A great thriller
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Elizabeth George never fails to fulfil the expectations. I've followed the adventures of Inspector Lynley and Co. for years now and this book was as much as a page-turner as its predecessors.
This time Lynley and Havers investigate a series of murders in London which seems to have a racist background. As the murders escalate, they both work frantically to try and catch the killer as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the tale of their own personal lives keeps unfolding as in all previous books and, as it often happens, becomes influenced by work-related episodes.
The end of this book is the beginning of Ms. George's next one. It will leave the reader flabbergasted. I certainly was!
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Terrific Plot, Wonderful Character Development and Suspense!
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Highly recommended!
With No One as Witness is one of the most memorable of the Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers novels. If you haven't read this book yet, you have a great treat ahead of you. The book uses its over 600 page length well to deliver a deliciously complex plot in a detailed police procedural with lots of great forensics, action, suspense and interesting character developments.
As the book opens, a teenager who favors Boy George makeup and impersonating famous female singers heads out to meet with "friends." By the next morning, Kimmo Thorne has become a murder statistic, the victim of a strange mutilation that seems like the work of an unusually deranged mind. Clearly, this could be a serial killer at work . . . and the police begin to realize that three other young men have experienced a similar fate. But no one has taken their deaths seriously . . . they're just "throwaway boys" of black or mixed race parentage.
Anticipating a public relations firestorm tied to charges of racism in not investigating the earlier murders very well, the ultimately annoying Assistant Commissioner David Hillier focuses on managing press relations . . . even while he hampers the actual investigation with his "directions." While Acting Superintendent Lynley and Detective Constable Havers gnash their teeth in extreme frustration, Hillier pushes them to the brink of rebellion. Newly promoted Detective Sergeant Winston Nkata finds himself the token black in Hillier's playbook and doesn't appreciate this abuse of his identity, but usually manages to bite his tongue.
Throughout the story, the narration alternates among Lynley, Havers, Nkata, the serial killer and Ulrike Ellis, the head of a nonprofit agency for boys in trouble with the law. That makes the story more interesting by changing perspectives and varying the pacing.
Each of the major characters has the usual problems to deal with. Lynley's wife is expecting their first child and the in-laws are in an uproar about which christening garments to use. Havers is still smarting from her demotion, her car barely runs and she's annoyed with a neighbor who's too protective of his daughter. Nkata continues to be attracted to an unsuitable woman who spurns him while worrying about her son. The serial killer wants attention and is annoyed at how slow the police are to catch on. Ellis is losing her self-control with a married man, and her job is collapsing around her. Those touches humanized what is otherwise a very grim and dark tale.
As the investigation begins, the killer finds himself needing to kill again and again. That puts further pressure on the police to stop the potential rampage. How will it end? Badly, of course.
Police procedurals about stopping serial killers can be the most rewarding part of the genre if the author keeps the reader off balance about the who, what and why of the next step in the story. Ms. George does a commendable job of keeping the killer's identity shrouded until quite late in the book. Her misdirection is excellent and unforced. Yet she lets us in on the mind of the killer in a rewarding way that sets up the contest of hunted versus hunters very well. This is the best mystery I have read about a serial killer in many years.
I especially liked the way that breakthrough clues seemed to be about to unravel the killer's identity, but would actually turn into plot complications instead. These turns in the story were delicious in their ironies.
The book's main drawback is that the story involves the most disgusting types of sexual child abuse. If you have a weak stomach for that particular form of perversion, this story will thoroughly disgust you.
The book also achieves true pathos with a heart-rending tragedy during the investigation that will move all readers to sadness.
I seldom stay up past 1 a.m. to finish a book, but With No One as Witness kept me going last night until 2:17 with this one.
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A great summer read!
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Vintage Elizabeth George ... she just doesn't disappoint.
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Best yet
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Elizabeth George tells her best yet story with the Lynley/Havers team. Character development is excellent and the plot is very strong. You'll be finished the book before you know it, as the story doesn't let you put it down. Disturbing topic of child abuse covered in this one, so be prepared. Also, I really like that the British authors aren't afraid to not make everything turn our well in the end. The characters are real, not fluffy. If you haven't tried Ian Rankin, give him a try as well. Excellent mystery author with stories set in Edinburgh.
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A thorough mix of thrilling events
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This is a terrific book and here is my review: I'm a big fan of the Lynley/Havers books and this is one of the best. The crime story is different from the other books because this time it is about a serial killer and not only therefore it is very interesting. What I like most about the books are the characters of Lynley and Havers and their personal lives (although Lynley is not the most likable guy) and these stories are again very important and intriguing in this book.
If you liked the other Lynley/Havers books you shouldn't miss this one.
If you haven't read one yet you should start at the beginning (A Great Deliverance) because the developments of the main characters through the books is one of their strenghts. And don't stop when you weren't so enthusiastic about the first one because the books get better through time. You should also check out Giorgio Kostantinos-The Quest- a teriffic thriller.
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