I am a long time fan of the Inspector Lynley mystery book series by Elizabeth George. It was only after I had read several of the books that I discovered, much to my amazement, that Elizabeth George is American! She obviously has done extensive research to make both the description of English police procedures and English life in general absolutely accurate.

Inspector Thomas Lynley of New Scotland Yard is a very complex character. He is a real blue-blood, the 7th Earl of Asherton. He has all the perks of privilege--a large estate, a valet, a Bentley. He has a degree from Oxford. And yet, he chose to go into police work, much to the chagrin of his family.

Lynley is a dedicated policeman, who frequently is frustrated by the bureaucracy at the top. HIs superiors recognize his abilities, but he often incurs their wrath by not always following strict protocol.

Lynley's private life is complicated, He has a strained relationship with his mother, who had an affair with the doctor who attended his father when he was dying of cancer. As the books progress, they are able to reach an understanding. He also has a much younger brother, who has a drug problem. The brother blames Lynley for "running off to Oxford" after their father's death, leaving him to cope.

Throughout the series, Lynley is in pursuit of Lady Helen Clyde, a childhood friend with whom he is in love. Their relationship is rocky, to say the least. Like Lynley, Helen is an aristocrat who has chosen to have a career; she is a forensic scientist. She is a very strong-minded, independent woman and ofter feels that Lynley's attitude toward women is rather Neanderthal. Circumstances sometimes intervene also. In Payment in Blood, both Helen and her current lover are suspects in a murder that Lynley is investigating.

They are finally married, and in due time, Helen becomes pregnant. The early stages of the pregnancy are somewhat difficult, as Lynley has a hard time adjusting to having hs beautiful, elegant wife experiencing morning sickness! But that passes, and they are happily expecting the imminent birth of their child, when Helen is murdered--gunned down right in front of their house.

Understandably, Lynley turns in his badge and leaves Scotland Yard. The latest book in the series, Careless in Red, finds him at his family estate, trying to come to terms with his loss. But, inevitably, a crime is committed in the vicinity. Lynley is called in and is unable to say no to taking part in the investigation.

Hopefully, there are many more Inspector Lynley books to come.

Sergeant Barbara Havers

A very prominent character in all the books is Lynley's sergeant, Barbara Havers. Havers is the exact opposite of Lynley. She comes from a strictly working class background and has no university degree. She is also dumpy and plain--and has a giant -sized chip on her shouilder when it comes to the upper classes.

Needless to say, her relationship with Lynley is acrimonious. He represents everything she despises the most--what she sees as the idle, over-pampered, wealthy aristocrats, who think they are better than ordinary mortals. She doesn't hesitate to make her views known to her boss at every opoportunity.

Over the series, we get to know quite a bit about Havers's private life. She starts out living with her parents. Her mother lives mainly in the past, mourning the loss of her son, who died as a small child. Havers's father dies, and as her mother's mental state declines, Havers has to struggle with the decision of what to do about her. Eventually, she has to place her in a retirement home.

Havers sells the family home and moves into a flat. Her neighbors are a Pakistani doctor and his small daughter, a precocious little girl who manages to draw the normally antisocial Havers into a relationship.

Simon Allcourt-St.James

St. James is a forensic investigator, who works with Helen on a regular basis and is frequently called in on Lynley's cases. But he also has a past with Lynley. The two were college friends. One night, when they had both had too much to drink, they were involved in a car accident. Lynley, who was driving, escaped unhurt. St.James was permanently injured; he has to wear a brace on his leg and suffers almost continual pain. Lynley bears the constant guilt of what he did to his friend.

Deborah Allcourt-St. James

Deborah is a free lance photographer. She is married to St. James, but at one time she was engaged to Lynley She and her husband very much want a child, but after four miscarriages, she is told by the doctor that she would seriously endanger her health if she were to try again. She and St. James talk about adoption, but she has a hard time coming to terms with it. Of cousrse, Helen's pregnancy only makes things worse.

Throughout the series, the supporting characters are occasionally allowed to take the lead. Missing Joseph features St. James and Deborah. A Place of Hiding features Deborah alone. And Deception on His Mind features Havers on her own.

 Elizabeth George is one of the best mystery writers today.  Her plots are intricate and fascinating, and her characters are some of the best you will ever find.  Once you pick up an Elizabeth George book, I guarantee you will find it hard to put down.