Elizabeth George This Body of Death

The fourteenth novel in the bestselling series that inspired BBC's Lynley DI Thomas Lynley is still on compassionate leave after the murder of his wife. The discovery of a body in a Stoke Newington cemetery offers Isabelle Ardery, his temporary replacement at the Met, the chance to make her mark with a high profile murder investigation. Persuading Lynley back to work seems the best way to guarantee a result: his team is fiercely loyal to him and Isabelle needs them - and especially Barbara Havers - on side. But the Met is twitchy: a series of PR disasters has undermined its confidence. Isabelle knows that she'll be operating under the unforgiving scrutiny of the media, so is quick - perhaps too quick - to pin the murder on a convenient suspect. Meanwhile, the murder trail leads Lynley and Havers to the New Forest. Its roots are in a long-ago act of violence that has poisoned subsequent generations and its outcome is both tragic and shocking. Praise for This Body of Death 'An intelligent book, clipped and precise, every word chosen with care . . . It is good to have [Lynley] back on such brilliant form' Sunday Express 'Terrific as always - and how great to have Lynley back on the force' Time Out 'Hurrah, another Inspector Lynley . . . This is crime writing at its finest. George's books are long, solid and wonderfully crafted; she is a modern Dorothy L Sayers' Saga 'An intricate plot that will satisfy even jaded fans of psychological suspense' Publishers Weekly