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Careless in Red: A Novel

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Customer Reviews
Rating:

- George at her best
This won't be long. Careless in Red is the very best yet of Elizabeth George's novels. I didn't want it to end. I've ordered all Inspector Lynley DVD's so I can relive this wonderful series and not have to watch tv drivel.

Rating:

- Lynley can't go on. Lynley goes on.
I just finished listening to the audio version, masterfully read by the formidable John Lee. As with most of the series, I was awed by George's impeccable research, her large cast of characters (at least 20 important ones) and her architectural use of relationships to support the particular psychological areas she's investigating while Lynley, Havers and the frustrating, dogged and fascinating Bea Hannaford investigate a murder. George, in this latest installment in the vast Lynley-Havers canon, meditates on grief, vengeance, the ways each generation winds up deforming the lives of their children in the name of various abstract ideals. Each couple, trio or quartet of characters carries another piece of this monumental portrait of the human condition that also manages to be a page-turner. More! And what about Simon and Susan? Get to work, Elizabeth, we are insatiable!

Rating:

- Tommy returns
Elizabeth George's fans have come to expect nothing short of perfection, and CARELESS IN RED is not a disappointment in craftsmanship, but it will ruffle a few feathers as Inspector Lynley moves on with his life post- Helen. I'd expect some protests. . . In no way is this novel comparable in emotional intensity to WHAT CAME BEFORE HE SHOT HER, but it is classic George and mystery writing just doesn't get much better than what she gives us.

Rating:

- Not up to her usual standard by a long way.
As a great fan of Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley novels, all of which I have read over the years, I was looking forward to reading this one. As I expected, it was full of Lynley-angst following the shocking deaths in the previous book in the series, but it was strangely unmoving. It was peopled with a large number of characters - many with unlikely names, to no apparent purpose - none of whom I cared about or was interested in; there was too little Havers, and the plot was contrived, convoluted and at the same time obvious.

I finished reading it because a book has to be truly dire before I abandon it half way through, but I can only hope the next novel,if there is one, is a return to form. Another one like this, and I'll give up on this series. There are plenty of other great writers of crime fiction!

Rating:

- Not Up to her Usual Best
Elizabeth George is one of the best British Mystery writers today - even though she is American. Her books are deeper psychological portraits, and have the recurring characters of Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers, among others. In her last book, the author got herself in a bit of a jam; having killed off Lynley's wife, and having Lynley resign from New Scotland Yard, she somehow needed to write him back into this book. Unfortunately, she had limited success. To be honest, I got tired of reading about Lynley feeling sorry for himself.

The book unfurls in a small community in Cornwall, and deals with the death of a local boy, a surfer and reluctant rock climber. Lynley literally stumbles across the body while walking along the coast in a bout of self pity. While never officially engaged in the investigation, he helps out the local investigator, and soon Havers enters the picture as well. There is never anything black and white in Elizabeth George's books, which is part of their attraction, and the murder is both solved and unsolved.

Lots of information about surfing in the UK - I had no idea they did surf in the UK. Fine writing, but I hope the next book puts Lynley back where he belongs, in London, back on the job, and no longer wallowing in self pity. Few writers hit the mark with every book; George just missed it with this one.

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