The Punishment She Deserves: A Lynley Novel (Inspector Lynley Book 20) Kindle Edition

I read this tour de force shortly after finishing Donna Leon's newest. No comparison! Leon's should have been a short story where as George has given us a story with innumerable twists and turns to keep the reader spurred on to find the culprit. It covered many social ills-alcoholism, drugs, illicit sex and sick relationships. With Sgt. Havers admirably holding her own while being put under the microscope by her superiors in hope of transferring her out of their patch and the dashing Lynley doing what he does best, sleuthing while dealing with problematical personal situations. George has expanded her characters with aplomb. Although I was anxious to find the solution to the novel, it was one I rather hated to see end.

This is my third review in a row prompted by the title question. Elizabeth George is a brilliant writer - so her last books puzzle me. The appeal of this series has always centered on the partnership of the two main characters - Thomas and Barbara. This is a 700 page book, somewhere around page 230, they are finally in the same location. I figured out the eventual ending at about the same page 230. All the rest is repetitive exposition of the same facts, a detailed description of the near to last stage of alcoholism ( a well told cautionary message) and detailed description of Ludlow. Albeit, all of it is technically well written, the actual story only needed about 350 pages and would have been far less tedious. Have they fired all the editors? Has no one heard of "less is more"?

I've been following Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sargent Barbara Havers since the beginning of Elizabeth George's "Inspector Lynley" series, and the novels just get better and better. "The Punishment She Deserves" is George's latest psychological thriller, this time set primarily in Shropshire England and the surrounding areas. I highly recommend looking up photos these towns (particularly Ludlow) on the Internet to enhance your reading experience. The novel may actually spark some tourism there!Much of the focus is on Lynley and Havers' boss, DCS Isabelle Ardery, as her alcoholism progresses. Anyone who has dealt with someone who is an addict/alcoholic will recognize the frustration and sense of helplessness that comes with trying to "talk sense" to a person so deeply in denial. George is either writing from experience or she's researched thoroughly, because these passages are difficult and very realistic. She also gives the reader a sense of what's going on in Ardery's mind as she is forced to face her demons and all she has lost to alcohol. This helps us sympathize with her some, but her abominably unfair treatment of our dears, Lynley and Havers, keeps her squarely in the villain category.As always, the best bits are the "across class" interactions/conversations between Lynley and side-kick Havers! In this novel, the St. James' are not really present yet again. I've noticed that with the past several novels, George has concentrated mostly on Lynley and Havers, and left out (or killed off) the original "group" of characters. I'm guessing because of the TV series (which I do not watch).My one criticism of "The Punishment She Deserves", is that most of the women characters (save Barbara Havers and Dee Harriman, of course) are pretty horrible; either self-destructive, or cold, or hard, or bitter, or controlling, or humorless, scolds! Isabelle (of course) but also Clover Freeman, Yasmina Lomax, Ding Donaldson, Rabiah Lomax, and Dr. Nancy Scannell. It's as if George must make "tough" women also unlikable, and I don't think that's necessary.Still, I'll be first in line to read George's next offering! I'm hooked!

Oh dear lord what has happened to Elizabeth George? I used to adore her books...its been downhill since she killed off you know who, one of the stupidest moves in pop book history. And things have become more broody and convaluded and weird and circular and unfathomable and bizarre and make you say WTH.

I give it four stars because overall the book was wonderful, as always.However, the synopsis promised appearances from characters we haven't seen for a while, like Simon and Deborah. Cramming a mention of them in the final pages was dissatisfying and insulting. My other issue was the bizarre and unfinished way the book ended. Tommy's high-handed behavior and Barbara's sheep-like acceptance of it turned them into characters I didn't recognize and the abrupt ending made it seem as if the author painted herself into a corner and turned off the light in the room hoping we wouldn't notice.

THE PUNISHMENT SHE DESERVES: A LYNLEY NOVEL by Elizabeth George, opens in the town of Ludlow (in Shropshire).A popular and respected deacon, Ian Druitt, had been arrested under less than ‘official’ circumstances and ‘supposedly’ committed suicide under very awkward and suspicious circumstances while in police custody.The affair reeked of unanswered questions, damaged reputations and a suspicion of a police cover-up.Barbara Havers is to accompany Detective Chief Superintendent Isabelle Ardery to Ludlow to look into the matter and report back to the ‘pressured’ Assistant Commissioner, Sir David Hillier.This is to be an official investigation and also a ‘trial by fire’ for Havers. Isabelle baits and humiliates Havers at every turn, but Barbara is on very good behavior (which is about time!!).The plot is tense, detailed and full of intertwining subplots which do come together at the end.The characters are also very detailed - interesting, flawed, alternately insightful, smart and self-destructive.Barbara Havers redeems herself admirably with brilliant detecting and deduction in a bit more subdued manner (which I like). Inspector Lynley seems a bit more sharp, focused and deliberate than in previous titles.Dorothea Harriman shines and I would like to see more of DS Winston Nkata.****

I have read the whole Lynley/Havers series of books and usually love Elizabeth George's book. But... this time I was disappointed. The book was too long - or at least, there wasn't enough story to fill it. It felt as if the detectives were going round in circles for a lot of the book. It felt a bit dull, to be honest. In fact, I got the impression that George was tired of her characters and had lost interest in the book before she reached half way.The other factor that I found distracting was the sheer number of literal errors. I could almost have believed that this book had never been proofread. Surely a publisher like Hodder can afford the services of a proofreader, especially for such a successful author? There were so many words missed out, words left in after editing, rogue words (Mr appeared randomly in the middle of one sentence) and spelling errors. All in all, it felt as if the book hadn't been properly developed or edited. This book was not up to the standard I've come to expect from George or her publisher.If this is a sign of where book publishing is going in the UK, I'm very sad. I started my editorial career at Hodder and standards were high then. I hope the quality of this book is an anomaly, and not an indication of sinking standards.

Long and absorbing, character-driven, emotionally-intelligent especially around ideas of punishment (often erroneous and self-inflicted) and on parents (and bosses) who try to mould and manipulate their children (or subordinates).George's tics are still here (Americanisms, irritating breaks into phonetics, bad London geography: Southall on the tube?) and Barbara Havers has become the star of the series over wooden, personality-free Lynley. The publisher's have let too many copy-editing errors through in the Kindle edition ... yet for all this, an engaging, complex investigation and some interesting character arcs.

So disappointed with this book! I have read all the Havers/Lynley books and loved every single one of them but I was sooo bored reading this. Really slow story, couldn’t warm to any of the characters at all and even Lynley and Havers are just not doing much at all in this book. Really hope the next one is better again.

Wow! I've waited ages to read this new Lynley novel and I've been left extremely unsatisfied by the whole experience. Far too long. Fabulous secondary story about Isabelle. Total tosh about tap dancing. More importantly, crimes against characters you have no empathy or sympathy with, absolutely no explanation as to why the baddie did it and a ridiculous suicide. Why does this author wait until the final few chapters to bring it all together? I love Lynley and Havers but I'll never get those hours back and want to say, Come on EG, you can do so much better!

As always, great characters, the students, Missa & her family all totally believable. Lynley is the same as ever & feels like an old friend but the subtle development of Barbara 's character is masterful as is the elevation of Dee Harriman from merely a walk on part to an important thread in this narrative. As someone who was married to an alcoholic for 35 years and lived in Worcestershire for almost 70, I can attest to the accuracy of her research. As always, the wry humour of Barbara 's internal musings made me giggle out loud. Thanks E.G. & long may you continue!