This was the first Inspector Lynley mystery series that I read. Kept me up past my bedtime reading more than one night! Great characters, multi-layered mystery, and a few unexpected plot twists. Lynley and Havers are a great sleuth team for Scotland Yard. I've read and enjoyed all of the Inspector Lynley series.
Judy W. (dellrosie) reviewed Playing for the Ashes (Inspector Lynley, Bk 7) on + 46 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
One of her best!
Helpful Score: 3
George is a gifted writer who spins rich, colorful, mesmerizing, multifaceted stories that combine an absorbing mystery with provocative insights into her characters' innermost thoughts and emotions. Her latest story once again features Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his sidekick, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers. Chalk and cheese when it comes to background, philosophy, style, and personality, Lynley and Havers easily forget their differences when a tough homicide needs solving--take, for example, the asphyxiation death of renowned, all-England cricket player Kenneth Fleming. The duo's inquiries turn up some disturbing facts about the cricket star. Not only was his personal life a shambles, but he had a very odd relationship with a former teacher. The case is more byzantine than any Lynley and Havers have encountered in their years as a crack homicide team, and even when they've identified Fleming's killer, the file isn't really closed.
Helpful Score: 1
This book really explores the psychology of love, obsession, and possession in almost every imaginable relationship - between friends, lovers, parents and children, co-workers, mentor and protege, teacher and student. The plot, which centers on the murder of a star athlete, moves quickly to uncover suspect after suspect, all with valid motives for the crime. The characters are rich and deep. Excellent read.
Helpful Score: 1
One of a series by an American writer who writes about British police procedures with a continuing set of characters.
Sherri B. (dremiel) reviewed Playing for the Ashes (Inspector Lynley, Bk 7) on + 21 more book reviews
Great Inspector Lynly/DS Havers mystery. Even better than the PBS Mystery! episode based on it.
A good British thriller.
Good English detective fiction.
Another fabulous mystery from Elizabeth George with our favorite set of sleuths!
Mary Ann M. (grammy) reviewed Playing for the Ashes (Inspector Lynley, Bk 7) on + 55 more book reviews
I love Elizabeth George and Inspector Lynley.
Marilyn K. (page-one) reviewed Playing for the Ashes (Inspector Lynley, Bk 7) on + 24 more book reviews
As a superb chronicler of all things English, Eizabeth George addresses that uniquely English sport: cricket. However, if you are not a sports person, take heart! This work is not a mind-numbing exposition of the rules of cricket, even though the victim is a cricket superstar. Rather, it is the story of players with unequal assets vying for a highstakes goal.
Marjorie S. (marjorie) reviewed Playing for the Ashes (Inspector Lynley, Bk 7) on + 83 more book reviews
Excellent read featuring Inspector Lynley.
The seventh novel in the "Inspector Lynley mystery" series. When the body of England's leading batsman, Kenneth Fleming, is discovered it looks like an accident. But further investigation reveals a multitude of suspects for murder with motives: from Fleming's lover to his son.
This one was a bit different from the others, there's a running journal inserted throughout. As always, a well played out story.
Lynne T. (mignon) reviewed Playing for the Ashes (Inspector Lynley, Bk 7) on + 256 more book reviews
Be prepared for two books in this one. Olivia is a book with its own story; although it will finally connect to solution to the Lynley/Havers murder investigation. There are also the side stories of the personal lives of Lynley and Havers. There is way too much information on all fronts. I had to learn about professional cricket and animal rescue, in detail. Ms. George seemed to use Olivia's as a platform for current humanitarian issues. The reading gets to be tedious. I finally gave up and skipped through most of the tedious details to find out 'who done it'.
Gery B. (ChezGery) reviewed Playing for the Ashes (Inspector Lynley, Bk 7) on + 75 more book reviews
This is real writing - Elizabeth George once again hits the mark in Playing For The Ashes. Her characters are like 'gold leaf'. Layer after layer of personal insight with each one displaying emotions as real as it can be crafted. She intertwines stories within a story so real to bring life to her subjects. This involved story of an struggling but talented cricket player intertwines his ambitious struggle to be England's finest player comes with a high price that appears (to him) as loyal fondness and generous with no apparent strings. One of E. George's best pen to paper and more than worth the effort to read a brilliant and talented writer who is above the bar in the mill of twisting,turning, roller coaster publications. Beautiful writing through and through. If you enjoy the Thomas Lynley series, this is one of the best.
