With No One as Witness (Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers Novels)
by Elizabeth George
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The body of an adolescent is found arranged in an almost ritualistic manner. A sign left in blood on his forehead indicates that the murderer may be a serial killer. And indeed, once the death is looked into, several other similarly arranged bodies have been found - and no connection has been made because of the boys' race.
The investigation is assigned to aristocratic Superintendent Thomas Lynley and his team (including the newly demoted Constable Barbara Havers). To ward off allegations of ...more
The investigation is assigned to aristocratic Superintendent Thomas Lynley and his team (including the newly demoted Constable Barbara Havers). To ward off allegations of ...more
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Read in May, 2005
When one of my best friends died, I couldn't talk to acquaintances about it. I felt as though I would somehow trivialize it by discussing it with people who hadn't known her. I knew they would express sympathy, but not really feel the anguish I was feeling. Not that it's anywhere near the same, but I've also felt blocked in trying to review this book.
Elizabeth George is one of my all-time favorite authors. Although she's written a couple of books that didn't live up to what I'd come to expect ...more
Elizabeth George is one of my all-time favorite authors. Although she's written a couple of books that didn't live up to what I'd come to expect ...more
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Read in June, 2008
I never would have guessed I would have not like an Elizabeth George novel, but after reading the final 100+ pages, I just couldn't even force myself to give it an "OK" rating.
The novel starts out great and you think she's back on track (her previous ones were not written in her typical fashion) and I was deeply into it, only to get the shocker of a lifetime. I still can't believe she did it. And I am dreading reading the next one as I'm afraid I won't like it - wondering "wh...more
The novel starts out great and you think she's back on track (her previous ones were not written in her typical fashion) and I was deeply into it, only to get the shocker of a lifetime. I still can't believe she did it. And I am dreading reading the next one as I'm afraid I won't like it - wondering "wh...more
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An okay-ish read, but that's the extend of it. It's definately not Elizabeth George's best novel (and this is coming from someone who used to be a fan before reading this installment). Far from it. All the characters are...how shall I put this? a bit OOC? That's not even iit! I can't put my finger on what was exactly wrong with them, but something felt off. The plot wasn't as sound as her earlier stories and that was a disappointment.
I've just finished it and while it is true ...more
I've just finished it and while it is true ...more
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Read in April, 2008
This one really kept me guessing, and it's the first book in a LONG time that I didn't read the last page long before I got to it. I guess I do that to see if I'll like the way the book turns out, but I end up reading the whole book regardless, anyway.
Ms. George is an expert at narrative; though I could see through the killer's eyes at times, I had no idea who he was until that most important clue near the end. She expertly developed many characters, enough so that I was interested in ea...more
Ms. George is an expert at narrative; though I could see through the killer's eyes at times, I had no idea who he was until that most important clue near the end. She expertly developed many characters, enough so that I was interested in ea...more
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in April, 2008
I like to watch the Inspector Lynley series on BBC and PBS. We get a lot of books from publishers and someone at work put this up for adoption last month so I snagged it. It's very straight forward. I sort of know the story since I did see the adaptation, but can't remember "who done it!' so I'll be with it to the end. It's interesting to read the descriptions of the main characters to see how welll they did in casting. Good read to take to the beach. She does a good job of setting the...more
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Read in February, 2008
Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley is assigned to a serial killer case in which young boys are being killed; Scotland Yard is running to catch up with both the case and the media as the first victims were minorities and only upon the discovery of a white victim was the serial aspect noted. He is aided by Barbara Havers, who is unhappy with her recent demotion, but doggedly work the case and proves invaluable when Lynley must deal with a family tragedy near the end of the case.
Well-writt...more
Well-writt...more
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Read in January, 2006
I won't read any more Elizabeth George novels because of this one. I was so angry at what she did to the characters that I swore off her altogether.
A big part of what I enjoy about murder mystery series is that we get to know the primary characters over time, and see them develop. So to mess around with the relationship between readers and characters is to incur the readers' wrath.
I hope to eventually forgive Ms. George, because I enjoyed the series prior to "With No One As Witn...more
A big part of what I enjoy about murder mystery series is that we get to know the primary characters over time, and see them develop. So to mess around with the relationship between readers and characters is to incur the readers' wrath.
I hope to eventually forgive Ms. George, because I enjoyed the series prior to "With No One As Witn...more
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recommends it for:
Crime Novel/ British novel Fans
I am not as upset as some reviewers here about the way Elizabeth George decided to have one of the characters killed off at the end of this book ans although it might have ticked me off but I am interested in seeing where this puts the rest of her books. This is not her best book, that title I still think should go to A Great Deliverance but it was still interesting and well written, it is still amazing to me that she is an American author writing these well done and believable novels about New ...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone who likes British mysteries.
This is the companion piece to the Elizabeth George book I read earlier this summer, "What Came Before He Shot Her" and probably shold have been read first. The reviews say "stunning" and "shocker," and I've have to agree. But more meaningful than the heart-racing excitement of this story is the compassion with which George writes about her characters, Inspector Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers, his recently-demoted sergeant.
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Read in January, 2006
After three or four comparatively mediocre books, George is back on top form. When the Met fail to rcognize a series of killings as the work of a serial killer, tabloids and activists claim institionalized racism is the reason -- the victims are young black and mixed race boys.
What isn't clear is what Lynley's investigations will lead to, and just how shocking the tragdy will be...
What isn't clear is what Lynley's investigations will lead to, and just how shocking the tragdy will be...
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 2006
Not bad. Not the best by Elizabeth George, but still quite interesting and involving. Not happy about a certain character's death either. Still, I good read all the same. The entire Linley mystery series is great though, so go back to the beginning of the series and start reading them all if you like this one even a little bit. The earlier ones are better, and more creative.
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Read in October, 2007
I just reread this book -- Elizabeth George is my favorite author, and I want to read her latest, What He Did Before He Shot Her -- but decided I'd re-read this which leads up to the new one. It was as good as ever -- she is such an amazingly good writer, her books never get old.
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Read in December, 2007
I stayed up until 1:30am on New Year's Eve, not bringing in the new year but finishing this book. I thought it was the best George so far. I can't believe she did what she did, but I admire George's courage for doing it. I rushed out to get the latest insallment so I can see what happends now. I truly can't wait for the new book to come out in May 2008! Well done, Elizabeth.
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I've read the entire Lynley-Havers series and enjoyed the first few immensely. With the two or so books prior to this one, however, I felt like George had really started to despise her main characters. Then I read this one. Wow. I guess she decided to get back in the game. Great mystery, great secondary storyline and the last quarter of the book is absolutely harrowing.
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Read in February, 2008
As usual, I am totally absorbed in this story, despite the fact that I do not as a rule enjoy plots involving serial killers. George makes me care about the characters and, while she draws the reader into the head of the killer, she knows just how far to go without going over the line (at least MY line, which is on the squeamish side). An excellent read so far.
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Read in August, 2005
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in November, 2006
recommends it for:
Mystery Lovers
Another great installment from one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth George. I already knew how it ended when I started reading it and was still shocked! One of the few books that has made me cry. Can't wait to find out what happens next to Lynley and Havers.
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SPOILER ALERT: This review reveals an irritating, but important, plot detail.
Sweet Lord mother of God. Did nobody tell this woman that reading a book about a crazed serial killer is tough enough going?
But to kill off Lynley's fricking WIFE in the middle of the book! For no apparent reason. Give me a freaking break.
Sweet Lord mother of God. Did nobody tell this woman that reading a book about a crazed serial killer is tough enough going?
But to kill off Lynley's fricking WIFE in the middle of the book! For no apparent reason. Give me a freaking break.
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