Just One Evil Act
by Elizabeth George ~ A Book Review
I’ve
been an avid reader of Elizabeth George’s mysteries since the aristocratic
police investigator, Inspector Thomas Lynley, and his unkempt, authority adverse
partner, Barbara Havers, were first introduced in A Great Deliverance in 1988. Although American, Ms. George
has for the most part of 25 years been my favorite author of British mysteries
after P.D. James. This affection for the
Lynley mysteries has been quelled since the publication of What Came Before He Shot Her, George’s attempt at arguing
the poverty excuse for the ne’er do well who killed the beloved character,
Helen Lynley. That book was nearly unreadable and the beginning of the end for
me.
Out of
habit, eternal hope or stubbornness, I’ve continued to give each new
installment a try. I’ve read all 18. Just One Evil Act may be the
death knell for my continued readership.
The Lynley novels have, for me, been about the character development and
in Just One Evil Act, none of
the long beloved characters act true to the personas that have been developed
over 25 years and 18 books. Not in one’s most wild imagination would Thomas
attend a roller derby match (at least not more than once on a lark); Barbara
Havers would not aid & abet malfeasance; and the other major players would
never proceed as described in this book.
If Just One Evil Act were one’s
first Lynley book, these critiques would not matter. My issues with the story
arise from my lengthy relationship with these characters and the careful
characterizations that have been developed over the years. While I can
understand that Ms. George may have felt the need to shuffle things up a bit,
the series began its slide when Helen was murdered a mere six months after
finally marrying Tommy and has not been able to recover. While the overly long
book is readable, it was not enjoyable for me.
