Elizabeth George Message Board
posts on 9/27/2006 2:54:10 PM
As far as I know "A Place of Hiding" is the last book with Simon and Deborah as the main characters. My favourite character is Barbara Havers. It will be interesting to see where the storylines go now that Helen is dead and Tommy out (at least for now).
posts on 9/24/2006 1:30:33 AM
I am surprised that there are negative postings for this book. I loved the resolution of the Simon/Deborah relationship. My question: Is Hiding the last of the St.James' storyline?
posts on 7/17/2006 12:20:46 PM
As a fan of Lynley & Helen, I too was devastated by the ending of WNOAW, which I read recently. I feel like I may not be able to re-read her old books in the series anymore (which I often did while waiting for new releases), without feeling a sense of loss. The weird thing is, in the latest Inspector Lynley Series that's airing on BBC in the UK, I think Helen makes a comeback. In the last series aired in the US, Helen got into an accident, lost her baby, & eventually separated from Lynley.
I never liked the actress who played Helen in the series: her characterization was so different from the book. In the latest BBC series, she is apparently played by a different actress.
I wonder how they will reconcile the 2 different story lines (Helen alive on TV & dead in the book). But I, for one, will be glad to see Helen live on, on TV.
posts on 7/15/2006 1:01:25 PM
I, too, avidly read all of George's earlier novels and considered her the best English mystery writer ever... at least up to "A Place of Hiding", which I found boring and tedious. That said, I have been hoping for a rekindling of the romance between Barbara and her neighbour. There were sparks in an earlier book, I've forgotten the name, but it was the one on the sea-side where Barbara was the main character and her neighbours were there as well. While I always enjoyed Helen and am sad to loose her (and Lynley?), I must say I was disappointed in the actress they chose to portray her in the television series. In fact, I was disappointed in the casting for the series in general. Let's hope George continues with Barbara and Winston's characters at least as they are both interesting and well able to carry the stories together.
posts on 6/5/2006 4:08:28 PM
The Lynley/Havers series will be forever changed!. I am still in shock at the "twist" in this book. Does anyone watch the television shows?? What do you think of them??
Nance posts on 3/27/2006 4:50:01 PM
No question about it, the Lynley/Havers series as we know it has to end, but our brilliant authoress will bring us more on our 2 other favorite characters with long and brilliant careers ahead of them: Barb and Winston, separately or together.
This last book truly brought us the fullness of life's complexities and tragedies, the wonder of all variations on the human condition and each individual's seemingly endless search for love and acceptance.
My favorite part of this one: the way that the personality London, that incomparable city, is captured. Having travelled there several times, but admittedly not to some of the obscure sections that not even Winston had previously visited until the last story, I love the way that she has captured for us, glimpses into lives lived on the streets and in the homes.
Chiara posts on 3/17/2006 3:11:02 AM
George's last two books have been a bit of a disappointment after enjoying her previous novels as immensely as I did. Helen's death was shocking and as Lynley gave up his career (didn't he) I don't know what to expect from George's next novel. Maybe she isn't going to write Lynley/Havers novels any more?
Reils posts on 3/14/2006 8:03:48 PM
I hated the fact that Helen died! She was a wonderful character and I was very sad after I finished the book.
I think Deborah is a real bore and wouldn't really miss her much, but Helen was nice.
Janelle Rogols posts on 1/31/2006 3:46:16 PM
I have just finished reading "With No One As Witness" and I want you to know I will not be reading anymore of your books. This was too disappointing and depressing and completely uncalled for in my opinion.
Deborah posts on 12/1/2005 11:25:08 PM
I've been a fan of Elizabeth George since I took her first Lynley novel with me on my Hawaiian honeymoon in 1988. I have always loved the depth, beauty and complexity of her writing. That being said, I am extremely disappointed in her choice to make 5-month-pregnant Helen Lynley a brain dead random crime victim. It would have been bad enough if it was just Helen whose life was destroyed (and I've always liked Helen's breezy personality and was pleased when Lynley finally moved past Deborah and found true love with Helen), but to make Lynley decide whether or not to keep her alive to bring their child to term was horrible. It has left me feeling depressed for the last few days, which makes me angry because I know it's just a book! The Lynley I've enjoyed cannot possibly be the same after this (who could?!), and I'm not sure I want to know the "new" man he'll become. If Elizabeth George wants to remind us that in life bad things often happen to good people, I'd like to tell her, "Yes, we know that already!" We see examples all around us in daily life...but to fictionally force us to experience mindless, meaningless tragedy accomplishes nothing. I was angry when a few years ago author Dana Stabenow killed off one of her main characters in a senseless act, and now here it is again. I honestly don't see how George can continue the series in a way that I'll enjoy after this. Of course, she is the writer and can do whatever she likes. Still, I feel betrayed and don't know if I have the desire to see where she attempts to go after this. If anything at all makes me come back, it will be Barbara Havers! Let's hope she doesn't decide to kill her off next.
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