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I did enjoy this book, and I find that, as opposed to other people, EG does have an excellent command of english. These days there are so many americanisms in our language anyway, it would be really difficult to know what language an english person would or would not use. The only thing that worries me is that this seems to be the end of Lynley & Co. They've all ended up with ends tied up in their personal lives, which leads us to assume that this is it....So what's next ? I don't have the book in front of me...have returned it to the library, but I love the phrase where Lynley, deciding about Helen, describes how he feels..The thing that describes her against the thing that defines her. An elegant way to put his dilemma. Well done EG. I shall remember that phrase for a long time.

I used to be a great fan of George's books but this one is a disappointment. While the languaqge is still typical George -after all, who else uses words like 'cogitation'- the story is drawn out and you only want them to get a move on. I am also starting to worry about her need to let us know the psychopath's inner thoughts. Are we supposed to feel compassion for this sick and evil mind? I for one don't care to understand what makes someone like that tick. I have not finished reading it yet and I am not sure that I ever will. My greatest sorrow, however, is that I actually paid good money for this book because I considered it a good summer read and our library only lends book for up to three weeks.

Yes it was depressing and extremely sad but so very well written in the usual George style. Of course the ending came as a shock but that just means that George is giving us some major changes here and not just another whodunnit....as long as she keeps coming up with more Inspector Lynley and Barbara Havers then I'm happy for her to shock us any way she likes. Brilliant!!! Please please give us more!!!!!!!!

Having read all of Elizabeth George's books more than once finding them intriguing, full of suspense and enjoying especially the setting and development of the characters I found this one a great disappointment. Not only did the characters seem cardboard like but the story seemed to gallop along with little or no time for reflection against a backdrop of a depressingly unoriginal theme. It seemed to me to be driven more by the TV series, where we already knew part of the ending, than by the author's continued involvement with the characters she had created. Sorry but I shan't be buying the next one.

Whatever happened to the good Elizabeth George novels ? This latest is another depressing read....the serial killer theme has been done many times before in much better ways. In this book no reason is really shown for the killer's actions and no attempt to develop any of the suspect characters.
My main problem with EGs books - and it seems to get worse with each one - is her inappropriate use of English phrases - she attributes words and phrases to her characters that no English person would actually say.
The other side of the coin is equally irritating when she uses typically American phrases to describe something which is typically English. I find myself becoming more and more irritated with these ' misplaced phrases' throughout the book and it detracts from the plot.
As to the ending - I will not say more in order not to spoil anything for people who have yet to read this book...suffice to say I thought it very odd and it in no way contributed to the overall story line. Having said that, no loss in my opinion !

I have just finished reading this book and while (as usual) I really enjoyed the story and did not want to finish reading it, it did make me cry. Please Elizabeth let there me more of the Lynley mysteries - I have read all of them. The characters are so much better than portrayed in the TV series where too many of them are omitted. Having written all that I would definitely recommend this book, especially if like me you have been addicted to the series.