Inspector
Lynley tries to recover from tragedy By VICKI ROCK
Fans of Elizabeth George’s New Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley series were shocked when his wife, Helen, and their unborn son were murdered by a 12-year-old boy in “With No One As Witness.”
“Careless in Red” (HarperCollins, 640 pages, $27.95) picks up the story. Lynley has turned in his resignation and is hiking the cliffs in Cornwall. He hasn’t contacted his family or his former coworkers. On his 43rd day of hiking, he comes across the body of Santo Kerne, who may have been killed in a climbing accident. He walks to a cottage for help. Veterinarian Daidre Trahair owns the cottage and calls police. It was a homicide.
Because the first person on the scene is always a suspect, Lynley comes under police suspicion, until they hear his name and recognize him. Detective Inspector Bea Hannaford then wants his help because she thinks Trahair has lied about the route she drove right before the death. When New Scotland hears what happened, Lynley’s former partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, is sent to assist.
George is known for her complex, intelligence plotting, psychological stories and good characters. Her novels seem to be authentic British novels, although George is American. She is one of the best novelists writing today.
Elizabeth George was born in Warren, Ohio, but the family moved to the San Francisco area when she was very young. She is a graduate of the University of California in Riverside and received a master’s degree in psychology from California State University in Fullterton. She taught English for almost 14 years before writing her first novel. She has won numerous awards. She and her husband live in Seattle.