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tracy_j's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Although the story was decent and had an okay 'twist' it seriously should have been half the length. I only continued to listen because it was a book I read with my Mom.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
4.0
One of the things I love about Elizabeth George is that her novels contain no tricks, or amazing connections that would never be made with out extraordinary technological enhancements. Detective Nkata says that this crime will be solved with words and nothing more or less.
George spends a lot of time setting the scene and introducing her characters. We get to know them. It's very involving, so that's good. People do stupid things. They make mistakes.They're envious. It is all very believable.
What's also believable is that. this is a very hard crime to solve, and that it actually might not be solved. This will keep you going until the last page.
So why four stars? It's the cop story, Barbara Havers being tortured by the new DSI into wearing more acceptable clothes and acting in a more acceptable way. As Lynley points out, she is much less effective with these strictures on her but the DS doesn't care. This makes Havers increasingly twitchy and sort of repellent. Lynley is moving ahead with his relationship with the zoo vet--a boring character--and is trying to move away from his relationship with DS Isabelle Ardery, an unpleasant character.
But I was on an Elizabeth George kick once I finished, so I reread "What Came Before He Shot Her", which is so, so good; no Havers, no Lynley, just a completely involving plot with a tragic end. I would like to see her turn back to the Campbell family and Joel in particular. There is still much to explore in Helen's murder.
George spends a lot of time setting the scene and introducing her characters. We get to know them. It's very involving, so that's good. People do stupid things. They make mistakes.They're envious. It is all very believable.
What's also believable is that. this is a very hard crime to solve, and that it actually might not be solved. This will keep you going until the last page.
So why four stars? It's the cop story, Barbara Havers being tortured by the new DSI into wearing more acceptable clothes and acting in a more acceptable way. As Lynley points out, she is much less effective with these strictures on her but the DS doesn't care. This makes Havers increasingly twitchy and sort of repellent. Lynley is moving ahead with his relationship with the zoo vet--a boring character--and is trying to move away from his relationship with DS Isabelle Ardery, an unpleasant character.
But I was on an Elizabeth George kick once I finished, so I reread "What Came Before He Shot Her", which is so, so good; no Havers, no Lynley, just a completely involving plot with a tragic end. I would like to see her turn back to the Campbell family and Joel in particular. There is still much to explore in Helen's murder.
hales2385's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely Brilliant!!
I couldn't put this book down. It was brilliantly written and I found myself engrossed in the storyline almost immediately. I love the fact that you get to find out about all of the main characters and get to know them all whilst it still remains relevant to the storyline. I loved the fact that it was wrote in timeline sequence and flowed easily. I also enjoyed the fact that it kept me guessing right until the end.
How have I only just found this author/series??? I've got some serious reading to do now as I need to read them all!!!
I couldn't put this book down. It was brilliantly written and I found myself engrossed in the storyline almost immediately. I love the fact that you get to find out about all of the main characters and get to know them all whilst it still remains relevant to the storyline. I loved the fact that it was wrote in timeline sequence and flowed easily. I also enjoyed the fact that it kept me guessing right until the end.
How have I only just found this author/series??? I've got some serious reading to do now as I need to read them all!!!
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
4.0
In this installment of the Inspector Lynley series, his partner Sergeant Havers is at the heart of the plot. Havers is trying to redeem herself after the last case and to not be transferred to some remote location. Despite misgivings from the chief, Lynley advocates for Havers to play an active role in a complex case involving the murder of a renowned feminist author. The case takes them from London to Cambridge to the small town of Shaftesbury. Will Havers redeem herself or will she find a way to sabotage her career once and for all? The answer is unclear but fans of the series will definitely root for the old Havers to triumph as the investigation unfolds. Many thanks to my friend for loaning me her Advanced Reader's Copy! :)
(I used this for the 2016 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge category "Read a book over 500 pages long"; since I started it in late 2015 but finished it in early 2016, I plan to read a second book in this category too :))
(I used this for the 2016 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge category "Read a book over 500 pages long"; since I started it in late 2015 but finished it in early 2016, I plan to read a second book in this category too :))
showell's review against another edition
4.0
While I enjoyed reading the previous two entries in the Thomas Lynley series by Elizabeth George, I felt those particular books had a lot of plot bloat that a good editor would have cut out. It made me wonder if George had become so successful that her editor was giving her a freer rein than she should. And then I discovered in the acknowledgments for one of those two books that George's longtime editor had resigned, which made me switch theories to one in which the editor was burning out and doing this one last book as a favor to George before retiring.
A Banquet of Consequences, which George completed with her new editor, is much tighter, much to my relief. The characters are richly drawn, the mystery and the relationship muddles complex and compelling, and the steady push forward in Lynley & Havers' private lives continues to be both believably paced and intriguing.
After reading these three mysteries in a relatively short period of time, I have become convinced that even excellent, experienced writers need solid editors.
A Banquet of Consequences, which George completed with her new editor, is much tighter, much to my relief. The characters are richly drawn, the mystery and the relationship muddles complex and compelling, and the steady push forward in Lynley & Havers' private lives continues to be both believably paced and intriguing.
After reading these three mysteries in a relatively short period of time, I have become convinced that even excellent, experienced writers need solid editors.
mmsbrooks24's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
shirlee2024's review against another edition
4.0
I hadn't read a book by Elizabeth George in awhile. I'm not sure why. I liked this one a lot.
jwoodsum's review against another edition
5.0
This was a Barbara Havers centric entry in the series and I really enjoyed it.