Customer Reviews
Brilliant book with upsetting ending. - By: D. Ellison, 30 Aug 2008 
The first in the Inspector Lynley series, this book leaves you guessing from start to end. Not only is it a good mystery but it is also a good introduction to the characters that travel with you through the series of Lynley books. The murder seems to be quite simple at the start but ends in shocking & upsetting revelations. It is reallly quite sad at the end. All round a very good book.
A riveting read - By: Pauline, 13 Aug 2008 I enjoyed this book. It was not too gruesome, but was interesting as the plot unfolded. The story keeps you guessing which makes it a good read for a holiday or a journey.
First read of Elizabeth George! - By: Mrs. S. I. Morgan, 30 Jul 2008 Never reallly been interested in reading these, but was given a few so thought I would give them a go, I was immediatly struck by the characters as I have seen the odd episode on the telly, but they do read differently.I was pleasantly surprised! The story telling was very good, she goes into the characters well, & you come out feeling like you know them. The plot for this book was intricate, & left me guessing untill the end as to what/why it reallly happened. I am now starting my 2nd book, & have every intention of reading alot more.
Well-written, although no real mystery - By: unlikely_heroine, 26 Jul 2008 
This first outing for Lynley & Havers sees the pair investigate the murder of a country farmer. The farmer's daughter is found next to his body, holding an axe & declaring that she "did it", & is quickly locked away in a mental hospital, but the local priest travels to London to convince the authorities that the crime merits deeper investigation.
Many readers, me included, will have come to Elizabeth George's writing after watching the BBC TV series based on her novels. What is striking about this book is the subtlety with which George paints her main characters (who are quite different to their on-screen incarnations, particularly Barbara Havers). Lynley & Havers, & the interaction between the two, are at the heart of "A Great Deliverance." George takes the time to show us where these people come from, & how they feel. The level of characterisation of the detectives is surprisingly detailed for a "crime" novel & this aspect of the book makes for refreshing reading.
Less refreshing is the central story. Most readers will have guessed relatively early on what the "shock" is in this book; & will not actuallly be alll that shocked. The book is twenty years old or so & perhaps is beginning to show its age in that the main plot points have been seen so many times in crime stories & particularly in television dramas; many readers will get a sense of deja vu in the reading of "A Great Deliverance", which is sadly less than the book deserves. Another problem is that the portrayal & dialogue of a couple of minor characters does not quite ring true & the revelatory "showdown" conversation that occurs to explain the crime & why it was committed features a few lines that reallly do not seem credible. These do jar a little at what is supposed to be the climax of the novel.
However, the writing is generallly strong, & having read other reviews of George's novels that point out the mistakes she makes in the depiction of British life, I was pleasantly surprised to see that she gets most things right here & does convey a strong sense of place, something missing from some other crime stories.
Not a bad read overalll, & I will be reading other books in the Inspector Lynley series to see if Elizabeth George's strong writing combines with a more intriguing plot elsewhere, & to see how the partnership between Lynley & Havers develops in the books.
Essential Reading for Lynley and Havers Fans - By: Donald Mitchell, 03 May 2005 "Who knows what darkness lies in the hearts of men? Only the Shadow knows." That opening from the old radio show came to mind as I reread this book about the almost unspeakable evils that people do to one another.
First published in 1988, A Great Deliverance is the first book in the distinguished series featuring Inspector Thomas Lynley & Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, the English detective duo who have delighted so many readers since then. I first read this book many years ago & was impressed at the time by the careful character development. Little did I know that that character development would make the subsequent series such a remarkable delight. Rereading the book now, I must say that I don't remember a first book in a detective series that did nearly so much to establish the backgrounds, thought processes, influences & loves of the lead characters. I'm much more impressed than the first time.
As the story opens, Father Hart is on a pilgrimage to Scotland Yard to help heal a rift among those who have been investigating the beheading of a local farmer. While most detectives would feel that finding the farmer's daughter, Roberta Teys, next to the body as she confesses that she's guilty would be enough evidence, Father Hart believes that Roberta is innocent. Thus, Scotland Yard enters the case. Havers is dispatched to haul Lynley back from a wedding he's attending, & the reader is soon enmeshed in "what might have been" thoughts concerning the lives of both Lynley & Havers.
Lynley is the golden boy, the eighth earl of Asherton, who doesn't even need to work . . . but who sees work as his obligation. Havers is a loose cannon of emotions, instincts & prejudice . . . but who's brilliantly & doggedly determined to find the answers to any crime. How they develop comfort with one another is quite intriguing in the book.
The mystery itself is pretty straightforward, so don't look for that aspect of the book to delight you with its charm. If you judge mysteries by how hard the mystery is to solve, this one will be a 2 or 3 star effort to you.
But if you love rich, complex characters with nuanced reactions in tricky situations, this book will delight you.
Literature fans will appreciate the references that are included in sorting out the mystery.
Those who require absolute accuracy in alll aspects of what's English will detect false notes here & there. Still, the overalll result is quite impressive coming from an American. And most American readers won't be able to tell the difference anyway.
If the mystery had been better designed, this could have been one of the great mystery stories of alll time. Do read on. There are many other fine books in this series. The rich character development in this book will add much delight to your reading in the subsequent ones.
