This Body of Death is the sixteenth book in the Inspector Thomas
Lynley series. It picks up a mere three months from the last book.
This is one of the appeals of George's novels - they happen in
almost 'real time'.
Lynley is still recovering from a personal tragedy and is on leave
from Scotland Yard. The acting superintendent, Isabelle Ardery, has
alienated much of the team in her short stay. In an effort to win a
permanent place, she asks Thomas to help with their latest case. A
beautiful young woman has been found brutally murdered in a
isolated cemetery. The clues point to the New Forest area, a
community in a rural area. Two of the team - Winston Nkata and
Barbara Havers are sent to follow up. Havers, Lynley's former
partner, is one of my favourite characters. She is the antithesis
to Lynley (who is actually a Lord.) Barbara doesn't give a fig for
her appearance, smokes too much and bucks authority as much as she
can without losing her job. But she is a determined investigator
and her persistence usually pays off.
The book opens with a partial report from an unnamed author
documenting a criminal act. Further parts of the report appear
throughout the book, revealing more with each entry. Although
seemingly unrelated, this element plays an integral part in the
plot. And what a plot George has crafted! Multi layered and
complex, it had me guessing right up to the end. Seemingly
innocuous comments or observations often prove germane, so you
definitely don't want to speed read. And I never do with any of
George's books. For me they're a treat to be savoured.
While the plotting is fantastic, the characters play just as big a
part of the book for me. After fifteen novels, I am quite invested
in these recurring characters. I was actually quite upset with
George when she 'tampered' with their lives in a way I didn't like
in a previous book. The ending of This Body of Death has opened the
door to many other changes, some that I am not looking forward to,
others that I hope that I hope will develop. Nothing is predictable
or static in the world of Inspector Lynley, each book is fresh.