Fans of Elizabeth George’s Lynley mysteries are in for a treat. A new adaptation starring Leo Suter as DI Thomas Lynley and Sofia Barclay as Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers is now streaming on Brit Box. Additionally, Viking has published the 22nd Lynley mystery, titled A Slowly Dying Cause. While the Brit Box series begins with Lynley’s career, the new novel picks up where the last one, Something to Hide, left off.
Clocking in at 640 pages, George’s novel is a true page-turner. George manages to create – as she always does – a complex mystery with a lineup of suspects with back stories that slowly unfold. While Lynley and Havers appear sporadically at the beginning, their involvement in the case soon reveals their experience, insight, and humanity. Anyone who has experienced tragedy would want these two individuals on their side.
Elizabeth George (Photo Credit: Jennifer Adams)
Lynley’s dual life as a Detective Inspector at Scotland Yard and the 8th Earl of Asherton continues to intertwine. When his superior officer, Isabelle Ardery, returns from a long stint in rehab, Lynley is able to step aside as the Acting Detective Chief Superintendent. However, he receives distressing news from John Penellin, the manager of Howenstow, the family estate. The mansion’s slate roof is in dire need of repair, necessitating tough decisions. Given the exorbitant cost of the repair, Penellin proposes that the home be opened to tourists as a temporary solution.
Meanwhile, Havers is grappling with the death of her mother, who had been in a care home run by the compassionate Mrs. Flo. Since their relationship was never close, especially after her mother developed dementia, Barbara is struggling to make end-of-life decisions. Her mother’s body lies at the funeral home, and Barbara receives frequent calls from Mrs. Flo, urging her to choose a burial option. While emotions play a part in Barbara’s indecision, she also realizes that she had spent the funds set aside for her mother’s plot.
Lynley and Havers will eventually be drawn into investigating a murder that occurred in Cornwall. Michael Lobb, the owner of Lobb’s Tin & Pewter, is found stabbed to death in his workshop. Geoffrey Henshaw, who works for Cornwall EcoMining, a startup digging in the area for Lithium, a sought-after mineral, discovers the body. While Henshaw appears to be a likely suspect, Lobb’s death actually complicates his goal of buying the tin company’s land for development. Whoever inherits the property will need to be convinced to sell.
Beatrice Hannaford is the senior investigating officer on the case. Like Lynley and Havers, her personal live is complicated. While she loves her husband, Ray, even occasionally sleeps with him, she maintains her own apartment. Their teenage son, bounces between homes. When she’s forced to make a decision about where she will choose to live, no one will be happy.
After his divorce from Maiden, Lobb married Kayla, a young dancer from South Africa he met on a cruise. While his ex-wife has moved on and has a boyfriend, she still harbors anger towards him. Their two children have responded differently to their father’s new marriage. Merritt, who is married with children, has reconciled with his father and wants his involvement as a grandfather. On the other hand, Gloriana, who runs a sixties vintage shop and dresses up like her idols, has no interest in her father. Michael’s two children would benefit from inheriting his wealth. Merritt has purchased a larger home for his family, while Gloriana would prefer to buy her shop. Another potential beneficiary is Michael’s brother, Sebastian, who works as a yoga instructor but is also known for his Lothario tendencies, bedding any woman who crosses his path. Michael can’t help but wonder if one of those women is Kayla.
Kayla seems the epitome of the grieving wife, consoled by her brother, Willen, who has been visiting from South Africa. He’s quickly added to Bea’s list of possible suspects. Seemingly distraught over losing her husband, Kayla also reaches out to those who might be harmed by Michael’s death. Bran Udy and his son, Goron, have been loyal employees of the tin company, mining the metal that Michael needs to fashion the jewelry and other items he sells in his shop and online. Bran has two other children, Gwyn and Daidre. While Gwyn and Goron were returned to the Udy home after several years in care, Daidre, then named Edrek, was adopted by her foster family. Now working as a veterinarian at a zoo, Daidre seems to have her life pulled together. But her past has prevented her from forging lasting relationships, including with Lynley, who is still in love with her.
It’s Daidre who seeks Havers’ help after Goron is charged with killing Lobb. Daidre asks Havers not to tell Lynley about her involvement, but Lynley isn’t a detective who misses things. Since Havers is staying at Howenstow to recover from her mother’s death, Lynley easily learns the truth about Daidre’s concern for her brother. There’s no way Havers can prevent him from getting involved.
In between details on the murder and the following investigation, Michael himself writes about what has been happening in his life. Is the Kayla he sees truly in love with the older man she married? Or does she have something to hide? And is what Michael writes the truth, or is he only recording what he hopes is true?
George, an American who has nailed writing the British mystery, is at the top of her game. Lynley and Havers may be the odd couple (consider his penchant to dress like the country gentleman and her love of shirts with off-beat sayings), but they are united in their search for the truth and helping those who can’t care for themselves. Their banter is clever and adds a measure of humor which otherwise might make this novel a dark story about humanity’s cruelty.
Like so many fans, when I turned that last page, I was sorry the story ended. While waiting for George’s next mystery, I will enjoy going back to the beginning with Brit Box’s Lynley.
A Slowly Dying Cause
Elizabeth George
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