A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George ****

A Great Deliverance is the first of 21 books in the Inspector Lynley (and DS Havers) series. The book opens with the discovery of William Teys decapitated in his barn. Beneath him, is his dog, Whiskers, also dead. Sitting beside Teys is his daughter Roberta, who immediately confesses to the murder. The New Scotland Yard sends Inspector Thomas Lynley, Eighth Earl of Asherton, and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers to the village of Keldale in Yorkshire to investigate. They soon discover that Roberta’s mother, Tessa, and her older sister, Gillian, are missing, along with the mystery of a dead infant found by the ruins of Keldale Abbey. Elizabeth George writes an intricately constructed mystery.

Inspector Lynley Mysteries were aired on BBC One from 2001 to 2008. Twenty-four episodes total. If this book is representative, the TV shows censored the book. Incidents of incest and child abuse were watered down in the TV version. The priest’s complicity is also watered down. Other small changes include putting Lynley in a more modest car than the Bentley he drives in the book.

While the books and TV shows are named for Inspector Lynley, he and DS Barbara Havers are partners throughout the series.

The author includes many characters, but one of her strengths is creating fascinating characters.

A bit too much evil for me.

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