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julesbieee's review against another edition
4.0
This ended up being the best book yet. The main characters and their histories became much fuller in this one, and I loved the brief appearance by Havers. And the Cornish setting! The mystery is at first uninteresting, and then becomes overly complicated. But I was too enthralled with the Lynley-Deborah-St. James love triangle to notice.
texasreadergirl's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this insight into the personal lives of some of my favorite fictional characters. I didn't start reading Elizabeth George in order, so I learned a lot from this one about Lynley, Simon (whom I adore), Deb and Lady Helen (and Peter Lynley, too). The murder mystery was second to the personal stoy, which suited me just fine in this instance.
aubreeg's review against another edition
3.0
Was a bit confused at first, not knowing that this book actually takes place BEFORE the first books of the series. I usually love that characterization is such a big part of this series, but I felt in this one it was too much. The mystery seemed shoved to the side and the focus was more on character development. I loved all her previous books, but this one was only ok for me.
ellenw's review against another edition
4.0
I think this was my favorite of this series so far. But, confusingly, it's actually a prequel rather tan 4th in the sequence!
rachelsim24's review against another edition
5.0
love this series. Only a little confused. This one is out of order chronologically. should read this one first.
howjessicareads's review against another edition
4.0
I think my favorite of the Lynley books so far. This one is a flashback, to the days before Lynley and Havers are partners, back when Lynley was still engaged to Deborah Cotter. Lynley, Deborah, Lady Helen Clyde, Simon St James, and others, make up a weekend party down to Lynley's ancestral home in Cornwall. It's an awkward party to begin with, since Simon is also in love with Deborah, and Lynley's cocaine-addicted younger brother shows up with his girlfriend, but it rapidly degenerates into a terrible weekend when a local journalist is brutally killed, and members of the party fall under suspicion.
lanner's review
4.0
Pretty good!
I'm always awed by George's writing style: great characterization, and full of details without ever including anything doesn't further the story.
This is also the book in which James + Deborah and Thomas + Helen all happens. Good romances!
I'm always awed by George's writing style: great characterization, and full of details without ever including anything doesn't further the story.
This is also the book in which James + Deborah and Thomas + Helen all happens. Good romances!
jdgcreates's review
3.0
(3.5) While this blast-from-the-past book was a good way to deepen understanding about how the messy love triangle between Lynley, St. James, and Deborah occurred that is alluded to in the first book, it didn't include enough of Havers to keep the dynamic I love going strong. We need her to balance out the upper-crust story of Lynley et al.
Still, it was interesting to get background on Lynley and his brother Peter and his mother, and the mystery was decent, so I'm giving it a solid 3.5 stars.
It's also the perfect time to take a break from the series and read other novels that have been tempting me!
Still, it was interesting to get background on Lynley and his brother Peter and his mother, and the mystery was decent, so I'm giving it a solid 3.5 stars.
It's also the perfect time to take a break from the series and read other novels that have been tempting me!
numbuh12's review against another edition
4.0
Elizabeth George is fantastic. The fact that there are still over ten more books in this series for me to read feels like taking a heady gulp of red wine. I can't wait.