Love this series. Mystery/crime/thriller/detective novel with outstanding characters that actually grow from book to book.

I am a huge fan of Elizabeth George, but have to admit to being quite disappointed with her last novel, which was a bit all over the place and unnecessarily convoluted. However, I am less than a hundred pages into this one, and it is seriously good. I think she is back to form!

UPDATE: Oh my goodness – this is really a great book. But it is quite traumatic to read (particularly as I have read all the others, and tend to ‘live’ them). I do wonder whether this is the last one in the series, because the ending (don’t worry, no spoiler) is so confronting that I don’t see how it can go on.

I make no apologies—I unabashedly love the Lynley and Havers novels. When I saw this one was coming out, I wasted little time in purchasing it and adding it to my readng list. For me, Elizabeth George is the standard by which I judge all other modern mysteries. And I’ll be honest—the last couple of mysteries have not been up to her usual standards. In fact, I’d have to say last year’s A Place of Hiding was one of her more disappointing efforts.

But I am happy to say that With No One As Witness is a return to from. A gruesome mystery, a plethora of suspects, a lot of great red herrings and blind alleys—all of this will keep you guessing who done it until the final revlation. And when you get to it, it all makes perfect and total sense within the context of the story. It’s one of those where you go—oh of course, it was….it had to be.

But the Lynley and Havers novels aren’t just about a great mystery. It’s about characters. Of course, this is a novel that has her on-going protagonists Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers front and center. But one of the joys of these books as that as the series has progressed, George has introduced a strong supporting cast that I enjoy checking in on with each novel. Character development is what these books are about. And George is not afraid to toy with the status quo. There are some huge changes in characters in this book and some decisions made over the course of the 600 plus pages that will stun you. Indeed, this one could be the final Lynley and Havers novel ever written. (I won’t tell too much of why here…just go and read it for yourself!) If it is the last novel with them, then she’s set up a great supporting cast who could continue the stories if need be.

If it is the final installment, then it’s a high note to exit. But as I keep reminding myself—Conan Doyle got rid of Sherlock Holmes and still brought him back for more adventures. I can only hope George sees the light and gives us more of Lynley and Havers.

The latest Lynley and Havers mystery.