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Inspector Lynley #8
In the Presence of the Enemy
Hailed as the "king of sleaze," tabloid editor Dennis Luxford is used to ferreting out the sins and scandals of people in exposed positions. But when he opens an innocuous-looking letter addressed to him at The Source, he discovers that someone else excels at ferreting out secrets as well.
Ten-year-old Charlotte Bowen has been abducted, and if Luxford does not admit publicly to having fathered her, she will die. But Charlotte's existence is Luxford's most fiercely guarded secret, and acknowledging her as his child will throw more than one life and career into chaos. Luxford knows that the story of Charlotte's paternity could make him a laughingstock and reveal to his beautiful wife and son the lie he's lived for a decade. Yet it's not only Luxford's reputation that's on the line: it's also the reputation—and career—of Charlotte Bowen's mother. For she is Undersecretary of State for the Home Office, one of the most high-profile Junior Ministers and quite possibly the next Margaret Thatcher.
Knowing that her political future hangs in the balance, Eve Bowen refuses to let Luxford damage her career by printing the story or calling the police. So the editor turns to forensic scientist Simon St. James for help. It's a case that fills St. James with disquiet, however, for none of the players in the drama seem to react the way one would expect.
Then tragedy occurs and New Scotland Yard becomes involved. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley soon discovers that the case sends tentacles from London into the countryside, and he must simultaneously outfox death as he probes Charlotte Bowen's mysterious disappearance. Meanwhile, his partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, working part of the investigation on her own and hoping to make the coup of her career, may be drawing closer to a grim solution—and to danger—than anyone knows.
In the Presence of the Enemy is a brilliantly insightful and haunting novel of ideals corrupted by self-interest, of the sins of parents visited upon children, and of the masks that hide people from each other—and from themselves.
From the Paperback edition.
Ten-year-old Charlotte Bowen has been abducted, and if Luxford does not admit publicly to having fathered her, she will die. But Charlotte's existence is Luxford's most fiercely guarded secret, and acknowledging her as his child will throw more than one life and career into chaos. Luxford knows that the story of Charlotte's paternity could make him a laughingstock and reveal to his beautiful wife and son the lie he's lived for a decade. Yet it's not only Luxford's reputation that's on the line: it's also the reputation—and career—of Charlotte Bowen's mother. For she is Undersecretary of State for the Home Office, one of the most high-profile Junior Ministers and quite possibly the next Margaret Thatcher.
Knowing that her political future hangs in the balance, Eve Bowen refuses to let Luxford damage her career by printing the story or calling the police. So the editor turns to forensic scientist Simon St. James for help. It's a case that fills St. James with disquiet, however, for none of the players in the drama seem to react the way one would expect.
Then tragedy occurs and New Scotland Yard becomes involved. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley soon discovers that the case sends tentacles from London into the countryside, and he must simultaneously outfox death as he probes Charlotte Bowen's mysterious disappearance. Meanwhile, his partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, working part of the investigation on her own and hoping to make the coup of her career, may be drawing closer to a grim solution—and to danger—than anyone knows.
In the Presence of the Enemy is a brilliantly insightful and haunting novel of ideals corrupted by self-interest, of the sins of parents visited upon children, and of the masks that hide people from each other—and from themselves.
From the Paperback edition.
656 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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About the author
Elizabeth George
108Ìýbooks5,275ÌýfollowersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. .
Susan Elizabeth George is an American author of mystery novels set in Great Britain. Eleven of her novels, featuring her character Inspector Lynley, have been adapted for television by the BBC as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.
She was born in Warren, Ohio, but moved to the San Francisco Bay Area when she was eighteen months old. She was a student of English, receiving a teaching certificate. While teaching English in the public school system, she completed an advanced degree in psychology.
Her first published novel was A Great Deliverance in 1988, featuring Thomas Lynley, Lord Asherton, a Scotland Yard inspector of noble birth; Barbara Havers, Lynley's assistant, from a very working-class background; Lady Helen Clyde, Lynley's girlfriend and later wife, of noble birth as well; and Lynley's friends Simon and Deborah St. James.
This Elizabeth George is distinct from the other author named Elizabeth George (Christian author).
Series:
*
Susan Elizabeth George is an American author of mystery novels set in Great Britain. Eleven of her novels, featuring her character Inspector Lynley, have been adapted for television by the BBC as The Inspector Lynley Mysteries.
She was born in Warren, Ohio, but moved to the San Francisco Bay Area when she was eighteen months old. She was a student of English, receiving a teaching certificate. While teaching English in the public school system, she completed an advanced degree in psychology.
Her first published novel was A Great Deliverance in 1988, featuring Thomas Lynley, Lord Asherton, a Scotland Yard inspector of noble birth; Barbara Havers, Lynley's assistant, from a very working-class background; Lady Helen Clyde, Lynley's girlfriend and later wife, of noble birth as well; and Lynley's friends Simon and Deborah St. James.
This Elizabeth George is distinct from the other author named Elizabeth George (Christian author).
Series:
*
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 621 reviews
September 2, 2011
Of the eight Lynley novels I've read, I'd rank this third, after the first, A Great Deliverance and the third, Well-Schooled in Murder. Not that I felt that way through Part One, which is almost another book I'd rate much lower--for two reasons. First, that first part involves only that Tiresome Three (tm) Simon and Deborah St. James and Lady Helen Clyde. So not my favorite George characters. Second, and worse, they engage in utterly stupid behavior that's a pet peeve of mine in amateur detective fiction. Charlotte, a ten-year old girl, is kidnapped, and the mother, Eve Bowen, a Member of Parliament, a Junior Minister, and a rising star in the Tories doesn't want the police involved because she fears it would lead to publicity and the exposure of her daughter's paternity--the editor of a tabloid with Labour leanings. So the Tiresome Three go along with with this monstrous mother who acts like she misplaced a file, and don't call in the police. For DAYS. Oh, and when the police are called in and Lynley calls them on their behavior, he's the bad guy who dealt Deborah a "death blow" and once again puts his engagement with Helen in jeopardy. It's all the more maddening because there's no good reason for the St Jameses and Clyde to have gone along with not reporting the crime. They have no particular loyalty personal or political to the people involved who are strangers to them and given their ties and loyalties to people at Scotland Yard they should know better.
Finally, after nearly 250 pages, Detectives Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers do come into the picture, and things do pick up immensely. In fact, I'd say the last hundred pages especially of the book are the most suspenseful I've yet to read from Elizabeth George. There's also a lot more of Detective Constable Winston Nkata in this book--in the last book he has a cameo really, and books before that just mentions. This time he's a supporting player and if this presages more of a role for him from here on end in the Lynley mysteries I'll be glad of it. And Havers. Poor Havers. But she's my favorite character in this series for good reasons. And just as the Tiresome Three demonstrate in this novel why I don't care for them, Havers shows why she's enough to keep me reading this series.
Finally, after nearly 250 pages, Detectives Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers do come into the picture, and things do pick up immensely. In fact, I'd say the last hundred pages especially of the book are the most suspenseful I've yet to read from Elizabeth George. There's also a lot more of Detective Constable Winston Nkata in this book--in the last book he has a cameo really, and books before that just mentions. This time he's a supporting player and if this presages more of a role for him from here on end in the Lynley mysteries I'll be glad of it. And Havers. Poor Havers. But she's my favorite character in this series for good reasons. And just as the Tiresome Three demonstrate in this novel why I don't care for them, Havers shows why she's enough to keep me reading this series.
February 5, 2019
UPDATE 2/5/19 ... I'm re-reading this ... I always learn something from the way Elizabeth George structures her novels
***
A great series. It's really incredible how a woman from California can write so convincingly about Scotland Yard and England. She explains how in the excellent writer's book Write Away.
***
A great series. It's really incredible how a woman from California can write so convincingly about Scotland Yard and England. She explains how in the excellent writer's book Write Away.
September 10, 2016
Overall I quite enjoyed this book. I am a great lover of 'whodunnits' but had never read one of Elizabeth George's Lynley mysteries. I have seen the tv show on many occasions so already had visions in my mind of the 2 main characters, and they haven't changed as the TV show is seems quite true to the books (?).
The reason it took so long to read was not that I couldn't get into it, but was in fact due to a Summer of sport on TV (sorry). I love the Olympics and am a great follower of the Tour de France, so I was up burning the midnight oil catching up with Team GBs medals and so had little time for reading (no reflection on the book at all).
It was from my TBR big box pile so will despite getting 4 stars and being enjoyable, still be wending its way to the local charity shop. Will I read another Lynley mystery ? Probably but only when Ive caught up a lot else.
The reason it took so long to read was not that I couldn't get into it, but was in fact due to a Summer of sport on TV (sorry). I love the Olympics and am a great follower of the Tour de France, so I was up burning the midnight oil catching up with Team GBs medals and so had little time for reading (no reflection on the book at all).
It was from my TBR big box pile so will despite getting 4 stars and being enjoyable, still be wending its way to the local charity shop. Will I read another Lynley mystery ? Probably but only when Ive caught up a lot else.
January 3, 2018
"People didn't really change. They merely dropped their personae when they considered it safe to do so, or when trying circumstances forced their exterior shells to shatter like childhood's more cherished beliefs."
Now that is how you write a police procedural! I'd forgotten how much I loved Lynley and Havers, and their creator, Elizabeth George. My only gripe has been that her books keep getting longer and longer, which isn't always a bad thing when the buildup doesn't flatline midway through the novel. And that's happened with the last couple of books I've read in this series, which is why I hadn't been too keen to pick it up again. But book #20 is due out this spring, and it reminded me that I'm nowhere near caught up with this series!
At 625 pages, this seemed like a daunting book to tote around, but I finished it in record time because it was so hard to put down at night! The description on the back wasn't kidding when it states that a kidnapping and murder intersect in ways that you'd never imagine, linking London with the rural countryside. George is a master of the English countryside; it's always a secondary character, but in this novel, her knowledge of London and its cramped, Dickensian neighborhoods, was also ever present. I felt transported, and I just loved it! I can't wait to crack on with the next book in the series.
This is my first read of 2018, and it's really cemented my yearly goal of picking up loose series threads I've been meaning to revisit for some time. I spent the better part of November and December reading books I'd been saving for God knows when, and the results were 5-star reads all the way around. So I aim to continue that process, and enjoy all the fruits of my personal library. Happy reading year, everyone!
November 17, 2008
IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ENEMY - NR
George, Elizabeth - 8th Insp. Lynley
When a young girl disappears from the streets of London without a trace, her mother, a well-respected MP, is convinced she knows the identity of the kidnapper--the child's father. But Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Barbara Havers soon learn that nothing in this investigation is what it appears to be, and that in betrayal and deception, lies death.
It should have been tight, suspenseful and involving and it just wasn't. At 640 pages, it should have been about 200 pages shorter.
George, Elizabeth - 8th Insp. Lynley
When a young girl disappears from the streets of London without a trace, her mother, a well-respected MP, is convinced she knows the identity of the kidnapper--the child's father. But Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Barbara Havers soon learn that nothing in this investigation is what it appears to be, and that in betrayal and deception, lies death.
It should have been tight, suspenseful and involving and it just wasn't. At 640 pages, it should have been about 200 pages shorter.
August 11, 2019
Not too much to say except how much I loved this one. George focuses not on Lynley in this one, but also Havers for a good portion. We have a shocking crime and a reveal that I didn't see coming. There is some poor Deborah stuff going on, but it's not all encompassing like it has been in the last few books.
"In the Presence of the Enemy" follows a tabloid journalist (Dennis Luxford) who is told that unless he prints the truth about his first born on the front page of his newspaper, then he is going to be made to pay. What follows is a long winding road that eventually ensnares St. James, Deborah, and Lady Helen. They are asked to look into a kidnapping, but are told no police are to be told. Due to the fact that Luxford's first born is a ten year old girl named Charlotte Bowen who is a result of an affair he had with a conservative MP named Eve Bowen 11 years earlier. Unfortunately tragedy occurs which is how New Scotland Yard gets called in which is how Lynley and Havers become involved in the case. George deftly manages to juggle multiple POVs. I have to say that Havers POV's ended up being really great and I loved the juxtaposition between her and Lynley.
The development of Lynley and Haver's friendship and working relationship is still a highlight in this series. We still have Lynley pressing upon Lady Helen about marriage and this case throws things into a tailspin.
The writing was very good and each character's sections felt very distinct I thought. The flow was a bit uneven at first which I happen to notice in George's works. She takes a bit too long to set the stage.
The ending of the book was a huge surprise. We also have Havers showing us what's she's made of. I thought the ending was lovely though and smiled.
"In the Presence of the Enemy" follows a tabloid journalist (Dennis Luxford) who is told that unless he prints the truth about his first born on the front page of his newspaper, then he is going to be made to pay. What follows is a long winding road that eventually ensnares St. James, Deborah, and Lady Helen. They are asked to look into a kidnapping, but are told no police are to be told. Due to the fact that Luxford's first born is a ten year old girl named Charlotte Bowen who is a result of an affair he had with a conservative MP named Eve Bowen 11 years earlier. Unfortunately tragedy occurs which is how New Scotland Yard gets called in which is how Lynley and Havers become involved in the case. George deftly manages to juggle multiple POVs. I have to say that Havers POV's ended up being really great and I loved the juxtaposition between her and Lynley.
The development of Lynley and Haver's friendship and working relationship is still a highlight in this series. We still have Lynley pressing upon Lady Helen about marriage and this case throws things into a tailspin.
The writing was very good and each character's sections felt very distinct I thought. The flow was a bit uneven at first which I happen to notice in George's works. She takes a bit too long to set the stage.
The ending of the book was a huge surprise. We also have Havers showing us what's she's made of. I thought the ending was lovely though and smiled.
October 23, 2010
Well.
I think perhaps I would have enjoyed this book more had it been half the length. George does ramble on interminably about her character's inner thoughts, at no particularly great gain to the plot, and the idea of show-not-tell isn't high on her agenda. The women in the book are a rum bunch - I enjoyed the police detective, but the correlation between career woman and badly-dressed-virgin is predictable and so old hat as to be ridiculous. No less ridiculous were the other key female characters, one of whom was more or less a fainting lily because she couldn't have children (I badly wanted to suggest she get therapy) and one of whom was a clipped, middle-class English woman who thought her fiancee was mean for suggesting she could have prevented a bad thing happening when she absolutely could have. The gender relations in the book are baffling, and the resolution to the storyline a real anti-climax.
That said, i read the whole thing in one day. I suppose it's like popcorn - once you start, you can't stop.
I think perhaps I would have enjoyed this book more had it been half the length. George does ramble on interminably about her character's inner thoughts, at no particularly great gain to the plot, and the idea of show-not-tell isn't high on her agenda. The women in the book are a rum bunch - I enjoyed the police detective, but the correlation between career woman and badly-dressed-virgin is predictable and so old hat as to be ridiculous. No less ridiculous were the other key female characters, one of whom was more or less a fainting lily because she couldn't have children (I badly wanted to suggest she get therapy) and one of whom was a clipped, middle-class English woman who thought her fiancee was mean for suggesting she could have prevented a bad thing happening when she absolutely could have. The gender relations in the book are baffling, and the resolution to the storyline a real anti-climax.
That said, i read the whole thing in one day. I suppose it's like popcorn - once you start, you can't stop.
April 15, 2016
Poor little Charlotte Bowen. She's 10 years old, but her mother, Eve Bowen, Undersecretary of State for the Home Office, is a narcissistic conservative politician who always thinks 'it's all about her.' Charlotte is kidnapped, but despite all of the evidence mommy dearest thinks her one-week ex-fling, Dennis Luxford, the far left newspaper The Source editor-in-chief, is pulling a con of some type.
When they met eleven years ago, both were newspaper reporters. Now, they each married other people and carry on with their lives in separate realms - she in politics, he in journalism. There is no reason for either to ever interact socially; however, the nature of their work naturally bring the two into conflict. Bowen lives in a world where her every statement and even whether her makeup is correctly applied is on the front page of newspapers, plus she has to watch her back when with her fellow party members, who are jealous, ambitious, and looking to take her down so that they can move up over her. She is incapable of seeing anything happen without seeing only conspiracies to get her fired. When she decided to have Charlotte, the accidental pregnancy with Luxford, she had already decided to cut Luxford completely out of her life. But until the delivery, she did not know she would hate being a mother.
Bowen is not abusive in the sense of physically striking out. While she provides for Charlotte completely, she feels indifferent to her daughter's life and concerns. Her husband, Alexander Stone, loves the little girl, so their reactions when learning Charlotte has been kidnapped from Luxford are quite different. Luxford received a note demanding that he place on the front page of the newspaper the story that he and Bowen had a child together, publicly exposing their brief relationship. Stone is frightened for the little girl, but Bowen angrily accuses Luxford of being behind the taking of Charlotte in order to embarrass Bowen. She refuses to accept that Luxford is not holding their child somewhere, and that this entire kidnap story is a lie. She refuses to cooperate with any front page story revealing their affair. Luxford, who doesn't want to destroy Bowen, his child Charlotte's mother regardless of her hostile and irrational response, and not knowing if Charlotte will really be hurt, decides to ignore the kidnap threat. After all, he has a legitimate child, Leo, 8 years old, along with an oblivious wife, Fiona, neither of whom know about his fling with Bowen or the fact of Charlotte being his illegitimate child.
The kidnapper, who is real and who is NOT working with Luxford, decides to punish Luxford and Bowen when his demand is not met.
A little girl's body is discovered floating in a canal. The threat is delivered again in a note. And Leo is now missing.
Now, gentle reader, what follows is a data dump of my opinions:
I wasn't sure I was liking this book at first.
Charlotte's arduous imprisonment is difficult to read about without wincing in sympathy, and Bowen's cold self-centeredness may strike some as ridiculous; however, I've actually known people like Bowen and I can verify they act exactly as the author has described Bowen in this novel.
I was also wondering for too long when Thomas Lynley, eighth Earl of Asherton, and CID detective, was going to be brought into the story. It felt like he might not be investigating this one since it is Simon, Lynley's friend, and Lady Helen, Lynley's fiancé, who Luxley turns to in order to find Charlotte. Their investigation is described for almost a hundred pages of this lengthy mystery.
I don't have a clue why Lynley and Barbara Havers, his sergeant, are charismatic and extremely entertaining to me, but Simon and Helen are on a different wavelength from my manner of thinking. Helen especially annoys me with her hothouse temperament. (I can't see what Lynley loves about Helen, but as usual, he sticks his foot in his mouth when he blows up at Simon and Helen for conducting their investigation without informing the police about the kidnap, and as usual Helen and Deborah, Simon's wife, are emotionally devastated by guilt and hurt.) Simon seems like a doormat to me, and his wife Deborah needs long-term therapy.
I'm getting extremely annoyed by Deborah's resistance to adopting a child, and I am thinking every time Simon and Deborah come up in this series with their emo suffering over her miscarriages that if I was Simon I would soon be like "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn". How tiring Deborah is with her easily solvable problem given their class and money and the need for adoptive parents all over the Western world.
For those readers who are politically correct and sensitive, skip the next sentence. I am always thinking whenever Deborah appears in this series, 'what a stupid cow.'
Thankfully, when Lynley and Havers finally appear, the case, and the writing, gains speed and strength. I think I can tease a little bit by saying us readers, as well as the character Havers in particular, will be in for a hell of a roller coaster ride!
When they met eleven years ago, both were newspaper reporters. Now, they each married other people and carry on with their lives in separate realms - she in politics, he in journalism. There is no reason for either to ever interact socially; however, the nature of their work naturally bring the two into conflict. Bowen lives in a world where her every statement and even whether her makeup is correctly applied is on the front page of newspapers, plus she has to watch her back when with her fellow party members, who are jealous, ambitious, and looking to take her down so that they can move up over her. She is incapable of seeing anything happen without seeing only conspiracies to get her fired. When she decided to have Charlotte, the accidental pregnancy with Luxford, she had already decided to cut Luxford completely out of her life. But until the delivery, she did not know she would hate being a mother.
Bowen is not abusive in the sense of physically striking out. While she provides for Charlotte completely, she feels indifferent to her daughter's life and concerns. Her husband, Alexander Stone, loves the little girl, so their reactions when learning Charlotte has been kidnapped from Luxford are quite different. Luxford received a note demanding that he place on the front page of the newspaper the story that he and Bowen had a child together, publicly exposing their brief relationship. Stone is frightened for the little girl, but Bowen angrily accuses Luxford of being behind the taking of Charlotte in order to embarrass Bowen. She refuses to accept that Luxford is not holding their child somewhere, and that this entire kidnap story is a lie. She refuses to cooperate with any front page story revealing their affair. Luxford, who doesn't want to destroy Bowen, his child Charlotte's mother regardless of her hostile and irrational response, and not knowing if Charlotte will really be hurt, decides to ignore the kidnap threat. After all, he has a legitimate child, Leo, 8 years old, along with an oblivious wife, Fiona, neither of whom know about his fling with Bowen or the fact of Charlotte being his illegitimate child.
The kidnapper, who is real and who is NOT working with Luxford, decides to punish Luxford and Bowen when his demand is not met.
A little girl's body is discovered floating in a canal. The threat is delivered again in a note. And Leo is now missing.
Now, gentle reader, what follows is a data dump of my opinions:
I wasn't sure I was liking this book at first.
Charlotte's arduous imprisonment is difficult to read about without wincing in sympathy, and Bowen's cold self-centeredness may strike some as ridiculous; however, I've actually known people like Bowen and I can verify they act exactly as the author has described Bowen in this novel.
I was also wondering for too long when Thomas Lynley, eighth Earl of Asherton, and CID detective, was going to be brought into the story. It felt like he might not be investigating this one since it is Simon, Lynley's friend, and Lady Helen, Lynley's fiancé, who Luxley turns to in order to find Charlotte. Their investigation is described for almost a hundred pages of this lengthy mystery.
I don't have a clue why Lynley and Barbara Havers, his sergeant, are charismatic and extremely entertaining to me, but Simon and Helen are on a different wavelength from my manner of thinking. Helen especially annoys me with her hothouse temperament. (I can't see what Lynley loves about Helen, but as usual, he sticks his foot in his mouth when he blows up at Simon and Helen for conducting their investigation without informing the police about the kidnap, and as usual Helen and Deborah, Simon's wife, are emotionally devastated by guilt and hurt.) Simon seems like a doormat to me, and his wife Deborah needs long-term therapy.
I'm getting extremely annoyed by Deborah's resistance to adopting a child, and I am thinking every time Simon and Deborah come up in this series with their emo suffering over her miscarriages that if I was Simon I would soon be like "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn". How tiring Deborah is with her easily solvable problem given their class and money and the need for adoptive parents all over the Western world.
For those readers who are politically correct and sensitive, skip the next sentence. I am always thinking whenever Deborah appears in this series, 'what a stupid cow.'
Thankfully, when Lynley and Havers finally appear, the case, and the writing, gains speed and strength. I think I can tease a little bit by saying us readers, as well as the character Havers in particular, will be in for a hell of a roller coaster ride!
August 27, 2019
"Politieke carrière wordt hier boven het leven van een kind gezet. Gruwelijk!"
March 31, 2023
I am gratified to finish volume #8 of the Thomas Lynley series. There were a lot of spectacular moves, like Barbara Havers taking charge of her first case. Simon, Deborah, and Helen were asked to find a man’s biological child privately. Her Mother was a politician. As is Elizabeth George’s way, crime struck a lot deeper and wider, making it best for the CID to tackle it. Barbara was a phenomenal, genuine heroine; reacting purely through her heart, courage, and instincts in film worthy action! Indeed, this might comprise a BBC TV episode I hope to buy on DVD. Dial-up can hardly download anything. The originality of this entire novel and Barbara becoming a beloved star marks topnotch growth!
Alas, more starkly than usual, lacking ten star grades detracted from elements I revelled in, when reflecting novel aspects that I abhorred. I never want the views of victims, killers, or external characters. However, it is not new for Elizabeth to narrate everyone, so I pushed through. Barbara took nearly 200 pages to enter and Thomas a little less. This is not a series that rushes.
I care nothing for twists but the criminal’s identity surprised me. The motive of a relative’s decades old story wasn’t worth beans. A star tumbled for that.
Chiefly, I have no respect for a Mother doing nothing to help her child, even if she was sure she was safe with the biological Dad. Her insistence that he was lying surpassed stupidity. What love does a Mother lack, if she isn’t terrified her child might not be safe!? I especially loathe authors not giving victims happy endings, especially children.
â€�In The Presence Of The Enemyâ€�, 1996, has positive memorable moments but I am certain my favourite of ·¡±ô¾±³ú²¹²ú±ð³Ù³ó’s novels is to come. I have them all!
Alas, more starkly than usual, lacking ten star grades detracted from elements I revelled in, when reflecting novel aspects that I abhorred. I never want the views of victims, killers, or external characters. However, it is not new for Elizabeth to narrate everyone, so I pushed through. Barbara took nearly 200 pages to enter and Thomas a little less. This is not a series that rushes.
I care nothing for twists but the criminal’s identity surprised me. The motive of a relative’s decades old story wasn’t worth beans. A star tumbled for that.
Chiefly, I have no respect for a Mother doing nothing to help her child, even if she was sure she was safe with the biological Dad. Her insistence that he was lying surpassed stupidity. What love does a Mother lack, if she isn’t terrified her child might not be safe!? I especially loathe authors not giving victims happy endings, especially children.
â€�In The Presence Of The Enemyâ€�, 1996, has positive memorable moments but I am certain my favourite of ·¡±ô¾±³ú²¹²ú±ð³Ù³ó’s novels is to come. I have them all!
July 31, 2010
Commendably twisty and well-plotted, with none of the awkward cameos from the lower classes that we often have to endure from George. I particularly enjoyed the falling-out between Lynley, Helen, St. James and Deborah as Lynley attacks them ("you three cretins"), deservedly. And Helen calls Lynley "you rotten little pharisee." Later in the book the murdered child's mother's "underpants clung damply to her crotch like an inebriate's palm." Colorful! You won't get that from Agatha Christie.
June 24, 2022
A good read with twists and turns and unexpected situations and suspects. There were many parts where the characters, namely eve needed a knock on her selfish head, i would have been suprememly pissed off if she had gotten off without aome sort of punishment.
Unfortunately again lynley got off easy with his trio of friends. I didnt like that, would have liked to see st james an cohorts hold him accountable for his cruel actions. It was too easily forgiven for my taste.
I was happy to see Havers getting a better role,in the investigations as well as coming out on top.
Unfortunately again lynley got off easy with his trio of friends. I didnt like that, would have liked to see st james an cohorts hold him accountable for his cruel actions. It was too easily forgiven for my taste.
I was happy to see Havers getting a better role,in the investigations as well as coming out on top.
September 10, 2016
This is the 8th book I've read by Elizabeth George. To date all of her books have been lengthy as was this one with 621 pages, but I find I'm captivated with her stories and don't mind their length. Since this book revolves around the same characters, I have become interested in their personal lives as well as the lives of those connected to them. This particular mystery was exceptional. You had your suspicions who the guilty party was but were never totally convinced. The ending was a total surprise and was a tender moment for me.
May 14, 2019
When I discovered Elizabeth George—I think it was the mid 1990s, and I devoured them. She is such a great writer. Somehow I missed some titles so I’m going back to read them. It’s true that her books are long, but they hold my interest. I would call her a literary author in the vein of P.D. James. If a person hasn’t read her earlier books, they will miss the nuances between continuing characters, but the mystery will still be understandable.
May 30, 2009
Improbable, impossible and too many stereotypes for my taste. I am certain the following books will be better as I love this author, these characters, and especially the woman who suggested this series to me.
February 24, 2021
I have nothing to add other than this is not my kind of murder mystery.
December 26, 2010
this is a well written, well paced, well developed mystery. elizabeth george sure likes to pack her stories with language (details details details), but since i like my books to go on and on, and her going on and on is well done, i am not complaining, at all.
okay, now that i got that out of the way let me talk about women and mysteries. men and mysteries, too. the latter first. i learned today () that the , of which i read only the first installment, a book that struck me as mediocre, is considered super edgy in (some, i suppose) queer quarters because the girl protagonist is bisexual.
to this i say: give me a break.
back to women and mysteries. i am not a mystery expert, but my suspicion is getting stronger and stronger that a lot of female mystery writers use the genre to exorcise some specific, scary aspect of being female, including self-hatred. to wit: what's with all the violence on little girls? these books are littered with little girls' mangled bodies. and: what's with all the male sadistic psychopaths? seriously, how many murderous male psychopaths are out there? i image most homicides are conducted by angry, scuzzy, scared, or negligent people, but i doubt many of them are serial murderers with psychopathic mental processes and kinky modi operandi.
this book in particular focuses on another major staple of female self-hatred, the selfish, unloving mother. there are, not one, but two very horrible mothers.
on the other hand, i really liked to subplot of the queer boy. really nice touch, handled well.
now, women mystery writers, chill out will ya?
okay, now that i got that out of the way let me talk about women and mysteries. men and mysteries, too. the latter first. i learned today () that the , of which i read only the first installment, a book that struck me as mediocre, is considered super edgy in (some, i suppose) queer quarters because the girl protagonist is bisexual.
to this i say: give me a break.
back to women and mysteries. i am not a mystery expert, but my suspicion is getting stronger and stronger that a lot of female mystery writers use the genre to exorcise some specific, scary aspect of being female, including self-hatred. to wit: what's with all the violence on little girls? these books are littered with little girls' mangled bodies. and: what's with all the male sadistic psychopaths? seriously, how many murderous male psychopaths are out there? i image most homicides are conducted by angry, scuzzy, scared, or negligent people, but i doubt many of them are serial murderers with psychopathic mental processes and kinky modi operandi.
this book in particular focuses on another major staple of female self-hatred, the selfish, unloving mother. there are, not one, but two very horrible mothers.
on the other hand, i really liked to subplot of the queer boy. really nice touch, handled well.
now, women mystery writers, chill out will ya?
September 3, 2013
A cracking second half of the book makes up a bit for a slow moving first 250 pages. The characters of Simon, Helen and Deborah tend to put me to sleep, and they are prominent early on. When Lynley and Havers appear and the investigation proceeds the author hits her stride.
The character of Eve Bowen seems too harsh and is hard to buy into. The depiction of the tabloid newspaper rings true. George describes the pastoral canal area of Wiltshire beautifully, and I've never been to England let alone that region. It's believable.
In summary, a good page turner once this book gets moving.
The character of Eve Bowen seems too harsh and is hard to buy into. The depiction of the tabloid newspaper rings true. George describes the pastoral canal area of Wiltshire beautifully, and I've never been to England let alone that region. It's believable.
In summary, a good page turner once this book gets moving.
March 17, 2021
If you like to nod off during a climax, and you like to read about child torture, and you're a fan of murder mysteries in which author withholds the CLUE you need until the last minute (here, page 602 of 623 pages!), and you could care less about a believable story, this might be perfect reading for you! I like this author. But this is NOT a book for me. (Oh, I could have read Dosty's "The Brothers Karamazov" instead....or 3 Agatha Christies!)
April 29, 2018
Lange ist es her, seit ich diese Reihe gelesen habe - zum Glück, denn ich hatte jetzt beim nochmaligen Lesen keine Ahnung, wie sich der Fall entwickeln wird oder wer hinter dem Verbrechen steckt!
Witzig war, dass Inspector Lynley dieses Mal erst nach 280 Seiten seinen Auftritt hat! Die Entführung nimmt sehr außergewöhnliche Formen an und ruft erstmal Lynleys Freund St. James, dessen Frau Deborah und Helen auf den Plan. Dass diese drei ohne Lynleys Wissen ermitteln führt zu harten Konsequenzen und die persönlichen Beziehungen der Freunde werden mal wieder auf eine harte Probe gestellt.
Politische Machtstrukturen, die Ränkeschmiede der Presse und viele Beziehungskonflikte werden hier durchwegs spannend in Szene gesetzt und ich war von der ersten Seite an gefesselt. Jetzt im Rückblick kann ich gar nicht mal sagen, dass so viel passiert ist oder es große Spannungsbögen gab, aber die Handlung hat mich durchweg mitgenommen, dass ich es zu keiner Zeit auf die Seite legen wollte!
"Schuld" daran sind vor allem auch die Figuren. Elizabeth George greift hier immer ganz in die Tiefe der Charaktere und zeichnet Personen, die große Gefühle in einem hervorrufen. Egal auf welche Art, ob man mitleidet, mitlacht oder auch wütend wird auf so viel Sturheit oder Egoismus ... die ganze Palette ist vorhanden und zeigt authentische Menschen mit all ihren Stärken und Schwächen.
Besonders hervorgehoben fand ich die beiden gegensätzlichen Eltern und ihre Erziehungsansichten: Eine Mutter, die wegen ihrer Karriere ihr Kind völlig sich selbst überlässt und ein Vater, der sein Kind aufgrund seiner schlechten Erfahrungen nach seinen Vorstellungen zurechtbiegen will: zwei völlig widersprüchliche Extreme, die sich auch in den politischen und persönlichen Ambitionen der beiden widerspiegeln.
Manches könnte überzogen wirken, aber dennoch ist es authentisch, denn auf unserem Planeten tummeln sich ja allerhand illustrer Gestalten und es nimmt mich immer wieder mit, wie sehr sich Menschen in ihren Gefühlen und Überzeugungen verstricken können ohne zu erkennen, wohin sie das ganze führen wird.
Aber auch die Rafinesse der Politik und die Perfidität der Presse findet viel Raum und hinterlässt ein sehr ungutes Gefühl wenn man überlegt, wie viel Macht in diesen Positionen steckt. Aber das ist ja eigentlich altbekannt - auch wenn es mich immer wieder aufs Neue enttäuscht.
Der Fall an sich ist zwar untypisch, aber mit viel Ermittlerarbeit verbunden wie es sich für einen Krimi gehört. Bis zum Schluss wird man auf die Folter gespannt und nur langsam zeigen sich die Zusammenhänge - vor allem die Aufklärung hat mich dann überrascht und genau so soll es sein!
Fazit: 4.5 Sterne
© Aleshanee
Witzig war, dass Inspector Lynley dieses Mal erst nach 280 Seiten seinen Auftritt hat! Die Entführung nimmt sehr außergewöhnliche Formen an und ruft erstmal Lynleys Freund St. James, dessen Frau Deborah und Helen auf den Plan. Dass diese drei ohne Lynleys Wissen ermitteln führt zu harten Konsequenzen und die persönlichen Beziehungen der Freunde werden mal wieder auf eine harte Probe gestellt.
Politische Machtstrukturen, die Ränkeschmiede der Presse und viele Beziehungskonflikte werden hier durchwegs spannend in Szene gesetzt und ich war von der ersten Seite an gefesselt. Jetzt im Rückblick kann ich gar nicht mal sagen, dass so viel passiert ist oder es große Spannungsbögen gab, aber die Handlung hat mich durchweg mitgenommen, dass ich es zu keiner Zeit auf die Seite legen wollte!
"Schuld" daran sind vor allem auch die Figuren. Elizabeth George greift hier immer ganz in die Tiefe der Charaktere und zeichnet Personen, die große Gefühle in einem hervorrufen. Egal auf welche Art, ob man mitleidet, mitlacht oder auch wütend wird auf so viel Sturheit oder Egoismus ... die ganze Palette ist vorhanden und zeigt authentische Menschen mit all ihren Stärken und Schwächen.
Besonders hervorgehoben fand ich die beiden gegensätzlichen Eltern und ihre Erziehungsansichten: Eine Mutter, die wegen ihrer Karriere ihr Kind völlig sich selbst überlässt und ein Vater, der sein Kind aufgrund seiner schlechten Erfahrungen nach seinen Vorstellungen zurechtbiegen will: zwei völlig widersprüchliche Extreme, die sich auch in den politischen und persönlichen Ambitionen der beiden widerspiegeln.
Manches könnte überzogen wirken, aber dennoch ist es authentisch, denn auf unserem Planeten tummeln sich ja allerhand illustrer Gestalten und es nimmt mich immer wieder mit, wie sehr sich Menschen in ihren Gefühlen und Überzeugungen verstricken können ohne zu erkennen, wohin sie das ganze führen wird.
Aber auch die Rafinesse der Politik und die Perfidität der Presse findet viel Raum und hinterlässt ein sehr ungutes Gefühl wenn man überlegt, wie viel Macht in diesen Positionen steckt. Aber das ist ja eigentlich altbekannt - auch wenn es mich immer wieder aufs Neue enttäuscht.
Der Fall an sich ist zwar untypisch, aber mit viel Ermittlerarbeit verbunden wie es sich für einen Krimi gehört. Bis zum Schluss wird man auf die Folter gespannt und nur langsam zeigen sich die Zusammenhänge - vor allem die Aufklärung hat mich dann überrascht und genau so soll es sein!
Fazit: 4.5 Sterne
© Aleshanee
July 25, 2016
Once again, Elizabeth George does it! She has written a great murder mystery that keeps you guessing (at least, I was) to almost the very end. I also liked it because Sargeant Barbara Havers played a key role, and she's always a favorite of mine.
The two main characters, the parents of a child who has been kidnapped, are so despicable you love to hate them. The mother, a Tory politician, is so caught up in her own self-worth, that she won't give in to the kidnapper's demands so as not to ruin her reputation (the kidnapped child was from a steamy affair she had had 11 years prior). The father, editor of a scandel sheet, wants to keep the secret of this illegitimate daughter from his wife and son. And that's just the beginning of this fun novel!
The two main characters, the parents of a child who has been kidnapped, are so despicable you love to hate them. The mother, a Tory politician, is so caught up in her own self-worth, that she won't give in to the kidnapper's demands so as not to ruin her reputation (the kidnapped child was from a steamy affair she had had 11 years prior). The father, editor of a scandel sheet, wants to keep the secret of this illegitimate daughter from his wife and son. And that's just the beginning of this fun novel!
September 1, 2016
Sigh.... Elizabeth George is really trying my patience with her love of torturing children. I mean there really seems to be something wrong with her and this fascination. I enjoy the books interpersonal relationships, but this obsession just turns me off.
As to the actual story, I saw where it was going long before they told us and felt like the whole thing was a bit of a cop out.
I did enjoy seeing Havers step out of herself a bit though...
As to the actual story, I saw where it was going long before they told us and felt like the whole thing was a bit of a cop out.
I did enjoy seeing Havers step out of herself a bit though...
January 12, 2023
Quite possibly the fastest I have read a Lynley mystery, but the intensity of the mysteries would not let me leave the story for long.
Even with a more intense pace, we still had wonderful development between the characters and it was wonderful to see them all again.
Even with a more intense pace, we still had wonderful development between the characters and it was wonderful to see them all again.
April 13, 2023
Enjoyed this book. A very good author.
January 12, 2023
Decent book, about 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because I figured out just enough to think myself smart but not everything so I still got a bit of a surprise at the end. Really could have used a bit of editing down, the whole thing just felt way too long. The whole first third of the book comes off as an overlong prologue, though it turns out to be filled with important clues. It was fairly easy to figure out how the big bad was related to the main characters and somewhat annoying that the detectives didn't make the connection, but it was still interesting why exactly the crimes were committed. Actually pretty funny, and there's not usually a lot of humor in the motivations of murderers.
November 18, 2020
This is my favorite of the series so far.
March 23, 2017
Eighth in the Inspector Lynley detective mystery series revolving around Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers.
My Take
What an assortment of characters we have here. There's the cold-hearted politician who should never have had children. The idiot mother seeking to put a gloss on her youth. The oversexed male seeking confidence any way he can. All wrapped up in the reasons why we need policemen in our lives, asking them for miracles while requiring them to make the necessary coldhearted decisions.
In the Presence of the Enemy is aptly named and begins with a kidnapping which rapidly introduces us to the machinations of politics. It seems selfishness is a major part of political life. Well, it does make sense when one's own Party stands ready to stab one in the back. And, yet, shouldn't humanity be a part of political life? It seems that Bowen never possessed any, and when that realization sinks in to the other half…lord, it never is realized on her part. Poor sap.
The investigation is begun by Simon, Deborah, and Helen; it seems as though we won't be seeing Tommy or Barbara at all until we get a good chunk into the story. At which point, Tommy blows it with his friends and Helen. Sort of, compared to what George has put Lynley through in the past, this is rather off-hand in the way George has Simon, Deb, and Helen react. Simon does have the right attitude toward it and he is, probably, the main reason Tommy gets off as lightly as he does.
Not everyone is as lucky as Tommy. Havers has her schizoid encounter while Eve certainly gets a comeuppance let alone Charlie's experience � part of me thinks Charlie is better off without her mother except for Alex's presence in her life. He was probably the only good thing in it; she certainly was for him. Leo goes through quite a bit [lucky young chap to have Fiona for his mother] before his father finally gets it…idiot.
While it's never a good thing for a child to die, I think things turn out quite all right for everyone concerned.
The Cover
The cover, for all its abstract feel, is a representation of the last act with its stone walls and stone stairs curving up inside a tower. Another instance of the cover artist not reading the story. Fine, use a castle…in this case, a dungeon would have been a much better fit.
My Take
What an assortment of characters we have here. There's the cold-hearted politician who should never have had children. The idiot mother seeking to put a gloss on her youth. The oversexed male seeking confidence any way he can. All wrapped up in the reasons why we need policemen in our lives, asking them for miracles while requiring them to make the necessary coldhearted decisions.
In the Presence of the Enemy is aptly named and begins with a kidnapping which rapidly introduces us to the machinations of politics. It seems selfishness is a major part of political life. Well, it does make sense when one's own Party stands ready to stab one in the back. And, yet, shouldn't humanity be a part of political life? It seems that Bowen never possessed any, and when that realization sinks in to the other half…lord, it never is realized on her part. Poor sap.
The investigation is begun by Simon, Deborah, and Helen; it seems as though we won't be seeing Tommy or Barbara at all until we get a good chunk into the story. At which point, Tommy blows it with his friends and Helen. Sort of, compared to what George has put Lynley through in the past, this is rather off-hand in the way George has Simon, Deb, and Helen react. Simon does have the right attitude toward it and he is, probably, the main reason Tommy gets off as lightly as he does.
Not everyone is as lucky as Tommy. Havers has her schizoid encounter while Eve certainly gets a comeuppance let alone Charlie's experience � part of me thinks Charlie is better off without her mother except for Alex's presence in her life. He was probably the only good thing in it; she certainly was for him. Leo goes through quite a bit [lucky young chap to have Fiona for his mother] before his father finally gets it…idiot.
While it's never a good thing for a child to die, I think things turn out quite all right for everyone concerned.
The Cover
The cover, for all its abstract feel, is a representation of the last act with its stone walls and stone stairs curving up inside a tower. Another instance of the cover artist not reading the story. Fine, use a castle…in this case, a dungeon would have been a much better fit.
November 3, 2011
This Inspector Linley series novel starts off a very slow, and at times, seems endless, but it is worth finishing. Tabloid editor Dennis Luxford receives a post instructing him to acknowledge his first-born, whom has been kidnapped. If not, she will be killed. But she is the daughter of Even Bowen, member of Parliment and junior primte minister. Eve refuses to acquiesce, and 10 year old Lottie's body is found in Wiltshire, about 90 minutes from where she was taken.
Inspector Thomas Linley is put on the case, only to discover that Eve had hired Simon and Deborah St. James and Lady Helen to ferret out the kidnapper before he could kill Lottie. To say he is furious is an understatement - he lashes out, accusing them of being responsible for the young girl's death.
When Luxford's son is kidnapped, he prints the story of his coupling with Eve and the circumstances surrounding Lottie's birth. But the kidnapper says he got it wrong. And if he doesn't put the real story on the front page of tomorrow's newspaper, his son will suffer the same fate as his daughter.
But Luxford has no idea what the kidnapper wants to know. He has no idea he fathered another child. How can he know the details? How can he save his son.
Linley, Havers, and St. James work to uncover the truth that will save young Leo's life. Will they be successful?
Inspector Thomas Linley is put on the case, only to discover that Eve had hired Simon and Deborah St. James and Lady Helen to ferret out the kidnapper before he could kill Lottie. To say he is furious is an understatement - he lashes out, accusing them of being responsible for the young girl's death.
When Luxford's son is kidnapped, he prints the story of his coupling with Eve and the circumstances surrounding Lottie's birth. But the kidnapper says he got it wrong. And if he doesn't put the real story on the front page of tomorrow's newspaper, his son will suffer the same fate as his daughter.
But Luxford has no idea what the kidnapper wants to know. He has no idea he fathered another child. How can he know the details? How can he save his son.
Linley, Havers, and St. James work to uncover the truth that will save young Leo's life. Will they be successful?
September 13, 2015
Picked this up for a dollar at a library sale.
Suspenseful, lots going on. I found the characters stereotyped and unsympathetic, however, with the bereaved parents - Bowen and Luxford - bordering on monstrous. And the killer's identity was frustrating, in that it wasn't guessable until (x) & then was immediately obvious. I like tracing threads and trying to figure things out, and George's tactics felt like cheating.
Note: The murdered girl has a great deal of POV narration in the first half of the book (while she is in captivity), which may be unpleasant to many readers.
Suspenseful, lots going on. I found the characters stereotyped and unsympathetic, however, with the bereaved parents - Bowen and Luxford - bordering on monstrous. And the killer's identity was frustrating, in that it wasn't guessable until (x) & then was immediately obvious. I like tracing threads and trying to figure things out, and George's tactics felt like cheating.
Note: The murdered girl has a great deal of POV narration in the first half of the book (while she is in captivity), which may be unpleasant to many readers.
October 22, 2016
It was rather disappointing, mostly because I had sussed out who the murderer was when that first spark between Havers and the said murderer happened. After all, Havers isn't allowed to have nice things and potentially move out of the "dumpy, untidy" sidekick role that she has occupied. It's almost a cliche/trope that if someone like that develops a romantic interest, said romantic interest either dies or becomes the bad guy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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