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Placing her own stamp on the traditions of Dorothy Sayers and P. D. James, George ( A Great Deliverance ) supports her vividly characterized story of murder and espionage with elements of theatrical life, British class-consciousness and love gone awry. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, eighth Earl of Asherton, is sent to Scotland to investigate the murder of playwright Joy Sinclair. Her death had occurred as a company of stage greats, gathered by eminent producer Stuart Rintoul, Lord Stinhurst, was reading through the revised script of her latest play. Lynley's disquiet at being assigned to a case in Scotland is exacerbated when he discovers that his close friend, Lady Helen Clyde, was also on hand, in the company of director Rhys Davis-Jones. Learning that the revised play touched on secrets that nearly all the assembled cast might consider deserving of murder, Lynley struggles to balance peer loyalty and his personal anguish with objective police work. Assisted by fiercely egalitarian Sergeant Barbara Havers and by forensics expert and friend Simon St. James, Lynley forges through a thicket of deceptions, personal and nation-wide, to solve the mysteries of the first murder and one that follows, though not the mysteries of his heart. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

The much acclaimed author of A Great Deliverance delivers her challenging second novel--a literate, vastly detailed, and intricately characterized piece which progresses from a frigid Scottish manor house/hotel to a swarming, theatrical London. Scotland Yard's Thomas Lynley (series detective and Earl of Asherton), unexpectedly assigned to a gory stabbing murder, uncovers deeply hidden family secrets and various psychological convolutions among suspects, but allows personal jealously to color his choice of prime suspect. A bit mechanical in places, and slow-moving in others, but steadily absorbing and masterful overall. The upcoming author tour should boost demand --especially from readers of George's first. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Not quite as dazzling as its predecessor (A Great Deliverance, 1988) but still complex, rich, and accomplished enough to elbow the author between P.D. James and Ruth Rendell to form the new triumvirate of English psychological suspense. Here, Scotland Yard Inspector Thomas Lynley, his pugnacious, definitely non-U partner Sergeant Barbara Havers, and Lynley's good friend forensic scientist Simon Allcourt-St. James are (curiously) sent to Scotland (beyond their jurisdiction) to uncover (cover up?) the murder of author Joy Sinclair--who was snowbound at an isolated estate with her play's director, producer, stars (including her sister), a drama critic, the widowed lady of the manor (the producer's sister), and the help (young Gowan is soon scalded and stabbed too). While Lynley--in a jealous pique--fixes blame on the director (he and Lynley love the same woman), St. James and Havers focus on the author's newly revised work: Could the murder motive connect to it and to the unkempt family grave dating back to 1963 (and MI5 concerns)? Following other clues (and bolstering his suspicions), Lynley arrives in Porthill Green and attempts to link up the revised work (which has been confiscated by. . .?) with the 1973 suicide/murder of Hannah Darrow--back then, Mrs. Darrow was fatally familiar with one lackluster member of the Scottish theatrical entourage who played her town in stock. The resolution comes at the expense of several family secrets, one spy scandal, Lynley's personal happiness and, assuredly, a less-than-finest hour for the Yard's integrity. Clearly in the process of developing and maturing her permanent cast (Lynley; Havers; St. James; his wife Deborah; his associate, and Lynley's unconsummated love--Lady Helen), George demonstrates an unusual proficiency for dealing with lots of characters without stooping to clich‚. Equally deft: the interweaving here of many disparate storylines; a Christie-crisp placement of clues; and her portrayal of the down side of love and responsibility. A major talent likely to influence the direction of the crime novel for years to come. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The much acclaimed author of A Great Deliverance delivers her challenging second novel--a literate, vastly detailed, and intricately characterized piece which progresses from a frigid Scottish manor house/hotel to a swarming, theatrical London. Scotland Yard's Thomas Lynley (series detective and Earl of Asherton), unexpectedly assigned to a gory stabbing murder, uncovers deeply hidden family secrets and various psychological convolutions among suspects, but allows personal jealously to color his choice of prime suspect. A bit mechanical in places, and slow-moving in others, but steadily absorbing and masterful overall. The upcoming author tour should boost demand --especially from readers of George's first. Copyright 1989 Cahners Business Information.

Placing her own stamp on the traditions of Dorothy Sayers and P. D. James, George ( A Great Deliverance ) supports her vividly characterized story of murder and espionage with elements of theatrical life, British class-consciousness and love gone awry. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, eighth Earl of Asherton, is sent to Scotland to investigate the murder of playwright Joy Sinclair. Her death had occurred as a company of stage greats, gathered by eminent producer Stuart Rintoul, Lord Stinhurst, was reading through the revised script of her latest play. Lynley's disquiet at being assigned to a case in Scotland is exacerbated when he discovers that his close friend, Lady Helen Clyde, was also on hand, in the company of director Rhys Davis-Jones. Learning that the revised play touched on secrets that nearly all the assembled cast might consider deserving of murder, Lynley struggles to balance peer loyalty and his personal anguish with objective police work. Assisted by fiercely egalitarian Sergeant Barbara Havers and by forensics expert and friend Simon St. James, Lynley forges through a thicket of deceptions, personal and nation-wide, to solve the mysteries of the first murder and one that follows, though not the mysteries of his heart. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo. (Sept.) Copyright 1989 Cahners Business Information.

Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, eighth Earl of Asherton, is sent to Scotland to solve the death of playwright Joy Sinclair in what PW termed a ``vividly characterized story of murder and espionage with elements of theatrical life, British class consciousness and love gone awry.'' (July) Copyright 1990 Cahners Business Information.