Inspector Lynley Book 1
DS Barbara Havers is given her last chance at CID, and is forced to work with Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, the 8th Earl of Asherton. Working class, DS Havers cannot stand the Eton educated man, just because he is an aristocrat.
We meet Lynley at his best friend Simon St. James’ wedding to Deborah Cutter, Tommy’s ex-girlfriend. Havers is sent to the wedding to collect Lynley as there’s been a murder in a Yorkshire town. A young girl, Roberta Teys, was found next to the decapitated body of her father William saying “I did it and I’m not sorry.” The parish priest had come out to Scotland Yard in London to ask them to investigate as he found it hard to believe that Roberta was capable of this despite her confession.
Lynley and Havers travel to the small Yorkshire village to learn the truth. Meanwhile Simon and Deborah are on their honeymoon in the same village.
As the story uncovers, we learn that William Teys was not a very nice man, and Roberta only wanted to protect others…
It’s been 30+ years since I first read this book. Though it is a little dated now, it’s still a good read. Having watched the older series on TV, I was surprised that the actor who played Lynley originally was not at all how Elizabeth George described the 8th Earl of Asherton. The actor playing him in the new series “Lynley” comes closer in appearance. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
Read for The 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2026
Prompt 32: Publisher starting with the letter “B”
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
