A place of hiding

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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 in honor of those who resisted the German occupation of the island during World War II.It is from this period of time that his murderer may well have come. But there are others on Guernsey with reason to want Guy Brouard dead: his wives, his business associates, his current mistress, the underprivileged teenagers he mentored—any of whom might have harbored a secret motive for murder. As family and friends gather for the reading of the will, Deborah and Simon St. James find that seemingly everyone on the history-haunted island has something to hide. And behind all the lies and alibis, a killer is lurking. In order to bring this person to justice, the St. James must delve into Guernsey’s dark history—both past and present—and into the troubled psyche of someone who may have exacted retribution for the most unspeakable crime of all.In A Place of Hiding, bestselling novelist Elizabeth George marks new territory in the darker landscapes of human relationships. 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.

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ISBN
9780553386028
9780553801309
9781984844187
9780553582376
9780553898217

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Also in this Series

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  • Well-Schooled in Murder (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 3) Cover
  • A Suitable Vengeance (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 4) Cover
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  • Missing Joseph (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 6) Cover
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  • In the presence of the enemy (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 8) Cover
  • Deception on his mind (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 9) Cover
  • In pursuit of the proper sinner (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 10) Cover
  • A traitor to memory (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 11) Cover
  • A place of hiding (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 12) Cover
  • With no one as witness (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 13) Cover
  • What came before he shot her (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 14) Cover
  • Careless in red: a Lynley novel (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 15) Cover
  • This body of death (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 16) Cover
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  • Just one evil act (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 18) Cover
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  • The punishment she deserves (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 20) Cover
  • Something to hide (Thomas Lynley mysteries Volume 21) Cover

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Similar Series From Novelist

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for series you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Each of these edgy police procedural series presents a pair of investigators who collaborate on solving violent crimes. Will Trent takes place in the Atlanta metro area, while Thomas Lynley is primarily set in England. -- Basia Wilson
Though Thomas Lynley is heavier on violence than Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler, these suspenseful, England-set police procedural mystery series follow a likeable, well-developed duo of officers who crack tough and twisty cases. -- Stephen Ashley
Intricately plotted and suspenseful, these police procedural series are led by two main characters that must work past their different upbringings and perspectives to effectively fight crime as a team. -- Basia Wilson
While Thomas Lynley works in England, and Inspector Darko Dawson is set in Accra, Ghana, both of these character-driven police procedural series feature a leisurely pace and a strong sense of place. -- Stephen Ashley
Readers looking for an intricately plotted, character-driven police procedural led by a well-developed protagonist should check out both of these suspenseful series. Thomas Lynley frequently collaborates with a partner, while introspective Avraham Avraham generally flies solo. -- Stephen Ashley
Multifaceted leads populate both of these character-driven series, appealing to readers who like to indulge in mysteries with protagonists who are just as complex as the criminal cases at hand. -- Basia Wilson
These suspenseful mystery series will appeal to readers who enjoy escaping into a fully developed setting. Philip Taiwo takes place in Nigeria, while Thomas Lynley works in England. -- Stephen Ashley
Though they are many miles apart, the settings of both mystery series are richly rendered with plenty of local color as police departments send their finest investigators out to solve brutal, disturbing cases. -- Basia Wilson
Though Karen Pirie is faster paced than the more leisurely Thomas Lynley, these UK-set police procedural mystery series both feature twisty, intricately crafted plots and plenty of suspense. -- Stephen Ashley

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the appeal factors violent, character-driven, and intricately plotted, and they have the genre "police procedurals"; the subjects "police" and "detectives"; and characters that are "complex characters."
NoveList recommends "Karen Pirie novels" for fans of "Thomas Lynley mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Blue Mumbai novels" for fans of "Thomas Lynley mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler" for fans of "Thomas Lynley mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Philip Taiwo mysteries" for fans of "Thomas Lynley mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Inspector Chen Cao mysteries" for fans of "Thomas Lynley mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Will Trent series" for fans of "Thomas Lynley mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Rekke" for fans of "Thomas Lynley mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
These character-centric murder mysteries with heart feature intriguing detectives and intricate, twisty plots involving a situation from the past. Both books strongly evoke their isolated, weathered island settings and are laced with an underlying sense of unease. -- Jen Baker
These books have the appeal factors violent, melancholy, and lyrical, and they have the subjects "police," "married women," and "missing persons"; and characters that are "complex characters," "flawed characters," and "introspective characters."
NoveList recommends "Avraham Avraham mysteries" for fans of "Thomas Lynley mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.
NoveList recommends "Two rivers" for fans of "Thomas Lynley mysteries". Check out the first book in the series.

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Like Elizabeth George, Ruth Rendell's literate, character-centered mysteries (the Wexford series) explore complex cases, often with psychological trappings. There is a similar give-and-take in the investigative teams, and both intuition and deduction play roles in the solution. -- Katherine Johnson
Elizabeth George and Tana French both use an elegant literary style to write mystery novels featuring unforgettable characters whose professional and personal lives are inextricably mingled. A dark tone and realistic violence set the moody atmosphere for their stories. -- Jessica Zellers
The main characters in Elizabeth George's writing lead lives as complex and fraught as the people they are investigating. So too does Louise Penny portray her cast of recurring characters -- police investigators, regular "civilian" characters, and perpetrators. -- Maureen O'Connor
Australian Jane Harper and American Elizabeth George write complex mystery novels starring believable crime investigators whose personal lives often overlap with their professional lives. Their work is marked by a strong sense of place, whether set in Australia (Harper) or England (George), and is deeply atmospheric. -- Mike Nilsson
American authors Elizabeth George and Deborah Crombie write deliciously literate police procedurals set in England. Their works star a team of Scotland Yard detectives and feature expertly constructed, layered plots and characters whose personal lives frequently become tangled up with their work as professional investigators. -- Katherine Johnson
Dorothy L. Sayers is perhaps the best match for readers who prize the classical roots of Elizabeth George's books. Amateur Lord Peter Wimsey set the standard for aristocratic, sophisticated CID detective Thomas Lynley, and Sayers' rich use of language and stylish prose will especially please those who enjoy George's literary approach to the mystery genre. -- Katherine Johnson
George and James write classically constructed novels of detection that blend the traditional mystery with occasionally darker, but more realistic, characteristics of contemporary crime novels. Both authors include social issues and explore the psychological nuances of their characters, neatly combine several different plotlines, and create a strong sense of place. -- Katherine Johnson
Carol Goodman's lyrical writing style, literary tone and interest in exploring the psychology of her characters will please fans of George. Goodman's smart novels of literary suspense center around some past possible crime that may have a connection to the present day. -- Katherine Johnson
Erin Hart writes evocative, character-rich mysteries with a superbly evoked setting. Like George's, her subtly nuanced characters' working relationship becomes complicated by their personal lives, though Hart's detectives are professionals in other fields, rather than Scotland Yard investigators. -- Katherine Johnson
Elizabeth George's readers who are attracted to the moral dilemmas and difficult decisions that face Thomas Lynley may enjoy Martha Grimes's series featuring Richard Jury. Contemporary settings and topics, the intersection of personal and professional life, and well-drawn characters mark the series. -- Katherine Johnson
These authors' works have the appeal factors violent and gritty, and they have the subjects "police" and "women detectives"; and characters that are "likeable characters."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

Deborah St. James is shocked when Cherokee River, the brother of the woman she lived with during her difficult student days in America, shows up on the doorstep of her London home. China River, she is told, is in a musty Guernsey jail, accused of murdering wealthy Guy Brouard during her stay at his Channel Isles estate. Stunned Deborah and her analytical husband, Simon, are soon on their way to Guernsey, and as usual in George's multilayered thrillers, it takes keen insight and hard work to disentangle the intricately woven snarl of secrets and lies that awaits them-the first of which surrounds Brouard himself. A familiar setup? You bet, but as the celebrated mystery writer's fans know, there's nothing predictable about the way George works things out. Once again, her nuanced characterizations drive the novel; the troubling private problems of Brouard's family and acquaintances must be fully limned before the murderer comes to light. That's true, as well, of the St. Jameses, perhaps the least vigorous of George's customary cast, whose investigations force them to confront difficulties in their own May-December marriage. Like the author's previous books, this commands attention. It's dense, complex, and riveting. --Stephanie Zvirin

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

Fans disappointed by George's atypical story collection, I, Richard (2002), will be relieved to find the bestselling transatlantic author back at the top of her form. This exquisitely plotted mystery bursts with well-developed characters, notably forensic scientist Simon St. James and his photographer wife, Deborah. Lured by the free airline tickets and the $5,000 fee, China River, an old friend of Deborah's, and her half-brother, Cherokee (their mother was into the hippie counterculture), agree to fly from sunny California to rainy England to deliver a package containing architectural drawings to Guy Brouard, a rich landholder on the Channel island of Guernsey. The drawings are for a museum Brouard plans to build on the island honoring those who resisted the WWII German occupation. When the philandering philanthropist gets murdered and the police arrest China, Cherokee turns to Simon and Deborah for help. Curiously, for all the victim's wealth, no one seems to benefit from his death. The theme of hiding-of hopes, of the past, of secret places-underpins this intricate story about friendship, anger, loyalty and betrayal. Comic touches provide some relief as the suspense builds to an unexpected and explosive climax. With her flair for language, George reinforces her reputation as one of today's finest mystery writers. (July 29) Forecast: The broadcast this summer of four new mystery episodes on PBS featuring George's Inspector Lynley, who makes a cameo appearance in A Place of Hiding, may help lengthen the novel's run on bestseller lists. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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Library Journal Review

George's novel suffers from too much detail, too many characters, and an excruciatingly slow pace. As a departure from her well-sustained Thomas Lynley series, this mystery is probed by Thomas's friends Simon St. James, a forensic scientist, and his wife, Deborah. Their own back story is entwined in the present as they try to prove Deborah's old friend China River did not kill the wealthy benefactor of the Island of Guernsey, Guy Brouard. The plot generally stays intriguing as there are many other viable suspects with a variety of secrets, but the pacing of the story and the major players' weaknesses probably are too distracting for a wide audience. The program might appeal to World War II history buffs because of the subplot about the island's occupation by the Nazis. Reader Donada Peters is masterful in multiple languages and accents. Recommended only for libraries with mystery lovers very dedicated to extremely long audiobooks. An abridged version may be a better investment.-Joyce Kessel, Villa Maria Coll., Buffalo, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Kirkus Book Review

Who'd want to murder Jewish WWII survivor Guy Brouard, a man devoted to his cancer-stricken sister Ruth, and the wealthiest resident on the isle of Guernsey? Well, let's see. Several ex-wives and discarded mistresses; a father whose nubile daughter he debauched; his disagreeable middle-aged son Adrian; an architect he promised work and then shunned; a war hero and his son who planned a war museum in partnership with him but were actually his gulls. The person the police have put in jail, Californian China River, visiting the island with her brother Cherokee, who'd been hired to deliver a package to Brouard, is the only suspect with no apparent motive. But eyewitnesses insist they saw her follow Brouard to the beach. Was it really China inside that hooded cloak? When Cherokee rushes to London to ask China's old friend Deborah St. James for help, Deborah, convinced that China could never commit murder, insists on returning to Guernsey with him, accompanied by Simon, her forensic scientist husband, who's not nearly as convinced. And now what began as a simple whodunit turns into an anatomy of lies stretching from a WWII quisling and the provenance of an Old Master painting to teenage hormones and the desperate longing for a surfboard. George (I, Richard, 2002, etc.) never met a sentence she didn't want to expand or an ending she didn't want to douse in melodrama. But her latest extravaganza may make you think twice about telling even a little white lie. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
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Booklist Reviews

Deborah St. James is shocked when Cherokee River, the brother of the woman she lived with during her difficult student days in America, shows up on the doorstep of her London home. China River, she is told, is in a musty Guernsey jail, accused of murdering wealthy Guy Brouard during her stay at his Channel Isles estate. Stunned Deborah and her analytical husband, Simon, are soon on their way to Guernsey, and as usual in George's multilayered thrillers, it takes keen insight and hard work to disentangle the intricately woven snarl of secrets and lies that awaits them--the first of which surrounds Brouard himself. A familiar setup? You bet, but as the celebrated mystery writer's fans know, there's nothing predictable about the way George works things out. Once again, her nuanced characterizations drive the novel; the troubling private problems of Brouard's family and acquaintances must be fully limned before the murderer comes to light. That's true, as well, of the St. Jameses, perhaps the least vigorous of George's customary cast, whose investigations force them to confront difficulties in their own May-December marriage. Like the author's previous books, this commands attention. It's dense, complex, and riveting. ((Reviewed May 15, 2003)) Copyright 2003 Booklist Reviews

Copyright 2003 Booklist Reviews
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Library Journal Reviews

Although this is the 12th title in George's "Thomas Lynley" series, Scotland Yard detective Lynley and his partner, Barbara Havers, play very small roles here as forensic scientist Simon St. James and his wife, Deborah, step into the spotlight. China River and her brother, Cherokee, are hired to deliver blueprints for a museum that millionaire Guy Brouard plans to build on the island of Guernsey, in the English Channel. When Guy is found dead, and China is accused of killing him, Cherokee goes to London to seek the assistance of China's old friend, Deborah. Soon Simon and Deborah are investigating the murder, discovering that several other people, including Guy's children, have motives. While plenty of plot twists and turns will keep readers glued to the page until the climactic end, there are almost too many distracting subplots, including a second murder that is never investigated or mentioned again after it happens. George also devotes a lot of space to analyzing Simon and Deborah's relationship, and, unfortunately, Deborah comes off as too childlike, while Simon is very domineering. Nevertheless, George's latest is an enjoyable read and is recommended for most public libraries, especially those with a George following.-Carrie A. Herrmann, Boone Cty. P.L., Union, KY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

Fans disappointed by George's atypical story collection, I, Richard (2002), will be relieved to find the bestselling transatlantic author back at the top of her form. This exquisitely plotted mystery bursts with well-developed characters, notably forensic scientist Simon St. James and his photographer wife, Deborah. Lured by the free airline tickets and the $5,000 fee, China River, an old friend of Deborah's, and her half-brother, Cherokee (their mother was into the hippie counterculture), agree to fly from sunny California to rainy England to deliver a package containing architectural drawings to Guy Brouard, a rich landholder on the Channel island of Guernsey. The drawings are for a museum Brouard plans to build on the island honoring those who resisted the WWII German occupation. When the philandering philanthropist gets murdered and the police arrest China, Cherokee turns to Simon and Deborah for help. Curiously, for all the victim's wealth, no one seems to benefit from his death. The theme of hiding-of hopes, of the past, of secret places-underpins this intricate story about friendship, anger, loyalty and betrayal. Comic touches provide some relief as the suspense builds to an unexpected and explosive climax. With her flair for language, George reinforces her reputation as one of today's finest mystery writers. (July 29) Forecast: The broadcast this summer of four new mystery episodes on PBS featuring George's Inspector Lynley, who makes a cameo appearance in A Place of Hiding, may help lengthen the novel's run on bestseller lists. Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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