With No One As Witness (Inspector Lynley Book 14)

Elizabeth George is a fabulous writer and her characters, Inspector Lynley, Barbara Havers, Simon & his wife, Lynley's wife, etc. are all very much flesh and blood. Scotland Yard and its inhabitants are easily to visualize (as are the characters mentioned in the first sentence. The end of this book contains a shocking event. Enjoy your reading!

Having come late to this series, I have been reading the books in the order they were published. This book is as well-written as the others, but after several books, I have become attached to the characters. To have one senselessly killed is quite hurtful. I loved Helen and enjoyed her approach to life. I was happy for Tommy and for their family together. So I took quite a dislike to Ms. George when this story line was plopped in the middle of the murder investigation. I skipped the one about why the little turd did this. I don't care and I don't want to read about it.

So far, I have read about six of Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley books, but this one is the best, in fact, one of the best mystery novels I have ever read. Ms. George is a genius! And this one, in addition, is a terribly sad one; although the crimes are solved and the matter reconciled, there is no happy resolution to the horrendous murders committed for no apparent reason, other than some sort of maniacal obsession. This gives the novel added depth, as it points out all too terribly well the senselessness of crimes of this nature. Highly recommended.

On another note, I wonder if Ms. George got the name Thomas Lynley from the 18th-century English composer of that name.

There are some (but few) contemporary writers who can wallow in excess verbiage and pull it off - Reginald Hill is one. Elizabeth George is a prime example of one who cannot. If you are going to take what otherwise would be a ten word sentence and add a another 5, 10 or 15 words just for the fun of it, they had better serve a purpose.

Elizabeth George almost always adds endlessly thoughtless, pointless, redundant words to every sentence, and unless she is being paid by the quantity rather than the quality of her writing, she is just wasting a lot of paper that could better be used in its original form as trees.

With No One As Witness is at the very most, a 300-page story (and that is very generous) hidden in almost 800 pages of absolutely useless typing. More people can type than can write, and Elizabeth George is nothing but a very tedious typist. There might be some valid reason for this kind of writing for very young readers, but for reasonably intelligent adults this book is an affront to everything that makes good writing pleasant.

I have been reading the Lynley/Havers novels since the release of Missing Joseph, and can truly say that among the 4000+ books I own, the entire series is in the top 100 of those I would save if my house was on fire. If you haven't read them, start now.

The writing in the newest installment is beautifully crafted as always, with excellent characterizations which allow one to read this book without having read the others, although I highly recommend doing so if time and money allow. The characters are truly the centerpieces of the books, and accompanying them in their evolution throughout the series is a pleasure no reader should miss. With No One As Witness is an absorbing portrayal of a police team's hunt for a serial killer, and the pressure and strain brought about by the search upon the main characters. This is so skillfully done that one does indeed feel that pressure and strain, and so when the tragedy alluded to in the book jacket occurs, the blow is such that longtime (and even new) readers may find themselves unable to absorb what has happened - much like the characters.

The only reason I didn't rate this five stars was due to some shortcomings in terms of punctuation, which occasionally disturbed the narrative flow. However, this should definitely not stop you from picking up the work - any of it - of one of the finest writers of the day.

I love Elizabeth George's novels...all of them. I have never read one that I didn't love, and this one is no different. She kept me guessing all the way to the end. The only thing I didn't like about the book was the death of Helen Lynley. I have read every single one of the Lynley novels, so I have followed the story of these main characters and feel like I know them. I feel like I too lost something when Helen died, and I'm wondering what the future will hold for the other characters, especially Thomas. Or perhaps there won't be any more novels after the follow-up to this one. That would be truly be sad. All in all a great read.

I have not long been a reader of Elizabeth George but in short time I have read every one of her books. I so highly recommend her that I would like to take an ad out for the best writer, of mystery fiction, I've read. I don't care which book you pick up, it will be excellent. And, each book has a surprise ending. I challenge anyone to know what will eventually happen anywhere from page one to 7/8th the way through! No stop, erudite entertainment at its best.

Author George really hits one out of the ballpark in this novel, quite possibly the best in the Lynley/Havers series. In addition to writing an enthralling mystery, George managed to make me care about these familiar characters in a whole new way. The book was deliciously long, and I couldn't wait to gobble up a few more pages every time I had a spare moment over the past two weeks: stoplights became a pleasure! I am most definitely no softie, but the last few pages actually brought tears to my eyes.

Too graphic and sexually explicit. Should be rated R. I threw away my entire collection. I loved the stories but won't waste my mind on trashy content. Ms. George seemed to add more such content as she progressed through the stories. Her first weren't horrible but they become more so as she continued writing.

Excruciating tosh, possibly better described as arse gravy.
An aristocratic cop who drives his Bentley to work- how twee is that?
Add a profiler who turns out to be a sex predator, then the howling cliche of the serial killer who targets the inspector- just how many times has this one been used? The inspectors wife is the victim of a random killing, with the only possible reason being the production of many ,many many pages of weeping emotion, and of course the serial killer is known to all. Oh dear, how excruciatingly predictable and dull.
Do your self a favour and avoid this inane nonsense.

I binge read the first 11 Inspector Lynley novels, loving them, if slightly perplexed that such an incredible guy had problems finding his true mate. Surely lots of high class women would find him attractive, but he struggled with disappointment many times. Finally Lynley is happy and Goerge kills off Helen with hardly a thought. I did not pick up another of her novels for a decade, so unhappy was I with her decision to make Lynley a widower. I will NEVER read the absurd "What happened before he killed her" as it is an insult to her readers. I still don't understand it but I finally decided to read the one after "What Happened." Still don't get it. The master could have continued with a happy Lynley instead of a devastated one. Oh well.

I've been reading the Lynley series in order, and was glad to get back to Lynley and Havers after the previous book which was just Deb and Simon. It started out well and I was glad to see Havers and Nkata, who are my favorite characters, back in the spotlight again. Right at the end, George throws in a completely pointless and awful disaster for absolutely no reason. I doubt I will continue reading any more of the Lynley books. My interest has been completely killed.

Few thriller writers can sustain their grip on the reader for 772 paperback pages. Ms George does it with superb characterization, and a plot that takes us--and the officers of Scotland Yard--down several blind alleys, the way one would expect real police work to go when tracking down a serial killer. In addition, Inspector Lynley and his team must cope with a pompous ass of a Commissioner more interested in managing the press than supporting his troops--he even imposes an embedded reporter on the murder team...with dismal results.
Besides Lynley, the two other police who figure heavily in the story are the blowsy Barb Havers, recently demoted from Sergeant, and Winston Nkata, just promoted to Sergeant because he's black (like the first 3 victims), and the Commish wants a black face for the cameras.
We follow these three cops as their personal lives intersect with their professional duties; one suffers a stunning personal tragedy while the other two struggle to keep focused on nabbing the killer. There's a white-knuckled chase scene and a climax that leaves one breathless. And Ms George has the deft grace to lead her characters to a kind of real redemption. The last line left me with tears of relief.

Book 13, in the Inspector Lynley series

I am happy to see with this instalment my beloved protagonists Thomas Lynley and his partner Barbara Havers back to the forefront and plunged into a suspenseful case complete with red herrings and gritty crime scenes. The book provides an intellectual challenge, its 600 pages or more is a kaleidoscope of complicated themes and sub-themes crisscrossed with a rich narrative that keeps us on the edge of our seat while tracking the numerous players that pop in an out of the storyline.

In this novel we follow the procedures that Scotland Yard Detectives employ on the trail of a serial killer who targets young boys in London and displays their bodies in a gruesome manner. Commissioner Hillier realises he has a serial killer when a fourth victim, a white teen, surfaces with similar wounds to three other non- white victims, he also realises he has to stay ahead of media hype and diffuse any accusations of racial preference by promoting officer Nkate a black man) to Detective Sergeant. The commissioner wants full control, puppets on a string style, Nkate handling the general public side and he is pressuring Lynley to work closely with a respected profiler and a in your face reporter. Thomas Lynley is at odds with these orders and the friction between them quickly builds' Where there is friction Barbara Havers' name always surfaces. She is still under scrutiny since her demotion but once more her style of working against the grain will bring success to the case.

Meanwhile on another thread, on Lynley's home front a tragedy awaits that will alter his life for ever'..

Although overall the storyline moves at a slow pace I was immediately engaged in this drama that is far darker, more sombre and definitely more tragic than any of the previous endeavours in Lynley's career. I can't wait to see what happens next, my library is a little behind in this series.

After a disappointing A Place of Hiding, Elizabeth George goes back to the basics, bringing back Havers and taking the series to the next level. George has always distinguished her novels by creating a product that is distinctly different from the typical police procedural. The differentiating factor is that she spends a considerable amount of time telling us about the personal lives of the characters. As a result, you will get much more enjoyment from reading this series in order, so if you are new to George's work, I recommend that you go back to the beginning: A Great Deliverance. For those that have been following this series, fasten your seat belts, because not only are you going to get a story with a devious serial killer that is hard to catch, but also on where there will be some important developments in the lives of the main characters.

Four boys have been murdered, but it was not until recently that the police and the Scotland Yard realized that there is a serial killer out there. The situation can be best described as a public relations nightmare, since only the last victim is white, and there are likely to be some accusations about this, probably justified. The good news is that all of our beloved characters make an appearance in this novel, Lynley, Havers, St. James, Nkata and even Havers' neighbors and Nkata's object of desire.

I liked the way in which George provides the story with several layers, transforming it in a mesmerizing read. For example, the pressure by the press on the Scotland Yard generates serious problems between Superintendent Lynley and his superior. There is also the issue of the previous demotion of Havers and now the promotion of one of her friends, trying to assuage the fire of public opinion. The relationship between Havers and Azhar, Nkata and his romantic pursue of Yasmine, and Lynley and Helen's soon-to-be-born son are other important storylines.

The writing is superb, and that is the only reason why George can write a 700+ page novel without us losing interest at any point. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the omniscient narrator that allowed us a look into the killer's mind, allowing for a better understanding of his motives. Finally, there is the big surprise towards the end, which some people may not like, but I think that sometimes it is necessary to shake things up a little. Ultimately, this is one of the best books in the series, and I am already looking forward to what comes next.

"With No One as Witness" is a well-written, murder mystery which is the 13th book in the author's Inspector Lynley series. There is a serial killer to catch, conflict within the police department, and politics to contend with. This is the first book in this series that I have read, but it won't be my last.

Puting the merits of the actual mystery aside, I agree with E. T. Sprenkle's review of this book. It is not that either of us believes every character in every book must have a happy ending. In real life, some people and families seem to be haunted by tragedy, but fiction is just that: fiction. In a series of stories with the same characters, tragedy, if not handled with a deft hand, can quickly descend from pathos to bathos and becomes merely a tiresome parody of the real thing. A good example of someone who writes this kind of phony misery is Ken Bruen. By the time I finished my one and only attempt to read one of his mysteries I was actually laughing, especially at the ending which, of course, had to be horrific. He had attempted to portray a grim gritty reality but had succumbed to wretched excess. Even master mystery writer P. D. James has now allowed her hero a measure of happiness, but some authors seem to operate under the assumption that to show their protagonists as having some contentment in life would be somehow unrealistic. They should engrave in their hearts (or at least hang beside their word processors) Jane Austen's description of the fate of Willoughby, the villain in "Sense and Sensibility." Austen wrote "His wife was not always out of humor, nor his home always uncomfortable!" She knew that even the most craven among us have moments of happiness. Elizabeth George must keep in mind that the people who follow her series do so because they are interested in her characters. If those characters are not to be allowed to develop some sort of life (or if they are blatantly killed off to allow one of the heros a new love interest in each new book) then the readers will eventually go elsewhere.

Having never read an Elizabeth George novel before & not being familiar with the characters I had no idea what to expect. The 627 pages seemed daunting especially for a mystery/suspense novel. How could it hold my interest to the end? Well, it did. The characters were so well developed with the right amount of baggage & foibles to make them interesting. I was further impressed with the fact that Ms. George is an American writing a mystery series set in London with British characters. Why she would put herself through such a headache to get the locations right not to mention the language, accents & all, is beyond me. Nevertheless, somehow she was able to be `spot on' on all counts. Detailed with terrific twists & turns, kept me guessing right up until the end & I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Once again Elizabeth George has taken a crime story that has so many twists and turns that you almost forget what you are really reading is the lives of the five main characters and how they grow and change through time. George is able to explore the complex world of human relationships with care, compassion and realism. That we come to know the characters and may even miss them between books is certainly a sign that George writes about the human condition. Yes, the crime puzzle is excellent, but it would be just another worn out formula detective novel without the human relationships. What happens to Helen forced me to put the book down several times before I could pick it up again and yet I understood why this had to happen. Like Sheri Tepper, George takes a writing genre and forces us to look at ourselves and our humanity and ask the tough questions about both. Reading George's books with friends, particularly close friends, is a way to enhance the George experience even more -- but it's still pretty good alone. I look forward to the next George novel, as I always do.

The "Inspector Lynley Mysteries" on video was my introduction to Elizabeth George. Usually the book is better than the movie it's based on, or in this case TV show, but the Lynley stories may be an exception. Having seen about a dozen episodes, most of them based on the novels, and now having read about a half dozen of the books, I find I like the videos better.

With No One As Witness was the first George novel I read, and it is one of her best. It's an excellent mystery that keeps you going down the wrong path right up to the end. Unfortunately, I didn't really find the reason for the murders very plausible, but it's difficult to discuss that without giving away the ending. In any case, as with much series fiction, you don't care as much about the main plot as about what's going on with the regular characters.

In fact, I find I'm becoming less and less interested in the aristocratic characters in this series and only want to know what's going on with Havers and her neighbors Azhar and Hadiyyah. Elizabeth George seems much too attached to Lynley and the St. Jameses. They have no faults at all, they are calm, polite, smart, and have unblemished skin, all of which makes them quite dull. Barbara Havers on the other hand, is full of quirks and faults and George seems not to like her very much. This makes Havers an entirely fascinating character and when she isn't in the scene, I skim very quickly to get to the next scene with her in it.

Even though these novels tend to be rather long for mysteries, some 600+ pages each, the producers of the video series have pared most of them down to 90 minutes each without losing too much of the plot. The subplots that involve the major series characters have veered away from those of the books, which leaves plenty of surprises for those of us who are catching up with the written series.

Elizabeth George is the only novelist... well, OK, besides J. K. Rowling... that I buy in hardbound because I can't wait for it to come out in paper. This one is a gem. Her last novel, _A Traitor to Memory_ was something of a departure from the mainstream of her novels. I thought it was sensational, but not everyone agreed. _With No One As Witness_ is not only one of her best novels to date, but is also a return to the style and substance of her earlier novels.

It is not important to read her novels in order. This one is not only sensationally good, but is also a good introduction to the whole series. George has an of ensemble of continuing characters, but does not make a point of including everyone of them in every book. This one, however, includes the whole cast: Lynley, Helen, Deborah and Simon St. James, Nkata, and of course, Barbara Havers.

I say "of course" because I happen to be a Barbara Havers fan and am always a little disappointed in the novels where she makes only a cameo role. So I'm pleased that she plays an important role here.

I have accused Elizabeth George of being cruel to Barbara Havers and subjecting her to more than her fair share of unkind vicissitudes of fate. In this novel, however, fate is reasonably kind to Havers. I can't say much more about what happens to these characters without spoiling the plot. So let me go on to trivia.

I love George's handling of the British atmosphere, while occasionally wondering whether she overdoes it. I have a theory that the word "secateurs" appears in every one of her novels. In this one, the secateurs duly make their appearance on p. 144.

I think I've caught her in a mistake! On page 446, she "Tatlises... admitted Lynley and Havers to the room... it was a dismal enough chamber... dingy curtains covered the single transom window." I believe "transom" in this sense is an Americanism and that the ordinary British term is "fanlight."

Did I notice a hommage to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories on p. 475? Barbara Havers discovers that an apartment dweller's obnoxious dog Pearl, who barks at everyone and everything, did not bark at midnight on the night of a crime, at a time when other residents thought they heard "a cry of some sort." The Sherlock Holmes story "Silver Blaze" contains the famous exchange "Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?" "To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time." "The dog did nothing in the night-time." "That was the curious incident," remarked Sherlock Holmes. Pearl's failure to bark at midnight is a curious incident, with a similar explanation.

Come to think of it, "Pearl" is also the name of the fictional (late) dog owned by Robert Parker's fictional detective Spenser, so perhaps we are getting two hommages for the price of one.

Elizabeth George writes complex mysteries and this is one of her best. Political machinations and the involvement of the press come together in this story that throws the police (and the readers) curve balls left and right. Yes, the ending had a tragedy, but I am hoping that the author with use that to give us a more believable female character in the future. The series began in 1988 and her portrayal of Helen was one that I never liked as it seemed such a dated caricature.

George has written another intelligent mystery, with a shocking twist I won't spoil for you.

After finishing "With No One As Witness", however, I wondered why none of the other reviewers mentioned the mood of the book, since it was so striking.

There is a atmosphere of decay that hovers over George's England like one of the famous London fogs of decades ago. She writes about a Britain adrift in a moral swamp.

I was so interested I did a little research. Interpol now puts crime in the UK at 50% higher than in the US. Your chances of being mugged in London are six times higher than in New York. In today's Britain, the illegitimacy rate is over 40%, religion is scorned, and binge drinking and random violence are the new hallmarks of the young.

At one point in the novel, one of George's characters cries that "This can't be happening here."

George's point seems to be that it bloody well is happening in England.

George's vivid and multi-faceted characters are what always keeps me coming back for more. I think she is not only one of the finest mystery authors out there but also one of the finest authors, period. This book is certainly no exception and while one of its plot twists was ruined for me by my reading a Time review of her novel after this one before reading this one, it really didn't lessen the impact. Whenever I read one of her books, I find myself devouring the pages ravenously, completely caught up in the world she has created. What I find so endlessly fascinating about her books is that she not only writes from the perspective of the detectives on the case--Havers, Havers, Havers, I can never get enough of your character!--she also writes from the perspective of the crime's perpetrator. Thus, she delves into the darkness and depravity of those who commit unspeakable crimes.

I found the writing to be excellent in this novel by Elizabeth George. While this is a long running series, this is my first book to read. While the book sometimes points toward events in the past, I did not feel I had missed essential points, but instead was encouraged to read the volumes which has come before. This book about a serial killer of adolescent boys has a great deal of grit to it and definitely is not a cozy. I think the closest comparison I can make as to others authors may be Louise Penny with a great deal more grit and nastiness in both language and subject matter. I find both of them to be excellent writers, however. And just as I enjoy Penny's forays into French phrases, I also enjoyed George's British phraseology. I found this to be a 4.5 star offering only because it starts a little slow.

This was the first George novel I ever purchased-quickly read it and then proceeded to read the series again from beginning to end.

The novel was well done. The police solving of the case and the red herrings they encountered can account for the almost 800 pages. The soap opera aspects all leading up to the denouncement for the title series character were often distracting to the main action. The character written out was,perhaps, the biggest "symbol" of the past -of what English life was- and what appeals to most Anglophiles. The story,itself, is out of today's headlines in modern day London and England and probably most"first world" cities and countries -some have mentioned the atmosphere of the novel.

George continues to explore the "seamier" sides of life and crime. The serial killer and the story reminded me a great deal of another novel in a different time and place with a similar theme-The Alienist by Caleb Carr. Having said that Carr is far more descriptive and graphic. Her next novel from reports minimally uses any of her recurring characters and is basically a parallel story. It appears this was a kind of compromise so that WNOAW was not longer than it turned out. From a recent interview a least one of her characters, Lynley, will return in mystery set in Cornwall-the seat of his earldom- where at the end of this novel he returns.

George began her series with a "shocking social ill" murder and her lastest goes in that direction. The eleven novels in between has dealt with those aspects in various degrees.

The death of the recurring character for any one who reads this kind of fiction probably is not as horrifying as it appears it was for some readers. I personally never found the character with her general incompetence,sartorial obsession and massive indecisiveness all that charming. Initally George wrote her "stronger" and potentially interesting than what she eventually evolved to be in this last novel. By this novel through the development of the courtship and marriage the character had more or less been gutted and became a domestic distractive reflection for the main detective character. Her evolution was backward.

Not the finest of the George series but not the worst either. What happens now in the series will be interesting to see. It almost appears we may see more separate storyline novels with the old gang not what it use to be.

I would never call Elizabeth George's mysteries "fluff". Most reviewers here are fans; all know that her plots won't let you go, and that she can create a living, breathing, intriguing character in a paragraph--and she does, even for someone who will be gone in a page, never to be seen again.

She's also written a brilliant book on writing, one that's been of enormous help to me. Anyone who's at all interested in her process and her craft should read it.

That said, I'll be giving all the Lynley/Havers books to the book sale this spring. I can't imagine I'll ever want to read them again. In the past few years, they've begun to read like brilliantly written, well-crafted episodes of NYPD Blue, with every character, like Sipowitz, standing in for Job. What more could happen to these people? Apparently, anything. Tired of your detective? Fine, push him off a cliff. But if he's already been pushed off six buildings and the back of an airplane, don't expect it to be believable.

I started out by saying that I don't consider these mysteries fluff, but the fact remains that I don't read them expecting to come away disheartened and depressed. I consider it a betrayal to, as it were, force that on me. If you pick up Wuthering Heights, you know what you're getting in for. A series novel in the mystery genre, however intense? I don't think that's the place for tragedy.

Instead of feeling satisfied and wishing there was more to read, I'm angry, and unhappy. I admit it took a lot of skill to bring me to that point, but if that's how she chooses to use her skill, then I can choose not to read.

I'd return the book if I thought they'd take it back.

I am assuming you know the general plot. We have our hero, Lynley, et al., fighting a dreadful serial killer (but what serial killer isn't dreadful?) while he must do a solo battle with higher-ups who wish to use the investigation politically. His team has been augmented with others, given the enormity of the case, and he must get some truly strong personalities to work together. On the home front, he and Helen are expecting their first child.

Havers, our regular heroine, is at odds with the Muslim neighbors (father and daughter) she has become involved with, making her more edgy than usual.

The backdrop is the "new London" of recent crime novels, a place riven with sexual depravity, the last vestiges of class warfare and the crimes naturally spawned by poverty and ignorance. Most of this last drama is played out in the tale of Sgt. Nkata, a succesful black detective uneasy in the predominantly white Met, and that of a successful but greatly troubled social-services agency with strong, but unintentional, links to the crimes being investigated. This ain't Miss Marple.

A nice table of fixins', indeed. But, as others have noted, George proceeds as if she were paid by the word in her laborious attention to detail. Most characters are potrayed at great length and depth, as if by a shrink. Her characters often "plod," but this time I felt as if I were doing the plodding as I pushed through the book's 600+ pages.

About half-way through, an almost unimaginable tragedy occurrs, and serves to ooze into every main character's actions (except those of the killer), stalling the book's action even more.

I usually race through the last quarter of such a book but, even though I had ample time, it took three days for me to finish that much of the book. I kept falling asleep. I was worn out by all of the story's travails and misery, and the work I had to do to keep up with the investigation and the characters.

I hope George continues the series, as that is uncertain at the close of the book. If the high drama was merely a way to take Lynley in a new direction, I don't think a twist this upsetting, or this dramatic, was necessary. We've seen him change before without such drastic punishment.

Although like all Elizabeth Georges the book is quite long, when I had to put it down for a while to go to work, I couldn't wait to get back to the book. I thought she was in top form. The theme of the book is quite serious (violence and youth, both against youth and by youth against society). As one character in the book points out, England hasn't been "safe" for decades, and yet we like to think that street violence is an American phenomenon.

The plot involves a serial killer who may be connected in some way to a not-for-profit organization that works with London youth who are what used to be called "juvenile delinquents." The usual E. George characters are involved in trying to track down this killer, particularly Lynley, Havers, and Nkata, who are leading up the investigation. Their job is made more difficult by a new supervisor -- anyone who has had a terrible boss will sympathize with Lynley -- who is determined to manipulate the press and go behind Lynley's back in making decisions involving the investigation. The serial killer's victims are young adolescents, many of whom are mixed race.

Havers plays a prominent role in this book, and part of the reason I enjoyed the book so much is that she's a probably my favorite George character. We have a number of scenes of her with her next door neighbors. Lynley alternates between trying to protect Havers and being exasperated himself with her for being too independent -- not a team player. I can identify with that!

The aspect of the book that has upset so many E. George fans -- I won't say too much because it could be a spoiler -- was, I think, necessary in driving home the point of the book and making the reader emotionally experience the effects of violence in our society. I was saddened but not particularly angry with George for this plotting decision -- on the contrary, I think it was a good literary decision, even if it is difficult for the reader. My criticism has to do with the length of the book. I really think it could have been tightened up a little, and she could have lost 50 pages and had a better book. Some paragraphs exploring the emotions of the characters just went on too long. As someone once commented, novels these days seem to be more about emotions than plot. I could have done with a bit less soul-searching and a tighter plotline.

The ending (last 50 pages) was amazing -- kept you on the edge of your seat, and really a perfect conclusion to this harrowing story of violence in our society. All told, a five star book! And a great improvement over her previous book...

Elizabeth George started out with what must have seemed like a great idea, which was writing novels around a stable of interconnected characters: a police inspector, his constable and his girlfriend and a foresic expert and his photographer wife, each of whom could be the focus of a particular book. This would keep you from getting bored with anyone, would allow the relationships of the characters to evolve over time, and would allow juxtaposition of different characters with crimes that would illuminate their personalities. So, for instance, Deborah, the childless wife of the forensics expert, could get upset by kidnappings of children, adding extra poignancy. Or Barbara Havers, the ungainly constable with a chip on her shoulder, could interact with other social outsiders.

In theory, this was a good idea for a professional genre writer, but the problem turned out to be that George was too talented, and her framework began to hold her down rather than free her. Her main character, Thomas Lynley, the earl-turned-policeman in love with the madcap countess, is such a tired cliche that there was almost nowhere interesting to go with him from the first book onward. He's a direct descendant of Lord Peter Wimsey but 50 years too late to be relevant, and his madcap Lady Helen, with her dressing gowns and marabou-trimmed slippers, is tiresome. The only character with a breath of life in her is Sargeant Havers, who is sloppy and lonely, with a senile mother and money problems. As the novels progressed, Havers had a bigger and bigger role because she was simply more interesting than any of the other characters. But George was stuck with her original characters and her own success.

Yet despite the main characters, her novels were topical and moving. She excelled in her descriptions of the victims of crime. They suffered from torn-from-the-headlines problems of modern-day England: racism, hopelessness among unemployed young, tabloid journalism, and so on. You wanted to read them even if it meant having to deal with bland Simon St. James and weepy Deborah.

Her latest book, however, is about a *serial killer*. This means not one victim, but as many as can be crammed into one book. Therefore, you don't get the anticipated background and atmosphere, and this eliminates George's main strength. Worse, since all fictional serial-killers are alike, you have to spend yet *more* time with a guy who hears voices and rants on and on about his omnipotence. There's nothing original one can do with this kind of madman, and he's fatal to the book; you don't *care* who he turns out to be, you just want him to get arrested as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the book is endlessly long, trying to have someone eviscerated in every picturesque corner of London, giving each character a few chapters and a few soap-opera problems, throwing in an entire picturesque marketplace of red herrings. It simply isn't one of Elizabeth George's best.

I hate to say it, but she needs to jettison this whole series and start over. She's too good a writer to be hobbled in this way.

I gave this book only 4 stars because having read D.H. Lawrence, I find it impossible to give a 5 star rating easily. That aside, what an engrossing read!

Ms. George's characters are real. Havers is a complex woman of keen instinct and tenacity. She's a real bulldog of a detective/constable. She's a whole lot more comfortable thinking than feeling. She is unflinching in the face of danger unless it involves emotional vulnerability. I love that the author handles Havers character so revealingly.

Inspector Lynley is even more complex than Havers. He comes from a background of privilege and yet he is drawn to a sordid world of killers and their motivations. His character is revealed through internal dialogue and reflection more than action in this novel.

Surprisingly, though this is a mystery novel, there were a few points in which I was tearful in the reading. The book is so engrossing that the experiences of the characters become very personal to the reader.

I would unhesitatingly recommend this book to any anglophile and fan of the English mystery genre.

Although Elizabeth George has received some criticism for the turn this book takes (and I won't reveal), she never fails to amaze with the complexity and flesh-and-blood realness of her characters. The fast pace and twisting plot here will keep you reading way past your bedtime, while the depth and evolution of her characters and their relationships will make you feel like you know and love them yourself. Yes, there is sadness here, but you may shed a tear or two for the warmth, tenderness and loyalty shown in these characters' lives as well as the tragedies they endure. I have read eight of Elizabeth George's books, and this is the best one I have read to date. I'm so glad I haven't read them all yet!

I am beginning to think that Elizabeth George is one of today's finest mystery writers and With No One as Witness does nothing to disabuse me of that notion. As always, in addition to a well plotted mystery, she has her usual well-developed characters and pushes the boundaries of race and class in British society.

In this book, Acting Chief inspector Thomas Lynley and his wife, Helen are looking forward to the birth of their first child, while at the same time a particularly viscious serial killer is operating in London-- one who kidnaps and kills young boys. The case is politically tense because the murders were essentially ignored until the first white victim is found-- all of the previous victims had been black so no one had put together the fact that young boys were being killed in a similar fashion.

In addition to the political nature of the case, Lynley has to deal with the AC, David Hillier, who is a real idiot and who insists on doing stupid things like embedding a reporter in on the investigation and forcing Detective Sergeant NKata to sit in on daily press briefings to show that Scotland Yard is ethnically diverse.

Detective Constable Havers is back in fine form-- still demoted to Constable but determined to slog through and solve the case in her own indomitable way.

Without giving anything away, let me say that the ending of the book was a complete shock and was absolutely heartbreaking. I had to go back and read the last few chapters again to make sure I had gotten it all, and I cried myself to sleep after reading it, feeling as devastated as the characters in the book at the turn of events.

I know that some have criticized George for the ending, but I admire her courage in doing what she did. She doesn't just write mysteries, she writes carefully crafted novels that examine various aspects of society. Yes, the book has a sad ending, but it mirrors true life events, which don't always end happily either.

First read from this author. Twists and turns and surprises. I wasn't sure who "done it". Barbara is very interesting. From her mess of a house, to a mess of her person to her strange personality. Perhaps past books will offer a clue along with the other characters.

Highly recommended!

With No One as Witness is one of the most memorable of the Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers novels. If you haven't read this book yet, you have a great treat ahead of you. The book uses its over 600 page length well to deliver a deliciously complex plot in a detailed police procedural with lots of great forensics, action, suspense and interesting character developments.

As the book opens, a teenager who favors Boy George makeup and impersonating famous female singers heads out to meet with "friends." By the next morning, Kimmo Thorne has become a murder statistic, the victim of a strange mutilation that seems like the work of an unusually deranged mind. Clearly, this could be a serial killer at work . . . and the police begin to realize that three other young men have experienced a similar fate. But no one has taken their deaths seriously . . . they're just "throwaway boys" of black or mixed race parentage.

Anticipating a public relations firestorm tied to charges of racism in not investigating the earlier murders very well, the ultimately annoying Assistant Commissioner David Hillier focuses on managing press relations . . . even while he hampers the actual investigation with his "directions." While Acting Superintendent Lynley and Detective Constable Havers gnash their teeth in extreme frustration, Hillier pushes them to the brink of rebellion. Newly promoted Detective Sergeant Winston Nkata finds himself the token black in Hillier's playbook and doesn't appreciate this abuse of his identity, but usually manages to bite his tongue.

Throughout the story, the narration alternates among Lynley, Havers, Nkata, the serial killer and Ulrike Ellis, the head of a nonprofit agency for boys in trouble with the law. That makes the story more interesting by changing perspectives and varying the pacing.

Each of the major characters has the usual problems to deal with. Lynley's wife is expecting their first child and the in-laws are in an uproar about which christening garments to use. Havers is still smarting from her demotion, her car barely runs and she's annoyed with a neighbor who's too protective of his daughter. Nkata continues to be attracted to an unsuitable woman who spurns him while worrying about her son. The serial killer wants attention and is annoyed at how slow the police are to catch on. Ellis is losing her self-control with a married man, and her job is collapsing around her. Those touches humanized what is otherwise a very grim and dark tale.

As the investigation begins, the killer finds himself needing to kill again and again. That puts further pressure on the police to stop the potential rampage. How will it end? Badly, of course.

Police procedurals about stopping serial killers can be the most rewarding part of the genre if the author keeps the reader off balance about the who, what and why of the next step in the story. Ms. George does a commendable job of keeping the killer's identity shrouded until quite late in the book. Her misdirection is excellent and unforced. Yet she lets us in on the mind of the killer in a rewarding way that sets up the contest of hunted versus hunters very well. This is the best mystery I have read about a serial killer in many years.

I especially liked the way that breakthrough clues seemed to be about to unravel the killer's identity, but would actually turn into plot complications instead. These turns in the story were delicious in their ironies.

The book's main drawback is that the story involves the most disgusting types of sexual child abuse. If you have a weak stomach for that particular form of perversion, this story will thoroughly disgust you.

The book also achieves true pathos with a heart-rending tragedy during the investigation that will move all readers to sadness.

I seldom stay up past 1 a.m. to finish a book, but With No One as Witness kept me going last night until 2:17 with this one.

The latest in Elizabeth George's Thomas Lynley novels, "With No One As Witness", delivers a shocker about 3/5 of the way through the book. It's an event that, quite frankly, you will never anticipate, and it's completely unnecessary to the plot, unless Ms George got tired of the way Lynley's life was going and wanted to be able to move him off in another direction. We'll have to see what happens in her next book - if indeed there is a next book.

That being said, and that plot twist aside, this is an excellent addition to one of the best British police procedurals being written today. Lynley and his two primary assistants, Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata, have never been more human, more alive - especially considering the subject of this latest entry in the series. George writes her story with great tact, and most of what she says on the subject is implied. Of necessity there are some scenes that may turn your stomach, but these are kept to a minimum and George does not draw out her descriptions of these scenes.

Considering the hue and cry that emerged when this book came out, I will anxiously be awaiting news of the next book in this series - although as I said before, I wonder.....

First, I must say I have been an enthusiastic reader of Elizabeth George. I was really looking forward to another of her books.

But, this is her weakest. There are far too many sub-plots in far too much detail. Where in blazes were the editors when they got this manuscript??? It is undisciplined - as though every idea and detail had merit. Several people have said the book is about 200 pages too long. I agree.

I also am not a big fan of serial killer plots but if the writing is good and the characters well developed, I can deal with it. Nonetheless, I have told people who do not like serial killer mysteries but who like Elizabeth George to skip about the first 400 pages. You won't miss much. The only reason to read the rest of it is to see what happens to main George figures. But truthfully, they are dealt with in a much more shallow fashion than before. I suspect that the author so exhausted herself with the serial killer and sub-plots that there was not much room left for the main characters, except for Havers who is given just enough room to become positively annoying.

I will read George's next book, but I have to say I will approach it with some suspicion.

Elizabeth George never fails to fulfil the expectations. I've followed the adventures of Inspector Lynley and co. for years now and this book was as much as a page-turner as its predecessors.

This time Lynley and Havers investigate a series of murders in London which seem to have a racist background. As the murders escalate, they both work frantically to try and catch the killer as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the tale of their own personal lives keeps unfolding as in all previous books and, as it often happens, becomes influenced by work-related episodes.

The end of this book is the beginning of Ms. George's next one. It will leave the reader flabbergasted. I certainly was!

Some of this book's negative reviews, even outraged ones, have fascinated me. I too have read all of George's police procedurals. I favor British works in this genre and must remind myself that George is American. Regardless of a book's length, I am usually sad when it ends. For me it is like saying "so long" to a good friend who has stopped by for a visit and I don't know when she will be back.

I just learned that Elizabeth George returns later this Spring. I called my daughter who is 17, away at school, and also an avid George fan. My daughter will certainly welcome her back.

My five stars is not only for George. It is for this particular book, a weighty and complex novel that just happens to be a mystery but crosses into the designated genre of literature.

Finally, a reminder: George is not dead, only one of her characters.

I am a longtime fan of Elizabeth George, and have read, I believe, all of her previous books in this series with tremendous enjoyment. But this one is different, and to other fans I say, reader beware. The writing style is wonderful, as always. But whereas I have loved the "Englishness" of her previous novels, this one seems very American in its over-the-top, sick violence. I was interested to read the review below, where the reviewer refers to a 'change in tone' of this novel, which I definitely agree, and attributes it to a change in the criminal climate in England. That I do not know enough about to agree or disagree. But if so, that's too bad. I found this book so disturbing in the way it seems almost to glorify the sickness of it's crime that I stopped reading it before the end. I don't even know "who dun it!" And I don't care. I just didn't want to read any further. And sadly, this is probably the end of the line for me with this series by Elizabeth George, as I can't imagine she could turn back on the new direction she has taken in this book.

George is back. After "A place of hiding", which was -in my opinion- really slow, bleak, and boring, this book is a whole different kettle of fish. It is very long, but mostly that did not disturb me, although I was a bit bored by the parts in which one important character -not a usual one- was featured directly. I did not find it too complicated, although it is true the the readers are not given enough elements to figure out the ending by themselves.

As a standalone read it would be good, even though some minor things really depend on having read what happened before, because they are not explained here. But I don't think that this would detract from enjoying this novel.

My appreciation of the book had been somewhat spoiled by the fact that some of the reviews of the hardback version gave away too much of the plot (and I really wish reviewers would not do that), but this was still a very good read, which significantly deprived me of sleep over a weekend. I am looking forward to the next book in the series with renewed enthusiasm...

I began reading the Lynley-Havers novels in a rather odd fashion: from the middle books backward to the first and then on to each new release from that point on. (The really great part about discovering an author that you love is that you don't have to sit around and wait for the "next" release!) Discovering the characters in that manner was interesting, as going in reverse allowed me to see just how far Ms. George had brought their personalities. The developement of the relationships, the intergration of their lives was fascinating. Sometimes it would seem to me that her characters weren't making much progress for themselves - then I would have to remind myself that I was reading the series backwards!

Ms. George's lastest novel has me intrigued. I, too, was surprised at the road she chose to take with her players, but, I think we will be rewarded in the future with a richness in her novels to come as a result of her choice. It seems to me that the course of action she chose to take shows a tremendous amount of courage on the part of the author. Keepping all of her characters in tact would have been the easy way. Now, she must take them, and us, on a new journey. I can't wait for it to begin!

At the end of it, I'm just glad that Havers didn't "take the bullet". I would really have hated to have lost her!

I love Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley series but I often feel her books are longer than necessary. Occasionally characters are added but there is no follow through & I end up wondering why they were introduced at all - this book was not guilty of that crime. I actually read 'What Came Before He Shot Her' before 'With No One As Witness'(not purposely). However, I'm glad I did. I don't believe I could have survived her absolutely senseless death otherwise (senseless regarding who shot her not that George killed this character). Helen has always been my favorite character - she rounded out Tommy perfectly.

The last few chapters were beautifully written (I thought some of George's best). She did a wonderful job pulling in the family members and subtly reminding us of their history(anyone who hasn't read other Lynley novels will not have this connection so PLEASE start the series from the beginning). I had to remind myself a few hours after I finished this book that Lynley & Havers are fictional characters and they weren't off somewhere in deep depression (although Barbara was receiving comfort, FINALLY!!!)- a sure sign of an excellent series.

Two more items: 1)Is poor Denton going to fly back from his wonderful vacation in NY to find out about Helen??? Someone should have called him! 2) If only Helen had parked the Bentley and Deborah had been on the doorstep. Not sure I would have shed many tears there - she's awfully boring.

Another good author pandering to the sick and twisted minds who crave this sort of graphic description of horrible people doing horrible things. Just watching the news and reading the newspapers now is enough to make us despair of what the human race is becoming. I don't want to read fiction about it. Please, Ms George, go back to your tried and true formula of stories about murders solved by likeable people whose own stories are interesting.

Elizabeth George already wrote this book. It was called "Well Schooled in Murder," and had the same premise (biracial youngster is molested, tortured and finally murdered), although a distinctly different setting. It made more of an effort to get inside the suspects' heads and portray them as if not downright sympathetic characters, than certainly less repulsive than the ones in this book. "Well Schooled" was also shorter, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I'm all for curling up with a massive tome, as long as the author takes pains to make me care about the plot and the characters.

I, too, was dismayed at her decision to kill off a long running major character, but she as the author has the final say. What I objected to was how random the death was, that it apparently had no bearing on the main case, and I also thought it should have been placed anywhere except near the very end. Because we've known the character from the start, her death eclipsed the intrigue of solving the case.

And, minor point I know, but I could not quite believe that Barbara's neighbor would leave his eight-year-old daughter alone to babysit herself. Wasn't this the same child who was kidnapped and flung overboard into the sea a few books ago? Unless the man's supposed to be a sociopath, this strains credibility.

I discovered Elizabeth George when she only had two books in print. I've read each one as it has come out, and have enjoyed all of them.

One of the things I have always loved about this series is the continuing back story on all of the characters. They have grown and changed over the years that I've read the books. The books are both about the mysteries and about the people trying to solve the mysteries.

It is possible that this is a pivotal book and that the direction of any future stories is going to move to characters that were more minor in the past. I've decided that is OK.

While I enjoy reading Ms. George's books, at times I've lost patience with the seemingly endless existential angst of the main characters. Constant ruminations on the emotional aspect of St. James' disability, Helen and Lynley's boringly circuitous path to marriage, the reader's forced participation in the minutiae of Deborah's constant ruminations on her infertility.............only Barbara Haver's coping with life and loneliness in her inimitable but realistic way saves us from disliking the other characters who cope so elegantly with their problems. Has anyone else noticed that Havers is the only one who is authentically unattractive?

With that said, this armchair quarterback always enjoys the deft writing of Elizabeth George. Her books are great sit-down- and-procrastinate-everything-else reads. Even though she sometimes drags, I'm willing to read those passages in order to enjoy the rest of the book.

I did enjoy this book. I think it was much better than last year's. I don't like the serial killer idea, as someone else has pointed out. I tend to think that writers get lazy when they exploit things like crazy religious nuts or serial killers. I've always thought that one of the main characters was a two-dimensional character and the tragedy in the book didn't affect me as much as Haver's tears at the end. Therefore, I hope we don't have two or three more books in which a different main character grapples endlessly with another round of angst/anquish. I hope Ms. George moves on in an efficient but interesting way.

I've enjoyed the development of Elizabeth George's skills as a crime novelist--each of her books has been more complex and intricate than the last, both in the language she uses and the twists and turns of the plot. This entry was no different, although in contrast to many of her previous works, I picked out the killer early on.

I won't go into details of the plot--suffice to say that for the first time, Lynley and Havers face a serial killer and must use all their resources to solve the case. Winston Nkata, a favourite character of mine, plays a prominent role, as does the issue of race and race relations in Britain.

There is one thing that marrs this otherwise enthralling novel--the unnecessary death of a main character. Killing this character didn't move me, it annoyed me. It felt like a stunt and left me cold for the rest of the novel. She didn't need to do it, it was cruel and frankly mean to both the other characters (yes, they're made up, we all know that!) and the reader who has been following this 'family' of characters for so many years.

My first guess was that she wanted to end the series; frankly, there isn't really anywhere to go with it after this entry.

Over-complicated??? It's a murder mystery, for Pete's sake. It's SUPPOSED to be complicated! But I suppose if you're used to the likes of the formulaic Sue Grafton, Elizabeth's George's intricate plotting and thoughtful characterization could be off-putting and over taxing.

George ranks as the reigning Queen of Crime, in my mind. And it must be galling to our British brethren that an American has invaded their ground and done them one better. She's infinitely more readable than the overly dense P.D. James, without sacrificing one whit of thought-provoking content. Her characters live, breathe, eat, drink, love and hate like your next-door neighbors, working their way into your heart. I adore Barbara Havers--though she reminds me way too much of my own more unattractive traits--and she provides a great dose of realism among the posh and sophisticated set, who, despite their aristrocratic roots, still come across as believable.

I read this book in two days flat: one of those up until 2 am because I couldn't put it down kind of reads. It holds up well to her other books, even raising the ante with its shocker ending. I'm so dying to find out what happens, I imagine I won't even wait for the paperback with the next one, but will buy it in hardback as soon as it appears.

Elizabeth George's latest novel, "With No One as Witness," features two of my favorite characters in British police procedurals, Detective Inspector Thomas "Tommy" Lynley and Barbara Havers. Lynley and Havers were partners in earlier books, but Havers has been demoted to Detective Constable and Tommy, who is Acting Superintendent at New Scotland Yard, is now her boss. Lynley and Havers are, on the surface, polar opposites. Tommy is charming, handsome, wealthy, and aristocratic. Although she is a kind and caring person, Barbara comes across as crude, stubborn, and tactless. She chain smokes, dresses in a slovenly manner, and drives an old rattletrap that threatens to break down constantly. However, Barbara and Tommy are alike in one important area. They are both dedicated professionals who care passionately about bringing criminals to justice.

This time around, Barbara and Tommy have their work cut out for them. A cunning psychopath has been murdering and mutilating adolescent boys, and there are no witnesses and little evidence to help the police with their inquiries. Lynley is in charge of the investigation, and he has a hard time reining in Barbara Havers. She has an unerring instinct for the chase, and she would much rather go off on her own than follow orders. Worse than Barbara's independent streak is the behavior of Tommy's boss, Assistant Commissioner Hillier. The AC is so sensitive to outside pressure that he sacrifices the integrity of the investigation to gain political points and favorable media coverage. Tommy would gladly throttle Hillier if he could.

Elizabeth George's strength is in her characters, particularly Lynley and Havers. George skillfully describes the agonizing lot of homicide detectives, who are under constant stress. They are exposed to the most horrifying aspects of humanity, and the grisly crime scenes that they observe are nightmare-inducing. To make matters worse, the public and the media expect the police to solve high-profile cases quickly. However, as George ably demonstrates, not all cases lend themselves to easy solutions. A detective's job is often tedious, time-consuming, and extremely frustrating. Every lead, no matter how small, must be investigated, and most turn out to be of little or no value. In this lengthy book, Havers and her colleagues put in countless hours examining every clue and interviewing dozens of people, many more than once.

George does a fine job of humanizing her detectives and giving us insight into their private lives. Tommy's blissful marriage to Helen is marred by a minor family disagreement. Barbara's involvement with her neighbors, the exuberant and irrepressible eight-year-old Hadiyyah Azhar and her father, Taymullah, bring her both satisfaction and grief. Winston Nkata, who has been promoted to Detective Sergeant because of racial reasons, is angry to be paraded before the public as a token black detective. George effectively shows how a job in law enforcement sometimes damages or destroys personal relationships.

The author is less successful in her depiction of a serial killer who is straight out of central casting. He is a ritualistic psychopath who was abused as a child and hears voices in his head berating him as worthless. This plot has been used too many times before. Another flaw is the over-the-top ending that is marred by several far-fetched developments. Still, I admire George's handling of an extremely complex and multi-faceted police investigation, and I always enjoy spending time with Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers.