Not George's best :-(

I was so looking forward to this book but it was slow to start, the storyline plods along. Some of the characters are well drawn but George has a lot to draw from since nearly every character is from a dysfunctional family or has an obsessive compulsion. I have read the entire series and this is the first book I have not finished reading in less than a week.

Elizabeth George is a lyrical writer who uses language so beautifully to evoke a sense of place and convey rich characters. She has the capacity to draw such complex, realistic people. In this book, I saw more than ever her amazing gift for gradually revealing layers of depth in every character as she unveils the reasons behind the murder around which the book is constructed. The two processes are inextricably linked and both are fascinating. In addition to a gripping mystery, Careless in Red offers more insight into Thomas Lynley as a man and policeman. I also learned a lot about Cornwall and surfing, which was fun.

This is a chatty British style detective story written by an American pretending to be a Brit... or something like that. I'm not a fan of written British style books. I'd rather see them on film. My wife, on the other hand, loves them and she loves Elizabeth George and this book. I enjoyed it but without the rapture. I don't know if this is a chick vs. guy thing or what, but for me it's too chatty. However, it is well constructed, intelligent, and absorbing if you don't mind taking the long route. I've been told that the meandering is what makes George's genre so wonderful. Maybe so.

Another excellent Inspector Lynley murder mystery/detective story - set on the southern coast of England. Full of secrets and revenge.

After the senseless murder of his wife, Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley retreated to Cornwall, where he has spent six solitary weeks hiking the bleak and rugged coastline. But no matter how far he walks, no matter how exhausting his days, the painful memories of Helen's death do not diminish.

On the forty-third day of his walk, at the base of a cliff, Lynley discovers the body of a young man who appears to have fallen to his death. The closest town, better known for its tourists and its surfing than its intrigue, seems an unlikely place for murder. However, it soon becomes apparent that a clever killer is indeed at work, and this time Lynley is not a detective but a witness and possibly a suspect.

The head of the vastly understaffed local police department needs Lynley's help, though, especially when it comes to the mysterious, secretive woman whose cottage lies not far from where the body was discovered. But can Lynley let go of the past long enough to solve a most devious and carefully planned crime?

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This book was a little slow for me. I did not like it as much as the others in this series.

Wow. What to say about this book. While the ending was satisfactory, getting there was excruciating. It took every ounce of willpower to get to the end, as I found pretty much every suspect in this novel completely insufferable. The only thing holding me was the interesting Bea Hannaford (the regional inspector heading the murder investigation), coupled with her perspective on the relationship between Lynley and Havers.

If you're only half-way devoted to this series, I doubt you'll find this to your liking. If you're a devoted fan, you will want to read it in preparation for the next novel. I won't be picking the next one up, however, if its reviews are tepid. This one overall was a disappointment to me.

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