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The Punishment She Deserves A Lynley Novel Elizabeth George 9780451467867 Books Reviews
- I read this tour de force shortly after finishing Donna Leon's newest. No comparison! Leon's should have been a short story where as George has given us a story with innumerable twists and turns to keep the reader spurred on to find the culprit. It covered many social ills-alcoholism, drugs, illicit sex and sick relationships. With Sgt. Havers admirably holding her own while being put under the microscope by her superiors in hope of transferring her out of their patch and the dashing Lynley doing what he does best, sleuthing while dealing with problematical personal situations. George has expanded her characters with aplomb. Although I was anxious to find the solution to the novel, it was one I rather hated to see end.
- I've been following Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sargent Barbara Havers since the beginning of Elizabeth George's "Inspector Lynley" series, and the novels just get better and better. "The Punishment She Deserves" is George's latest psychological thriller, this time set primarily in Shropshire England and the surrounding areas. I highly recommend looking up photos these towns (particularly Ludlow) on the Internet to enhance your reading experience. The novel may actually spark some tourism there!
Much of the focus is on Lynley and Havers' boss, DCS Isabelle Ardery, as her alcoholism progresses. Anyone who has dealt with someone who is an addict/alcoholic will recognize the frustration and sense of helplessness that comes with trying to "talk sense" to a person so deeply in denial. George is either writing from experience or she's researched thoroughly, because these passages are difficult and very realistic. She also gives the reader a sense of what's going on in Ardery's mind as she is forced to face her demons and all she has lost to alcohol. This helps us sympathize with her some, but her abominably unfair treatment of our dears, Lynley and Havers, keeps her squarely in the villain category.
As always, the best bits are the "across class" interactions/conversations between Lynley and side-kick Havers! In this novel, the St. James' are not really present yet again. I've noticed that with the past several novels, George has concentrated mostly on Lynley and Havers, and left out (or killed off) the original "group" of characters. I'm guessing because of the TV series (which I do not watch).
My one criticism of "The Punishment She Deserves", is that most of the women characters (save Barbara Havers and Dee Harriman, of course) are pretty horrible; either self-destructive, or cold, or hard, or bitter, or controlling, or humorless, scolds! Isabelle (of course) but also Clover Freeman, Yasmina Lomax, Ding Donaldson, Rabiah Lomax, and Dr. Nancy Scannell. It's as if George must make "tough" women also unlikable, and I don't think that's necessary.
Still, I'll be first in line to read George's next offering! I'm hooked! - I give it four stars because overall the book was wonderful, as always.
However, the synopsis promised appearances from characters we haven't seen for a while, like Simon and Deborah. Cramming a mention of them in the final pages was dissatisfying and insulting. My other issue was the bizarre and unfinished way the book ended. Tommy's high-handed behavior and Barbara's sheep-like acceptance of it turned them into characters I didn't recognize and the abrupt ending made it seem as if the author painted herself into a corner and turned off the light in the room hoping we wouldn't notice. - THE PUNISHMENT SHE DESERVES A LYNLEY NOVEL by Elizabeth George, opens in the town of Ludlow (in Shropshire).
A popular and respected deacon, Ian Druitt, had been arrested under less than ‘official’ circumstances and ‘supposedly’ committed suicide under very awkward and suspicious circumstances while in police custody.
The affair reeked of unanswered questions, damaged reputations and a suspicion of a police cover-up.
Barbara Havers is to accompany Detective Chief Superintendent Isabelle Ardery to Ludlow to look into the matter and report back to the ‘pressured’ Assistant Commissioner, Sir David Hillier.
This is to be an official investigation and also a ‘trial by fire’ for Havers. Isabelle baits and humiliates Havers at every turn, but Barbara is on very good behavior (which is about time!!).
The plot is tense, detailed and full of intertwining subplots which do come together at the end.
The characters are also very detailed - interesting, flawed, alternately insightful, smart and self-destructive.
Barbara Havers redeems herself admirably with brilliant detecting and deduction in a bit more subdued manner (which I like). Inspector Lynley seems a bit more sharp, focused and deliberate than in previous titles.
Dorothea Harriman shines and I would like to see more of DS Winston Nkata.
**** - Oh dear lord what has happened to Elizabeth George? I used to adore her books...its been downhill since she killed off you know who, one of the stupidest moves in pop book history. And things have become more broody and convaluded and weird and circular and unfathomable and bizarre and make you say WTH.
- I am a super Lynley-Havers fan. As such, this addition to the series is a must-read. Elizabeth George gets to the core motivations of the characters ' behaviors, carefully and slowly. Therefore, the reader must also not rush through the book. If you are not prepared to spend hours slowly enjoying this masterpiece of connected buried behaviors, this is not for you. For those who relish this sort of psychological inter-connected slowly revealing puzzle, this is a treat! Insights will occur to you long after you finish the novel and as thoughts settle in your mind. The reason I have this wonderful book 4 stars instead of 5 has to do with what I see as an unrealistic ending. In my experience, toxic abusers rarely take responsibility for their behaviors and certainly never apologize. I wonder if anyone else felt this way? But, aside for that, this is a wonderful edition to the series.
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