novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
FIVE YEARS LATER...
I know it seems like I did not really like the series, as I waited 5 years to continue with the third book, but it is more of a "too many book, not enough time" syndrome. I FINALLY got to book three this month when a friend and I did a buddy read. As soon as I started the book I was hooked, again!
WELL-SCHOOLED IN MURDER
(Inspector Lynley: #3)
Written by Elizabeth George
1989, 432 Pages
Bantam Books
Genre: mystery, british, suspense, police
4 1/2
Thirteen year old, Matthew Whately is missing from his prestige school, Bredgar Chambers. When his parents are contacted they realize that Matthew didn't go away for the weekend with his schoolmate. He has been missing since Friday. Before the case can heat up his naked tortured body is found by Deborah St James, longtime friend of Lynley. Lynley and Havers were on the missing person case due to Lynley's school "friendship" with Bredgar Chamber's housemaster. From the beginning nothing in this case makes sense and the secrets within the school and community is ironclad. Lynley must use his own experiences to navigate between students and faculty.
While this book takes place in the late 1980s, it doesn't feel overly dated...the lack of technology in everyday life helps to make the suspense even greater. I also liked that this book was balanced quite well with the case and the personal issues of the main characters. Deb, who not only finds the body, is trying to heal after her miscarriage but instead it brings up guilt and secrets between her and Simon. After spending most of the day trying to solve this case, Havers comes home to a new crisis. Her mother's forgetfulness is getting worse and it is now affecting the care of her father. How can she take care of her personal and professional life at once? Lynley is heartbroken over Helen's refusal and quick departure. He needs this case to keep his loneliness and sadness at bay. As Lynley, Havers and Simon try to solve this case we also get a glimpse of their own humanness. This book had me grasping at suspects even when I wasn't completely sure of their motive. I did guess a bit of the conclusion but not for the right reasons - so I am not sure that counts, lol.
I really recommend this mystery series to anyone that loves good suspense and characterization.
k (My Novelesque Life)
I know it seems like I did not really like the series, as I waited 5 years to continue with the third book, but it is more of a "too many book, not enough time" syndrome. I FINALLY got to book three this month when a friend and I did a buddy read. As soon as I started the book I was hooked, again!
WELL-SCHOOLED IN MURDER
(Inspector Lynley: #3)
Written by Elizabeth George
1989, 432 Pages
Bantam Books
Genre: mystery, british, suspense, police
4 1/2
Thirteen year old, Matthew Whately is missing from his prestige school, Bredgar Chambers. When his parents are contacted they realize that Matthew didn't go away for the weekend with his schoolmate. He has been missing since Friday. Before the case can heat up his naked tortured body is found by Deborah St James, longtime friend of Lynley. Lynley and Havers were on the missing person case due to Lynley's school "friendship" with Bredgar Chamber's housemaster. From the beginning nothing in this case makes sense and the secrets within the school and community is ironclad. Lynley must use his own experiences to navigate between students and faculty.
While this book takes place in the late 1980s, it doesn't feel overly dated...the lack of technology in everyday life helps to make the suspense even greater. I also liked that this book was balanced quite well with the case and the personal issues of the main characters. Deb, who not only finds the body, is trying to heal after her miscarriage but instead it brings up guilt and secrets between her and Simon. After spending most of the day trying to solve this case, Havers comes home to a new crisis. Her mother's forgetfulness is getting worse and it is now affecting the care of her father. How can she take care of her personal and professional life at once? Lynley is heartbroken over Helen's refusal and quick departure. He needs this case to keep his loneliness and sadness at bay. As Lynley, Havers and Simon try to solve this case we also get a glimpse of their own humanness. This book had me grasping at suspects even when I wasn't completely sure of their motive. I did guess a bit of the conclusion but not for the right reasons - so I am not sure that counts, lol.
I really recommend this mystery series to anyone that loves good suspense and characterization.
k (My Novelesque Life)
lisa11111's review against another edition
4.0
Good mystery! Some of the subject matter hard to take. Love Inspector Lynley though!
swfountaine's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
johnlway's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jefftstevens's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
roshk99's review against another edition
3.0
A posh ex-Eton New Scotland Yard inspector and his working-class Londoner sergeant catch a nasty death from one of those fancy British boarding schools. The politics and concept of "honor" keeps everyone hiding something, and they have to ferret out the truth in this tricky environment to solve this one.
judyward's review against another edition
4.0
When an old school friend from Eton, who is working as a housemaster at Bredgar Chambers, contacts Inspector Thomas Lynley asking for help, Lynley knows that it is serious. Thirteen year old, Matthew Whately is missing from the exclusive public school in West Sussex. And then, unfortunately, the missing child case becomes a murder investigation. Elizabeth George is most impressive when describing and dissecting the contemporary English class system and in exploring the emotional and psychological make-up of her major characters. One word of caution--books in the Thomas Lynley series are most effectively read in order.
literatureatheart's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
tobyyy's review against another edition
4.0
Unread shelf project 2021: book 6.
I love the Inspector Lynley series. It’s not just a series of murder mysteries/police procedurals, it’s an ongoing character-driven story where you see the relationships between Lynley, Havers, Deborah, St. James, Lady Helen, grow and shift and change as the years go by. That’s why I label this series as an “epic” — because each book builds on the last and there are ongoing subplots for those invested enough to read the series in the proper order.
Ugh, love these books so much!
I love the Inspector Lynley series. It’s not just a series of murder mysteries/police procedurals, it’s an ongoing character-driven story where you see the relationships between Lynley, Havers, Deborah, St. James, Lady Helen, grow and shift and change as the years go by. That’s why I label this series as an “epic” — because each book builds on the last and there are ongoing subplots for those invested enough to read the series in the proper order.
Ugh, love these books so much!