In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner

Amazon.com

Award-winning novelist Elizabeth George (A Great Deliverance, Well-Schooled in Murder) returns with In Pursuit of a Proper Sinner, her 10th installment in the Lynley-Havers series. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley has his work cut out for him: two mutilated corpses are found in a prehistoric stone circle in Derbyshire. One is the daughter of Lynley's former mentor, Andy Maiden.

What's more, the inspector's partner, Barbara Havers, has been suspended and is facing criminal charges of assault and attempted murder. Was Havers really saving a drowning child or was she disobeying orders? Why, then, did she fire a rifle at the detective chief inspector, and how could Lynley ethically justify it? As he grapples with the ramifications of his partner's radical insubordination, the case in Derbyshire grows in daunting complexity.

Once again, Elizabeth George delivers an intricately woven plot, which efficiently navigates the reader through nearly 600 pages. Along the way, readers will be introduced to a delightful cast of supporting characters from the dowdy Phoebe who finds the first gory cadaver to the stately Andy Maiden: "His face was drawn with exhaustion, and his growth of peppery whiskers fanned out from his moustache and shadowed his cheeks." And, of course, fans will get an eyeful of George's trademark, her vivid descriptions of death: "At her feet, a young man lay curled like a foetus, dressed head-to-toe in nothing but black, with that same colour puckering burnt flesh from eye to jaw on one side of his face." --Rebekah Warren

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

The narrative talents of English stage actor Derek Jacobi are put to excellent use in this intriguing mystery of a double murder most foul. Author Elizabeth George presents her popular detectives Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers with one of their most grisly and difficult cases ever as they search for clues to a bloody crime while struggling to repair their own strained partnership. George's mystery bobs, weaves, twists, and turns from a packed West End theater through the sumptuous halls of a country manor and into the desolate reaches of the high country moors before revealing its delightfully wicked and suspenseful conclusion. Jacobi tackles the complex plot and diverse cast of characters with relish, working his theatrical skills into an outstanding performance. (Running time: 6 hours, 4 cassettes) --George Laney

Book Description

Calder Moor is a wild and deadly place: many have been trapped in the myriad limestone caves, lost in collapsed copper mines, injured on perilous gritstone ridges. But this time, when two bodies are discovered in the shadow of the ancient circle of stones known as Nine Sisters Henge, it is clearly not a case for Mountain Rescue. The corpses are those of a young man and woman. Each met death in a different fashion. Each died violently. To Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, brought in to investigate by special request, this grisly crime promises to be one of the toughest assignments of his career. For the unfortunate Nicola Maiden was the daughter of a former officer in an elite undercover unit, a man Lynley once regarded as a mentor. Now, as Lynley struggles to find out if Nicola's killer was an enemy of her father's or one she earned herself, a disgraced Barbara Havers, determined to redeem herself in the eyes of her longtime partner, crisscrosses London seeking information on the second murder victim. Yet the more dark secrets Lynley and Havers uncover, the more they learn that neither the victims nor the suspects are who they appear to be. And once again they come up against the icy realization that human relationships are often murderous...and that the blood that binds can also kill.

Customer Reviews:

If you're a mystery fan reading them in order, this is probably where you should stop........2007-07-26

I have been an Elizabeth George fan for years, mostly because she has had nice tight plots and Havers has been a very real character, touching and exasperating at the same time.

I wish somebody had been around to tell me when to quit, so that I did not go on to read the later books where the series went downhill so badly.

You can see the signs in this book, which is too long, includes some very unrealistic and unlikely situations, and has the characters behaving in the stupidest possible manner in order to move the story along.

Still, it's readable; it does tell a story. It's not as excellent as the early Lynley-Havers books were, but it's passable. The next one she wrote, A Traitor to Memory, really isn't. That one is over 200 pages too long, wallows around taking forever to tell a simple and rather dull story, and it shows all too clearly that Ms George has lost interest in her characters. From there she goes on to write one without Lynley and Havers, A Place of Hiding, in which Simon and Deborah fail to carry the weak plot and you have to listen to Deborah whine about her own shortcomings for hundreds of pages; then she writes one, With No One as Witness, that takes the regular characters and centers the story on them to the point where the angst overwhelms the thin story at tedious length. As I write this, the most recent book, What Came Before He Shot Her, isn't really a mystery at all, but what passes for a psychological study of a young murderer who apparently has troubles of his own that explain his murdering.

Please don't get me wrong; the first books are still very good, and I don't want to deny her any praise for them; she's earned her right to go off in a different direction and try not using a proper editor if she wishes to, and good luck to her. But if you are a reader who likes a good mystery story with all sorts of twists and red herrings and a process of solving the mystery to observe, enjoy, and try to anticipate--well, stop here, say thanks to the lady, and move on to some other series. If you've never read P.D. James, her writing is always restrained and elegant, the mystery element is always honest, and she has never written a book without having a story to carry it along; she never tears up her characters as a substitute for a good plot.

In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner.......2007-05-12

If you have read any of Elizabeth George's mystery's before, then you will not be surprise by this one. It's fun, easy reading. I've been reading her books for awhile now and enjoy the characters she writes about.

For me, the end of Elizabeth George.......2007-05-11

I have long been a fan of Elizabeth George, and have been especially impressed with her development of Barbara Havers' character; however, I found this book to be depressing and repellent, relying on gratuitous descriptions of kinky sex as a plot device. These are mental pictures I do NOT want to see. . .and are NOT what I read for. I was SO disappointed. . .and in fact, have hoped that this was just the result of an editor standing over Ms. George's shoulder pointing out that sex is what sells books. I fear that Ms. George is only too willing to buy into that, and I'm sorry to see it happen. It's a waste of a fine talent.

George at her best!.......2006-07-05

By far, one of George's best. Excellent character development and plotline. FYI, there are references to S&M that some readers might find disturbing.

Too dark and too long.......2006-03-14

I remember reading "Playing for the Ashes" and "For the Sake of Elena" many years ago and really enjoying them. I hadn't read any of EG in a few years and decided to check her out again a few months ago by reading this book and "In the Presence of the Enemy" which I read just prior to this one. I was disappointed with this one.

What struck me most negatively in both these books after reflecting on how much I enjoyed her previous novels were the creepy and obsessive references to sex. Both these books overdid it. In this one, I didn't need to know so much about the S&M scene - it seemed almost gratuitious. The result is a dark, ominious feeling throughout which made it a downer of a read during our rainy winter. I was surprised to find how much I came to dislike Lynley - he seemed so inflexible. Barbara seemed like everso the doormat, though Nkata was likeable. The book was way too long, and I found myself close to not finishing it - I ended up caring so little for the characters in the end.

I would have liked to have seem Havers' relationship with Azhar developed more.

If you are a EG fan, you'll probably enjoy it - it was well written. But not that satisfying for me. I think I'll head back to Tony Hillerman and the Southwest!

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In Pursuit Of The Proper Sinner
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0340689315

3 HBs by Elizabeth George: In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner, A Traitor to Memory, Playing for the Ashes

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3 HBs by Elizabeth George: In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner, A Traitor to Memory, Playing for the Ashes
Elizabeth George
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000T5ZYT8

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hardbacks

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In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0340688831

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In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Bantam
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Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NW5YDI

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In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Hodder & Stoughton Audio Books
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Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 1859989799

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In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Bantam Dell Pub Group
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ASIN: B000OFLM4O

In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner (SIGNED)

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In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner (SIGNED)
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Bantam
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ASIN: B000HKFPPS

El Peso De La Culpa / In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner (Best Seller-Biblioteca Elizabeth George)

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El Peso De La Culpa / In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner (Best Seller-Biblioteca Elizabeth George)
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Plaza & Janes S.A.,Spain
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Binding: Paperback

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2 for 1 Shipping Charge - Elizabeth George (Deception on His Mind and In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner)

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2 for 1 Shipping Charge - Elizabeth George (Deception on His Mind and In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner)
Elizabeth George
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PH9SG0

Book Description

In the seventeenth century, in an alternate universe where Mordred defeated King Arthur-now known as "Arthur the Tyrant"-and founded the Pendragon dynasty, much of Europe, Asia, and the New World are part of an Empire ruled from England. The Order of Crown, Shield, and Dragon, originally founded as Mordred's personal bodyguard, has become a legion of special agents for the Crown: special emissaries in time of peace, and invincible warriors in more violent times. They carry special weapons: swords, each of which contains the soul of someone of great power. White swords are inhabited by the souls of saints-and red swords by those who were anything but saints. Even in the hands of a knight of the Order, even wielded in the cause of righteousness, such a sword is terribly dangerous to its owner and all around him. In more evil hands, a red sword is the most dangerous and powerful weapon known to mankind. A single red sword can defeat an ordinary army. Last time, the Empire was threatened by an enemy with an arsenal of red swords. Though three knights of the Order were able to eliminate that danger, at a terrible cost, the Empire is not yet secure. An ancient witch, long thought to be dead, has been reported in Turkey, and the deadly creatures called darklings start to appear throughout Europe. And on the isle of Colonsay, Amadan Dubh, a deadly supernatural being also known as the Sidhe Fairy Fool, has appeared, sending the inhabitants into a frenzy of murderous madness. This time, courage and a strong sword arm, even when armed with a magic sword, may not be enough to save the Empire.

Customer Reviews:

Paladins II Knight Moves.......2007-06-22

Paladins II Knight Moves is an excellent follow-up Paladins by Joel Rosenberg. The genre is alternative hisory/fantasy. The charaterization is awesome. Why, because there is no readily discernable hero. Is it Gray, Cully, or, Niko? Or is it the Admiral? Each one of these people has flaws and foibles that do not fit traditional fantasy. There are characters who you might find more interesting than others- but does not this mirror life. In this second book you find out a little bit more about each of these characters through their thoughts , words and deeds. The novel has a multicultural aspect that reflects the world in which we presently live. Finally, if you are a reader who prefers to read a novel and to be suprised at the ending-- while in afterthought realizing that what seemed a number of unrelated events and characters are woven into a complex, but tight tapestry-- Paladins II is the novel for you. I await the next installment in this oxymoronic realistic/fantasy series.

A hard-hitting fantasy packed with action........2007-03-05

Joel Rosenberg's PALADINS II: KNIGHT MOVES tells of a world ruled by the Pendragon flag, which flies over much of Europe, Asia and the New World, and of magical swords which work in service of good or evil. Add an old force in form of a witch and the undead that are infesting Europe and you have a hard-hitting fantasy packed with action.

Wordy.......2007-01-20

About page 249 someone in this book says, "All this talk isn't getting us anywhere." or something of that nature. It certainly doesn't get us very far. I read the first book and thought that it was worth a look at the second. Probably a wrong decision. There's too much talk and not a live-action for a fantasy/alternative reality book. For example one of the groups of good guys visits some great magician or whatever. Do we really need pages of everyone in the group's reactions, particularly when 90% of it isn't especially relevant to the plot. I think a decent editor would have cut out at least three quarters of this.
The book takes place in an alternative 17th-century, about which I have no great problem but gunpowder hasn't been invented? Perhaps they don't need it with those super magical swords that seem to be able to do anything. This is my next major problem. The swords seem to be so powerful that there is little point in using anything else, apart from collateral damage. You just have to swing them around a little and everything dies.
Lastly this author, among many others, should realise that people don't necessarily read parts of a trilogy one after the other. It's been months since I read the first book, and there are constant references to characters I cannot remember. All right, I may be getting old, but a list of characters at the beginning wouldn't be such a bad thing. At least it would save me constantly having to reference the first volume.
Aside from that it's a fairly typical plot, groups of friends get into danger looking for a looming evil etc. etc. Nothing particularly innovative here.

Great writing: no end........2006-12-09

The first book in the series, Paladins, was a great book. I've long been a fan of Rosenberg (20 years now) and I found Paladins to be one of his best. The characterization was outstanding (as always) and the world interesting.

This book is almost as good from a writing viewpoint. The characters are again great. The only real problem with the writing is that we jump around a bit much between different plots. But I'm generally okay with that. What I greatly disliked is that the book doesn't end. In most of his previous series, each book stood on its own. This one feels like the first half (third?) of a book. Very annoying....

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Paradigmatic, memorable stories

Here Comes Civilization: The Complete Science Fiction of William Tenn, Volume 2
William Tenn , and Mary C. Tabasko
Manufacturer: Nesfa Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1886778280

Book Description

Contains the rest of Tenn's short fiction (not included in Volume 1), the novel “Of Men and Monsters,” the essay “The Fiction in Science Fiction,” and several other long pieces. Introduction by Robert Silverberg. Afterword by George Zebrowski. Dustjacket art by Rolf Mohr.

Customer Reviews:

Paradigmatic, memorable stories.......2006-06-30

William Tenn is not forgotten, as witnessed by the publication of these two collections, but is not nearly as well known as he should be. This seems to be because he is primarily a short-story writer, and all the kudos go to novelists. But Asimov and Clarke are also justly celebrated for the paradigmatic short stories such as "Nightfall" and "The Nine Billion Names of God". Tenn wrote many more such than either Asimov or Clarke, and deserves to be read accordingly.
I first read "The Discovery of Morniel Mathaway", "Lisbon Cubed", and "The Masculinist Revolt" around thiry years ago, but never forgot them: they're THAT original, and THAT well executed.

Book Description

In this captivating book, Stewart Lee Allen treks three-quarters of the way around the world on a caffeinated quest to answer these profound questions: Did the advent of coffee give birth to an enlightened western civilization? Is coffee, indeed, the substance that drives history? From the cliffhanging villages of Southern Yemen, where coffee beans were first cultivated eight hundred years ago, to a cavernous coffeehouse in Calcutta, the drinking spot for two of India’s three Nobel Prize winners . . . from Parisian salons and cafés where the French Revolution was born, to the roadside diners and chain restaurants of the good ol’ U.S.A., where something resembling brown water passes for coffee, Allen wittily proves that the world was wired long before the Internet. And those who deny the power of coffee (namely tea-drinkers) do so at their own peril.

Customer Reviews:

A gonzo tour with the Magical Mystery Bean.......2007-08-06

Stewart Allen's "The Devil's Cup" is one of those books that appear to suffer somewhat from a case of multiple personality syndrome. It's gonzo food journalism with a healthy dose of history and cultural anthropology carefully disguised as a travelogue.

The focus of the book is coffee, and Allen treats his subject with Hunter S. Thompsonesque flair as he traces the history of the divine bean from it's African origins all the way to the Texas Panhandle. I'm still a little skeptical as to how much of the text was real experience as opposed to caffiene-induced delusion, but in the end it really doesn't matter much. It's an entertaining and informative read, and that's what really counts. You certainly can't fault the author on his research and sources. Allen has good footnotes and his stories hold up well under the scrutiny of a good many Google searches.

The author is accompanied on his quest for javalightenment by a revolving door of unusual and interesting characters, all helping to drive the narrative forward with lightning speed as Allen travels from one locale and adventure to another. Allen begins his quest in Ethiopia, where coffee was first cultivated. He moves quickly along the traditional trade routes to trace how the bean migrated through Arab and Muslim lands to Europe, the New World, and beyond.

"The Devil's Cup" is too short to provide a holistic picture of the sacred bean, and I'd recommend pairing it up with one of the more traditionally written histories on the subject such as "Uncommon Grounds". That said, this is a great compliment to other coffee-related books and it should sit on your shelf if you have even a passing interest in learning more about the magic grounds.

Grab a good cup of joe, get this book, and start reading already!

One of my favorite books.......2006-08-24

I came across this book by accident and bought it out of my sheer love for coffee. But the book not only has the great tale of how coffee came from Africa and made it's way all over the earth to the daily drink we know today, it also is a first rate travelogue. The author follows coffee's migration from Africa to Europe. Mr. Allen has quite a knack for finding and reporting his adventures and misadventures with a fun easy to read style.

If you like non-fiction travelogues, then do yourself a favor and buy this book.

A Coffee-tastic Tale.......2006-06-22

The Devil's Cup is a very enjoyable book...

It's not just a history book. It's not just a travelog. It's not just an essay on the politics of the import and export of a consumer good. It's more than that, it's an adventure that follows the trail of that most wonderful beverage, coffee. Where did coffee originate from? How did it make it's way from country to country, from continent to continent? Who was responsible for the many moves that coffee has made? For the different ways that coffee is enjoyed? How do different cultures view this magnificent bean? What role did coffee play in the creation of civilization? Of the shaping of our globe as it is today? These are the sorts of answers you'll find within this book, but not presented to you in a bland history bookish sort of way... No, no, the answers lie within tales of travel and first hand accounts of experiences with the actual places involved...

And all of this comes with a ribald sense of humor, a fantastic sense of adventure and stories that will have you running off to grab a cup of Joe to enjoy this book with.

Writing on a Coffee Buzz.......2006-06-20

I enjoyed this book by Mr. Allen. It is basically a personal narrative on his travels so it can also be considered a travel essay. As he experiences various regions, he stops and samples various brews. The "History of the World" portion of the title comes from amusing anecdotes throughout the book relating to coffee. I enjoyed learning about some of the regions where coffee was outlawed at a time and the reasoning or lack of behind it. I am only giving it four stars because I wanted more as was related to the title and less narrative. Some chapters are amusing, but there are portions of the book I just skipped over, but all in all a nice effort and I would recommend it. This book appeared to have been written very quickly with quick tidbits of humour. I am convinced Mr Allen was intoxicated with double shot's of espresso while writing this text. After I finished, I brewed up some coffee of my own!

- David Carlin

Enchanting, humorous, and addicting.......2006-05-08

I'm a huge fan of the food-history-travelogue style of writing, and this book satisfied my craving quite nicely. I found myself accelerating my reading to see what would happen next, as the author travels the world in search of various historical brews. From Africa to the Middle East to Europe and beyond, you feel like you're right there, experiencing the bustle of busy marketplaces and the chatter of a Viennese cafe. It's written in an amusing prose and presents an array of intruiging tidbits of historical evidence.

As I sipped my coffee along-side the book, I couldn't help but experiment and day-dream of whether the brew tasted even remotely similar just a few hundred years ago, although I found myself (unfortunately?) short on ambergris. It's not often that I read a book in just about one sitting, but I was hooked as soon as I started reading.

The Devil's Cup (A History of the World According to Coffee)

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The Devil's Cup (A History of the World According to Coffee)
Stewart Lee Allen
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OVR7TC

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