Star U. (macgyvershe) reviewed What Came Before He Shot Her (Inspector Lynley, Bk 14) on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Ms George, writer of the Inspector Lynley mysteries, is a woman who gives good read.
This is an exhaustive study of the events that lead to death of a woman that the shooter didn't know or could ever hope to know.
The social strat, the dark purposes, the struggling youth who have little or nothing to believe in and a family torn by loss, dysfunction and the damages inflicted by secrets and social misunderstandings.
It was a complete page turner, but don't look for a fairy tale ending. This is the real world and nothing is given.
This is an exhaustive study of the events that lead to death of a woman that the shooter didn't know or could ever hope to know.
The social strat, the dark purposes, the struggling youth who have little or nothing to believe in and a family torn by loss, dysfunction and the damages inflicted by secrets and social misunderstandings.
It was a complete page turner, but don't look for a fairy tale ending. This is the real world and nothing is given.
Georgette N. (gcn43) reviewed What Came Before He Shot Her (Inspector Lynley, Bk 14) on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
Very different Elizabeth George's other books. I had a hard time reading the dialect at first but then it all fell into place. The book delivers a hard punch. You should at least read the one or two books that precede this one.
Stephanie S. (punkinema) -
Helpful Score: 3
Story of 3 children in the ghetto of London and how they cope. Not really a murder mystery but rather a story of poverty, gangs and how adults cope. Very sad. Absolutely great story writing however.
Lynn J. (FElynn) reviewed What Came Before He Shot Her (Inspector Lynley, Bk 14) on + 106 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I have been a long time Elizabeth George fan and I must say I put off reading this book for a very long time; mainly due to the poor reviews. I did not think I would like it as well as her others.
I was wrong.
Although I have enjoyed most of her other books, I found this book outstanding. I almost said I "really enjoyed" but that phrase does not fit this book. This book is far too troubling to be "enjoyed".
The book has remarkable character development and whether you love them or hate them, all of the characters will effect you. This is one of those books where you almost dread turning to the next page because you do not want to see what you know is coming next. The book and the tragedy that is the life of its characters will haunt you long after you read the last page.
Yes, the other reviewers are right this is NOT a mystery. It is the story of several people and the tragic decisions that they make in an effort to salvage their own lives and sometimes the ones around them.
I finished this book a month ago but almost daily I ask myself what they could have done differently. Their history, environment, politics and society all play equal parts in this drama.
Without a doubt, this is George's BEST and STRONGEST novel. Despite its length I plan on recommending it to my book club. I can't imagine a better book to spark a great discussion.
I was wrong.
Although I have enjoyed most of her other books, I found this book outstanding. I almost said I "really enjoyed" but that phrase does not fit this book. This book is far too troubling to be "enjoyed".
The book has remarkable character development and whether you love them or hate them, all of the characters will effect you. This is one of those books where you almost dread turning to the next page because you do not want to see what you know is coming next. The book and the tragedy that is the life of its characters will haunt you long after you read the last page.
Yes, the other reviewers are right this is NOT a mystery. It is the story of several people and the tragic decisions that they make in an effort to salvage their own lives and sometimes the ones around them.
I finished this book a month ago but almost daily I ask myself what they could have done differently. Their history, environment, politics and society all play equal parts in this drama.
Without a doubt, this is George's BEST and STRONGEST novel. Despite its length I plan on recommending it to my book club. I can't imagine a better book to spark a great discussion.
Vicki S. (curledupwithabook) -
Helpful Score: 1
Took me about three weeks to get 2/3 of the way through this book. Although well written, it was exceedingly, unrelentingly depressing. I actually looked for other things to do to avoid reading this book. Here's the problem: the author gets you to care for the main characters (children) in this book and then surrounds them with people who care about them, but who are hopelessly incapable of providing for them. Add to this a corrupt criminal justice system and some sociopathic hoodlums and you have a recipe for despair.
The few morsels of light the book provided were not sufficient to leave the reader anything, but anxiety-ridden for several hours after putting the book down for the night. The worst part is that I'm sure George's depiction of the situation is pretty true-to-life, making me even more depressed because there's nothing I can do about it. So, having hundreds of other books on my bookshelf, I opted to skim through the final chapters to assuage my (morbid) curiosity and will now move on to something a bit more relaxing - maybe a serial killer book. LOL!
The few morsels of light the book provided were not sufficient to leave the reader anything, but anxiety-ridden for several hours after putting the book down for the night. The worst part is that I'm sure George's depiction of the situation is pretty true-to-life, making me even more depressed because there's nothing I can do about it. So, having hundreds of other books on my bookshelf, I opted to skim through the final chapters to assuage my (morbid) curiosity and will now move on to something a bit more relaxing - maybe a serial killer book. LOL!
Linda R. (Chicaroo) reviewed What Came Before He Shot Her (Inspector Lynley, Bk 14) on + 17 more book reviews
I usually enjoy Elizabeth George's novels, but this one was very hard to follow. it was written in a vernacular that was very difficult to understand, and also contained slang words that I'd didn't know the meaning of. I know that it was meant to fill in information on the boys that murdered Inspector Lynley's wife, but the whole of it was extremely depressing.
Christine (luvmygem) -
I'll give her credit for delving into the"other side" of the story, but this book did not satisfy me as much as her other novels did. I did find myself emotionally attached to some of the characters, but I still kept waiting for the part that leads back to "With No One As Witness". I had a tough time keeping up with the slang dialogue, too.
Frankly, I didn't know George had it in her. I love the usual Lynley/Havers series, but its milieu is a world away from that of "What Came Before He Shot Her." This book beautifully and convincingly describes communities in London that I know not at all but that I assume to be equivalent to some in Brooklyn that I know very well, and she presents "the other side of the story" with no condescending romanticism but tremendous understanding. I am not posting this book. This is probably my favorite of her works.
I didn't find it as engrossing as her other Inspector Lynley Books but it was ok
Stephanie (deariedot) reviewed What Came Before He Shot Her (Inspector Lynley, Bk 14) on + 3 more book reviews
Elizabeth George has become one of my favorite authors, and I enjoy how she presents the mystery and suspense, along with our favorite, very human characters. This book, however, is a departure from her writing style and story. I found it absolutely fascinating, the way she went about telling the story of the shooting so that you know the history of the shooter as well as the shootee. The main character here is the young person alleged to have done the shooting, and it interesting to know of his history, and how he came to be on that doorstep that day. My question is - is there a book out there which takes the story of this young man further? I want to know what happened AFTER he shot her!
Edward C. S. (ed) -
Not a Lynley - Havers mystery; instead the first 652 pages tells the story of 12 year old Joel and his family, before he shot her. We see some of lynley-Havers "cast" in the final 60 pages. I found it hard to put down, very good.
