The Punishment She Deserves - (Lynley Novel) by Elizabeth George (Paperback)

About the Book

When a Member of Parliament shows up at New Scotland Yard requesting an investigation into the suicide of the son of one of his constituents in the beautiful town of Ludlow, the Assistant Commissioner sees two opportunities in this request. The first is to have an MP owing him afavor, and the second is to get rid of Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, whose career at the Met has been hanging by a thread for quite some time. So he assigns Havers to the case and, for good measure, partners her with the one person who shares his wish to see the back of her, Detective Chief Superintendent Isabelle Ardery. But Ardery has her own difficulties. She is not happy to be sent away from London, and as a result is in a rush to return. This causes her to overlook things, important things, and prevents her from uncovering an earlier crime that set everything in motion.

Book Synopsis

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley are forced to confront the past as they try to solve a crime that threatens to tear apart the very fabric of a quiet, historic medieval town in England

The cozy, bucolic town of Ludlow is stunned when one of its most revered and respected citizens--Ian Druitt, the local deacon--is accused of a serious crime. Then, while in police custody, Ian is found dead. Did he kill himself? Or was he murdered?

When Barbara Havers is sent to Ludlow to investigate the chain of events that led to Ian's death, all the evidence points to suicide. But Barbara can't shake the feeling that she's missing something. She decides to take a closer look at the seemingly ordinary inhabitants of Ludlow--mainly elderly retirees and college students--and discovers that almost everyone in town has something to hide.

A masterful work of suspense, The Punishment She Deserves sets Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Inspector Thomas Lynley against one of their most intricate cases. Fans of the longtime series will love the many characters from Elizabeth George's previous novels who join Lynley and Havers, and readers new to the series will quickly see why she is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed writers of our time. Both a page-turner and a deeply complex story about the lies we tell, the lies we believe, and the redemption we need, this novel will be remembered as one of George's best.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Punishment She Deserves

"Rich with descriptive detail and emotional nuance. Several alternating plot threads unspool at length, all of which weave tightly together with pleasing inevitability. . . . What has been said before deserves repeating: From suspense to social commentary, from violence to pathos, from villainy to possible redemption, Ms. George can do it all, with style."
--Wall Street Journal

"The Punishment She Deserves contains all the trademarks that have made George a grandee of the genre: an intricate and thoughtful plot (this one includes various forms of addiction and numerous examples of misguided parenting), a multiplicity of carefully conceived and richly executed characters and the continuing evolution of Lynley's and Havers' personas. No George novel--and especially not this effort--is one through which the reader should sprint. Instead, take time to reflect on the issues George raises--and to savor her genius."
--The Richmond Times-Dispatch

"Meaty, psychologically probing . . . Lynley becomes, for a significant portion of the narrative, a kind of peripheral player, yielding the investigative center stage to his colleague, Detective Sgt. Barbara Havers. This is a canny and risky move on George's part, and she makes it work through building Havers into a character who's fascinating in large part for how different she is from Lynley; their personal contrasts fuel the novel."
--The Christian Science Monitor

"In . . . George's skillful telling, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers (working class, rumpled and smart) takes the lead probing death in a medieval market town; her boss, Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley (aristocratic, cultured and smart), takes a back seat."
--The Seattle Times (naming The Punishment She Deserves one of 2018's best thrillers)

"Elizabeth George knows how to keep a reader turning the pages of her books. . . . George takes her time to delve into the complexities of community, relationship and truth, all while keeping the suspense turned up enough to keep the story in motion. Few mystery writers create a sense of place in the excellent way that George does her. Her characters, fully realized and multi-dimensional, move in the world she builds in a way that feels autonomous and true. Readers of the series and newcomers to George's work alike will be thrilled with this impeccably crafted novel."
--The Citizen-Times

"Elizabeth George has created journeys for Havers and Lynley before and this, yet again, falls among the 'must reads' in the suspense world. For new readers getting onboard and for those who have loved these characters for a while now, this book is one you do not want to miss."
--Suspense Magazine

"Bold, invigorating, and entertaining . . . Readers coming to George for the first time will be just as enthralled and satisfied as longtime fans of the immensely rewarding series."
--Mystery Scene Magazine

"George is an ascended master of the artfully tangled plot, elaborate without being overly busy; everyone who enters into the picture plays a part . . . Long but rewarding: trademark George, with elements of the classic procedural nicely joined to today's headlines. Fans won't be disappointed."
--Kirkus

"Bolstered by George's polished prose, the twentieth Lynley mystery moves briskly along, showing the author at the peak of her powers."
--Booklist (starred review)

"George tackles a number of emotionally charged social issues with sensitivity and grace. Exquisitely rendered characters and a powerful sense of place enhance the meticulously crafted mystery, which satisfies as a standalone while furthering the series arc."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

About the Author

Elizabeth George is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty psychological suspense novels, four young adult novels, one book of nonfiction, and two short-story collections. Her work has been honored with the Anthony and Agatha awards, two Edgar nominations, and both France's and Germany's first prize for crime fiction, as well as several other prestigious prizes. She lives in Washington State.