Elizabeth George

I very much enjoy reading Elizabeth George's criminal novels about Thomas Lynley - the eighth Earl of Asherton - and Barbara Havers, I strongly recommend them, if you haven't read them already!

The books are often set in beautiful English locations, which is interesting since Elizabeth George is american, and I like the characters a lot. Not only Lynley and Havers, of course, I also like Deborah and Simon St. James and Lady Helen Clyde. It is very interesting to see how the relationships between these main characters change throughout the books, especially between Lynley and Havers! She has been brought up in a working class area and has fought for everything in life. Barbara truly believes Lynley is the worst snob ever who has always gotten whatever he wanted. It's wonderful to see her, gradually changing her opinion of him as she gets to know him and his background better. It's also nice to see the relationships between the other characters as they are somewhat complicated.

I do enjoy reading about Havers and Lynley together, which is why I am not very fond of the books A Suitable Vengeance, where Havers is hardly present at all - this book is actually set a couple of years prior to the rest of the series - and Deciet on His Mind, where Havers is investigating a murder on her own. Also Missing Jospeh is a bit different, as it focuses a lot on Lynley, Deborah and Simon ... a pity that "triangle" wasn't developed further - those three certainly has a past to dig into!

I think I have seen all of the television episodes/movies based on Elizabeth George's books.The main actors - Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small - are definately not what I imagined Lynley and Havers to be, but I still think they do a great job! Sad to see they have changed the actress who portrayed Lady Helen Clyde! She was completely right for her character in A Great Deliverance, but the other actress doesn't fit the part at all! It's also rather depressing to see that some of the storylines have gone through some major changes in the television series versus the books ... I like the series, but the books are definately much much better!

Novels about Thomas Lynley & Barbara Havers

A Great Deliverance
Payment in Blood
Well-Schooled in Murder
A Suitable Vengeance
For the Sake of Elena
Missing Joseph
Playing for the Ashes
In the Prescence of the Enemy
Deception on His Mind
In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner
A Traitor to Memory
A Place of Hiding
With No One As Witness

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