found dead under suspicious circumstances. George spins an intricate and lively plot that spotlights the efforts of series regulars Deborah and Simon St. John to help Deborah's old friends free themselves; in the process, she introduces a fascinating cast of secondary characters, many of whom had much more obvious motives to wish Guy Brouard dead than the California siblings who seem tailor-made for a frame-up. A fine addition to George's ouevre, this thirteenth outing in her popular series will delight her fans. --Jane Adams ... Read more

Customer Reviews (117)

Island in the Past
Elizabeth George switches focus from Lynley and Havers to Simon St. James and his wife Deborah in A PLACE OF HIDING, which makes this one of my favorites of the series as I get bored with the repeats of class distinction between Havers and Lynley.
A "vacation" take Simon and Deborah to the island of Guernsey, but the murder of museum curator Guy Brouard pikes their interest. Brouard fled Paris as a child from the Nazi occupation. His museum proposes to honor the resistance to the German occupation.
Place plays a strong role in this noir mystery of past, present. lies and truth, and greed of a time that can never be forgotten.
An excellent read at any time.

A good book for a foggy afternoon (or several)
First off, 500 pages is too long for a murder mystery.Having said that, this one is pretty good.I never figured out who the perp was til the very end, and I was surprised.I enjoyed the Channel Island setting and the secrets held by the islanders were intriguing.The plot and mystery were very good.The characters were a mixed bag.Deborah, the star of the show, was a jerk from beginning to end, especially the "you never understood me" speech in the middle of a stake out. Sheesh!The most admirable characters were Ruth-the-Sister and Taboo-the-dog.Actually, of all the characters, I liked Taboo the best.The ending was surprising and to be honest, didn't entirely make sense.But it was a page-turner!

A captivating waste of time
Ms. George is a wonderful writer with a flair for character development that unfortunately makes you feel that you know the characters by the time you're halfway through the book.Unfortunate because they are pretty generally obnoxious and leave you rather less interested in whodunnit than in why the murderer limited his/her attention to only a single victim.

Add a quirky heroine who's determined to find out if divine providence for the foolhardy really trumps the law of natural selection, a puzzle over why the Axis would have had a pineapple grenade ("pineapples" were US; the Nazis used "potato mashers"), and ...

It's a captivating read but when you finish, you'll probably wish you'd spent the time clearing the rubbish out of the garage or bathing the dog instead.

A Different Suspense Story
As one who enjoys the mystery/suspense genre, I found this book to be a refrehing change of pace. Rather than hooking the reader with one twist after another, the writer takes the approach of a Fiction Writer. The book is lengthy and gains strength from the ability of the Author to develop locations and characters with numerous layers of believability. The length of the book coupled with its paucity of action may have led many reviewers to of this work in a negative manner. The Writer is an American yet this work is set on a British Island. Had I not read the biography, it would have seemed that a writer fom The British Isles had composed this work. She falls in love with her characters and their foibles a bit too frequently, yet this was found to a saisfying, although not page turning read.

Will be enjoyed by fans of the series
It had been a while since I had read an Elizabeth George book, but picked right up again with her distinctive writing style. This book focused on Simon St. James, the crippled forensic scientist, and his much-young wife Deborah, as they investigated the murder of an elderly Jewish mogul on the island of Guernsey.

I had no idea of the unique history of the island of Guernsey and that it was occupied by the Nazis during World War II. George did a great job of incorporating this history organically into the story. The mystery was complex and engrossing, and the characters endearing and compelling. This book is a real page-turner!

On the down side, the hyperemotionalism of George's characters had left me weary in the past, and did again with this outing. Aren't these people supposed to be British? The solution to the murder was contrived, and the climax relied on the "talking killer" device to reveal all.

All in all, this novel will be enjoyed by fans of the series but won't win George any new fans.

Reviewer: Liz Clare, co-author of "To the Ends of the Earth: The Last Journey of Lewis & Clark" ... Read more

Product Description

Elizabeth George takes readers through a thought–provokingstudy of Peter’s teachings on handling trials and persecutions, including:suffering for doing good; understanding the mysteries of God; and fanning theflame of faith. The special “heart response” sections offer readers suggestionsto help them apply biblical truths to their lives and focus on the amazingglory God promises.

Customer Reviews (5)

Light 10 Minute Studies
This book is good for the busy woman. I can usually do one lesson every morning as it only takes about 10 minutes. Also, it gives suggestions for ideas for deeper study if you want as well.

Wonderful Insights into Much Needed Truth
Elizabeth George writes with a very personal style which makes the reader feel that you are learning and growing together with her.She writes without apology from a woman's viewpoint, laying out the truth of God's Word and letting the Word speak for itself.The truth of 1 Peter about the qualities of a gentle and quiet spirit are so misunderstood in our day.We are reminded of how precious they are to God and how beautiful is the woman who seeks after these qualities.The author greatly encourages the pursuit of knowing God and becoming a woman of God.This book is a classic for women, showing that the woman who has these qualities also gains quiet strength and beauty.

Peace....
of mind is what comes after doing this study on 1Peter. Elizabeth George brings to the table a life that is walking in peace and she wants to share her experience with you.

Best for Women's Studies
This amazing little study put together by Elizabeth George is currently being used by our church's women's class. It has encouraged much discussion, is clearly Biblical, and simple, yet direct. There is no doubt left in any person's mind that this study is relevent for women of today who are facing many complex issues, and need Biblical hope and direction in problem solving for the future. Give this book a try for a young women's new study, small group, etc. You will not be disappointed !!

great book to study
I led a Bible study last year on 1Peter and we really felt God convicting us as how to depend on Him to make us gentle and quiet.At first we kept feeling that we really blew it but as we progressed we knew that it had to be the grace of God to help us conform to the image of Christ.I find Mrs. George's books very much in line with the written word of God and a real encouragement to live our lives to His glory. ... Read more

Product Description
Calder Moor is a wild and deadly place: many have been trapped in the myriad limestone caves, lost in collapsed copper mines, injured on perilous ridges. But when two bodies are discovered in the shadow of the ancient circle of stones known as Nine Sisters Henge, it is clearly not a case for Mountain Rescue. The corpses are those of a young man and woman. Each met death in a different fashion. Each died violently. To Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, this grisly crime promises to be one of the toughest of his career. For the unfortunate Nicola Maiden was the daughter of a former officer in an elite undercover unit, a man Lynley once regarded as a mentor. Now, as Lynley struggles to find out if Nicola’s killer was an enemy of her father’s or one she earned herself, Barbara Havers, his longtime partner, crisscrosses London seeking information on the second victim. Yet the more dark secrets Lynley and Havers uncover, the more they learn that neither the victims nor the suspects are who they appear to be…that human relationships are often murderous…and that the blood that binds can also kill. ... Read more

Product Description
Elizabeth George’s Loving God with All Your Mind (more than 200,000 copies sold) has been revised and expanded. Elizabeth lets women know that loving the Lord involves action! Focusing on six main scripture passages, she helps readers understand what it means to truly—

* let your mind think on what is true about God and about life

* grasp and move toward God’s purpose for life

* trust the Lord in all things

Drawing on biblical wisdom as well as personal experience, Elizabeth helps women handle their emotions and discover inner peace that comes from focusing on what is true. She shares six powerful Bible truths that will help readers draw closer to God and know His joy and love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (24)

Excellent Book
I read this book years ago. I am using it now as I mentor a 17 year old girl. The chapters are a nice length to read and discuss. I am gleaning as much from the study as I hope she is!

Meditate on the truth
Taking Phil. 4:8 and breaking it down into the things we are commanded to focus on. One of those things in whatsoever things are true. What is true is this book is really helping me change my thought process and how I approach my doubt.

In great condition
I ordered this book for my Bible Study group.I received it in a timely manner.the book was also in near perfect condition.Would definately recommend this selller again.

Loving God with All Your Mind
Thank God for this book. It have change my spiritual life.I hope one day I can use this book to teach other how to love God with all there mind.Thank you Ms.George.LaWanda

Loving God with All Your Mind
Elizabeth George writes clearly and with compassion for women.This book was first published in 1994, and it remains solidly biblical and very practical for today's living.It's one to re-read and give to others, especially busy women who are struggling with anxiety and lots of responsibilities. ... Read more

Product Description

What will keep believers growing in fruitfulness in theirwalk with God? Elizabeth George, author of A Woman After God’s Own Heart,beautifully and practically leads readers to a deeper understanding of what itmeans to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in their lives.

With a fresh look at “those gracious habits which the HolySpirit produces in the Christian,” Liz helps readers discover—

• the attitudes of love, joy, and peace
• the actions of patience, kindness, and goodness
• the disciplines of faithfulness, gentleness, and self–control

The author’s warm, personal style easily lends itself tosmall group study. A 13–week study guide is included. This book was formerlytitled God’s Garden of Grace.

Customer Reviews (10)

Great Experience
Great experience.I received the book quickly and am enjoying reading it.This is a really good book.

Great price, product and shipping
I was very pleased with my recent order from this seller.The book was in excellent condition, as described.It arrived quickly and was nearly 1/2 the cost of other sources.I hope to order from zpcbooks again!

Worth The Time
I lead a womens ministry group and was looking for a book we could use to study the fruit of the spirit. It turns out my selection was a good one. This is an easy to read easy to understand book that breaks down the fruit of the spirit and how it relates to our daily living in a way the group appreciates.

A Woman's Walk with God
I love Elizabeth George as an author. She is very practical and easy to read and understand. She sticks to Scripture in her book and she encourages her readers to do the same. I would highly recommend this book and any of her other books to use in women's groups or just for personal pleasure.

Growing in the Fruit of the SpiritBook review
This has been a very insightful book not only telling us what the Fruit of the Spirit is but how to apply it to everyday living. Elizabeth George is a treasure!! ... Read more

Product Description
Hailed as the "king of sleaze," tabloid editor Dennis Luxford is used to ferreting out the sins and scandals of people in exposed positions.But when he opens an innocuous-looking letter addressed to him at The Source, he discovers that someone else excels at ferreting out secrets as well.

Ten-year-old Charlotte Bowen has been abducted, and if Luxford does not admit publicly to having fathered her, she will die.But Charlotte's existence is Luxford's most fiercely guarded secret, and acknowledging her as his child will throw more than one life and career into chaos.Luxford knows that the story of Charlotte's paternity could make him a laughingstock and reveal to his beautiful wife and son the lie he's lived for a decade.Yet it's not only Luxford's reputation that's on the line: it's also the reputation—and career—of Charlotte Bowen's mother.For she is Undersecretary of State for the Home Office, one of the most high-profile Junior Ministers and quite possibly the next Margaret Thatcher.

Knowing that her political future hangs in the balance, Eve Bowen refuses to let Luxford damage her career by printing the story or calling the police.So the editor turns to forensic scientist Simon St. James for help.It's a case that fills St. James with disquiet, however, for none of the players in the drama seem to react the way one would expect.

Then tragedy occurs and New Scotland Yard becomes involved.Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley soon discovers that the case sends tentacles from London into the countryside, and he must simultaneously outfox death as he probes Charlotte Bowen's mysterious disappearance.Meanwhile, his partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, working part of the investigation on her own and hoping to make the coup of her career, may be drawing closer to a grim solution—and to danger—than anyone knows.

In the Presence of the Enemy is a brilliantly insightful and haunting novel of ideals corrupted by self-interest, of the sins of parents visited upon children, and of the masks that hide people from each other—and from themselves.


From the Paperback edition.Amazon.com Review
In her previous novels, including the bestselling Playing for the Ashes, George has developed the characters of forensic scientist Simon St. James, Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers to a fine degree.In this, her eighthnovel, the secret love child of an ambitious politician and a sleazy tabloidpublisher is kidnapped.When Scotland Yard gets involved, Lynley and Havers must elude death as they search for the child and her kidnappers.An insightful and haunting novel of ideals corrupted and retribution visitedupon the heads of the innocent. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (64)

George at her best
Elizabeth George is at the height of her impressive narraive powers in this great novel.IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ENEMY is beautifully constructed. Everything comes together at the endand no question is lef unanswered. The mystery is absolutely gripping.

Barbara Havers receives a lot of attention in this novel. In my opinion, she is the most complex and unique character you can find in any popular mystery series currently out. It is great that this novel offers the readers a chance to learn more about this fascinating character.

Great way to escape
As always with this author, there is excellent character development, but in this case the character at the center of the story is particularly unpleasant.It's a tribute to the author's skill that the reader can be drawn in so deeply while being repulsed by a character who is so deliberately drawn as evil/self absorbed/narcissistic.Great job!

Remarkable book
I bought this book for a dollar at a library's used book stall.I would never have thought that I'd be able to overpay for a hardcover book at a dollar, but I did for this one.Not so much of a detective novel and more of a soap opera -- with a heavy dose of fantasy.If you're interested in a classical procedural, or even credible characters, look elsewhere.

Excellent mystery novel, Problems with main characters
Ms. George's series of mysteries involving Lynley and Havers are wonderful despite some of the criticisms I list below.In the Presence of the Enemy is a vehicle that shows Elizabeth George's technical skills as both a mystery novelist and a wordsmith.The story is sufficiently complex and intriguing to provide a memorable and enjoyable journey.

Despite the very positive review the main characters have their flaws and this book really magnifies many of these. First, it is clear that St. James is George's favorite character.He is the source of almost limitless wisdom, intelligence and charisma.St. James compares so favorably to Lynley as a man and a detective that it is disconcerting that he doesn't take up more time in her novels.In fact, St. James solves this whole mystery despite being left out of the whole second half of the book.It is such an obvious flaw to the construction of the book that even though I really loved the novel I felt annoyed at Lynley for being such a lout.After all if he wasn't such a jerk St. James would have figured the whole thing out sooner and I would have been able to read the next P D James book. Second, Lynley and Havers are really not all that likable.They are not particularly great detectives and at times they both are down right immature.Lynley's rant at the beginning of the second half of the book which I alluded to before was virtually unjustifiable and really plain ugly.Havers is simply fat and ugly.We all get what she looks like and it is an interesting flaw but what can be done with ugly. The series needs more likable people.In Martha Grimes' novels Jury and Plant are so much more fun.They have sparkling personalities that transcend the action.Grimes' books are not quite as serious so it is not totally fair to bring up Jury and Plant but even Rebus and Siobhan in Rankin's series are more fun than Lynley and Havers.Third, Helen is a terrible character.She is really only good at diffusing tension in awkward social situations.The real problem with Helen is that she is written as a literary foil to Barbara Havers.This is fine but Lynley and Havers have good chemistry so it is tough to think he would fall in love with the anti Havers simply because she is pretty and socially adept.It again says something bad about Lynley which is really getting to be a problem with this series.

some anachronisms damage the credibility
(Spoiler alert!) The time is contemporaneous, therefore late 20th c. but there are ancient habited nuns staffing a Roman Catholic girls' school in London. The girl who is kidnapped has as her nanny, an older slow poorly educated, slovenly Irishwoman who prays all day. Both of these concepts were dead by 1960 at the latest. All busy MP's of that era and cirrently would hire a top-notch nanny for their child. Similarly, Luxford, the sleazy editor of a leading tabloid, is indirectly responsible for both kidnappings due to his previous careless and exploitative sexual habits,one responsible for the kidnapping of their child, which, somehow, his gorgeous wife easily forgives. An unlikely forgiveness. ... Read more

Product Description

Anger . . . Jealousy . . . Gluttony . . . Sloth . . . Lust . . . Greed . . . Pride . . .

Customer Reviews (8)

Interesting Collection
"Two of the Deadliest" is a collection of 23 short stories specifically centered on "two of the deadliest" of the seven deadly sins: lust and greed.Of the stories, 18 are written by women already established in the genre and 5 by female newcomers.As in most short story collections, there are hits and misses in this volume, but the newcomers do score with what is perhaps the best story of them all, Z. Kelley's "Anything Helps."And, surprisingly, one of the weaker stories in the collection comes from the book's editor, Elizabeth George.

Many of the stories are set in contemporary, big city America, but there are also side trips to France (in the 1920s), rural California (in 1916), rural Texas (in the 1930s) and contemporary Ireland.The narrators of "Two of the Deadliest's" audio version were well chosen and, with an exception or two, were nicely matched to the stories they read.I did, however, find both the toneof the story titled "Enough to Stay the Winter" (by Gillian Linscott) and that of its reader to be particularly dull.I still cannot decide whether I should blame that more on the story or the reader.

Of the book's 23 stories, I most enjoyed "Everything Helps" by one of the newcomers, Z. Kelley.Despite its violence, this is a rather endearing story about a single mother so desperate for the money she needs to pay for her son's urgent surgery that she takes a cashier job in a Las Vegas storefront that combines slot machines and sales of pornographic material from a back room.The woman befriends a homeless man who panhandles on the street outside the storefront and surprises herself by how much she looks forward to seeing him each day.This story is solid all the way through, and its ending is a memorable one. Kelley is a good storyteller and she has filled her story with remarkable characters: the two Arab brothers who run the little casino, the cashier's mother and son, her co-worker, and the homeless man who gives her the courage to go on with life.

I also particularly enjoyed Wendy Hornsby's alternate history version of Jack London's death, "The Violinist."This one, set in 1916 during London's last days, speculates about the people who surrounded London at the end of his life and whether or not one of them might have had a personal reason for wanting to see him dead.Was it suicide or murder?Hornsby builds a good case for the latter while introducing the reader to some of the people and problems London was dealing with at the end of his life.

The beauty of a large collection of stories like this one is the likelihood that there will be stories in it to please any reader.Whether or not different readers will agree about which are the best stories is a whole other question, and that is another part of the fun.Frankly, I could take or leave most of the stories in the book because they struck me as pretty average.Of the 23, I would say that about half a dozen are outstanding, ten are average, and the rest are not very good.I will leave it up to future readers to decide for themselves which are which.

I do have one final thought, however, concerning Elizabeth George's contribution to the book, "Lusting for Jenny."The story is passable all the way up to the ending George chose for it.As the story progressed (no spoilers here), I could see the possibility of a clichéd ending ahead, but I hoped that it would not be chosen by George.Unfortunately, that is exactly what she used - and it is that ill chosen ending that will first come to mind any time I think about "Two of the Deadliest."

Rated at: 3.0

An anti review
I'll start my review by saying I haven't purchased this one. I enjoy Elizabeth George and have read all her books and was ready to purchase this one until I looked at the prices. I SEE NO REASON TO PAY MORE FOR A KINDLE VERSION THAN A PAPERBACK. Obviously the publisher is being greedy/sly in setting the price for Amazon and I won't go along with it. I hope that having brought this to your attention will make you think twice about purchasing.

What a disappointment...
I'm not sure why I tried this. I used to be a big fan of Elizabeth George but with her last three books have started wondering if she is having someone else write for her.This collection seems to absolve her of that. Elizabeth at her worst, which is not very good, is unfortunately still better than this dreck.

I should make a confession:I didn't read more than half of the stories. I just couldn't do any more. I believe that some of her students wrote some of these stories. All that I read were amateurish. A couple seemed to hold some promise, in fact the one I stopped with was interesting, but fell on it's face.

I know this isn't a review of Ms. George but perhaps it offers a clue as to what has happened to her writing. It grieves me to say that I won't purchase anything else she is associated with, either as author or editor.

Damn, and I liked her stuff so much...

Hate short stories when novels expected!
I don't even want to read the darn thing.I hate ordering what I think is a novel when it turns out to be a collections of short stories.MARK THEM CLEARLY!!!

would not purchase again
This was not at all what I had hoped for.................several stories were good, most just seemed thrown together for a quick sale. Don't bother. ... Read more

Product Description

Beautiful in God’s Eyes (more than 200,000 sold) has a brand–new cover and fresh inside look! Guiding womenthrough Proverbs 31, beloved Bible teacher Elizabeth George shows how Goddefines beauty and reveals how His “plan for success” is totally achievable.

Insightful and practical, this book reveals how women can make each day meaningful anddelight in what God accomplishes through them. Readers will discover how to...

• experience progress toward goals
• manage daily life more effectively
• tap into unlimited energy
• apply God’s principles to relationships

Women will feel greater confidence and enjoy rich dailyrewards as they realize who they are in Christ and what they can do when theyfollow His formula for true beauty.

Customer Reviews (28)

To know you are beautiful
As a young Christian woman, I read this book hoping to glean some wisdom from Elizabeth George. All of my expectations were surpassed. After reading about thirty pages, I began wondering why I hadn't read it sooner. Elizabeth George breaks Proverbs 31 down, verse by verse--giving each verse, from 10 on, its very own chapter. This book is not only insightful and eye opening, but also very encouraging. For any woman seeking to live a Godly life, desiring for her time on Earth to be spent doing His will, and hoping to become more like Christ, this book is a must read! "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."

Stacy Padula, Author of Montgomery Lake High #1: The Right Person

Spectacular
Radiant book.Excellent.Beautiful.Well written.Easy to follow.Challenging.Encouraging.I'm reading it by myself (not in a group study).And I did not get the companion study book to go along with it.Alone, it is good.Worth reading.Enjoy.

I haven't received this book.
I ordered this book on June 4, but I haven't received this book yet. I read this book before from my friend's library. And I like it very much. It really help me to grow in the Lord. So, I really want to have my own copy. I hope I can receive this book as soon as possible.

A Great Book For Every Woman!
I recommend this text for any woman wanting practical guidance on becoming what God wants her to be: Virtuous!!
The women of my church have recently created a book club, and BEAUTIFUL IN GOD'S EYES is our first.

Don't judge the author by this book
I absolutely love Elizabeth George's "Loving God with all your Mind" and want every woman to read it. I started reading "A Woman After God's Own Heart" (then lost it when I moved) and loved what I read. Excellent material for a biblestudy. But "Beautiful in God's Eyes" did not live up to these standards. My biblestudy read the first half and we had to stop. We've talked to other women who have done the same. It through us back to the 1950's and we could not relate. I would definitely not recommend it for a new Christian woman because it could be a big turnoff. ... Read more