Deception on His Mind by Elizabeth George Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Deception on His Mind
Book Review: Havers at Center Stage
Summary: 5 Stars
Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers is the principal character in this, the ninth of the Detective Lynley mystery novels. (Detective Lynley is away on his honeymoon.) A Pakistani immigrant is murdered in a seaside town where racial tension is already high, and one of the self-appointed leaders of the immigrant community tries to exploit the situation to his own advantage. Barbara's neighbor Taymullah Azhar, who has had some experience in mediating disputes of this kind, is called in to help the Pakistanis. Havers, on enforced leave because of the injuries she sustained in the previous installment (In the Presence of the Enemy), is concerned that he will endanger himself and his daughter Haddiyah, and manages to get herself assigned to the investigation. There is, of course, much more afoot than the murder that launches the story, and Havers soon finds herself at odds with both Azhar and her superior officer, one Emily Barlow, as she tries to find out what is really going on. Barlow is a domineering, take-no-prisoners personality type who is not disposed to tolerate either Havers' independent thinking or her insubordinate style. Their disagreements about the conduct of the investigation soon escalate, and as they close in on a suspect, Havers must make a terrible choice.
There are several things to recommend this novel besides the well-drawn plot: the author's portrayal of anti-immigrant feeling in the small town; the painful conflicts experienced by a young woman who has grown up in England in a traditional Pakistani family; and, most of all, the fuller picture of Barbara Havers.
Book Review: Havers should butt out or in -- that is the question.
Summary: 3 Stars
Elizabeth George is the first mystery author that I read who tried to handle the Pakistani population problem in Great Britain. Since that time I've read several and always come to the conclusion that is any vehicle without to lay blame on the white racial colonial system that existed before we were born.
Barbara Havers finds an idol whose investigation of a murder is tinged with racial overtones. She is shocked and hurt to discover the woman detective has feet of clay, but it becomes funny when one remembers earlier volumes where Havers damn every man who walked.
Georges' main characters are strong and vivid, but her grasp of social commentary is shallow.
The earlier books in the series are much better mysteries.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS.
Book Review: Her usual high standards in a tricky ethnic subject area
Summary: 5 Stars
I am an avid fan of Elizabeth George having read all her prior books but I felt some trepidation when I realized she was tackling the Pakistani immigrant world. Having lived with one step in the Islamic world for years, I've grown used to stereotypical fictional treatment of this culture and religion. But George really did a believable job. My only nit was that the opportunity for the crime was a bit of a stretch. Looking forward to more of Barbara and the return of Lynley from his honeymoon (at long last).Book Review: I knew we had problems...but obviously so do the British!
Summary: 4 Stars
First off, I didn't know Elizabeth George was an American writing about the English. Previous exposure to authors writing about other nations makes me a little bit nervous. I sure hope she knows what she is talking about. From her background material it looks like she talks to the right people to get information. In this case, the information needed to be about racial problems in Britain. As Americans, we often think that we are the only ones with the big problems between the races and with civil rights...but unfortunately this is a problem throughout the world. Prejudice is obviously something that all nations have to deal with. The only thing that changes is who is being discriminated against and why.George writes very complex stories. Her characters are never simple, the plot is never straightforward. I don't think I have ever picked up one of her books and known before her ending who the actual 'culprit' was, and I am always wrong about what the true situation is.
This time her female protagonist, who for a change is more like us normal people (rather than the athletic women we see in American mysteries/PIs) is dealing with the aftermath of a brutal attack and her being 'put out to pasture.' She becomes involved in a neighbor's problem because of her concern for a child, and this problem involves what appears to be a racially-motivated killing of a Pakistanian man in another town. Barbara just happens to know the investigator in charge in this case, and respects her from a previous encounter. Wishing to be of help to all concerned, she involves herself into a situation without fully disclosing her previous knowledge of her neighbor or her own concernes and biases.
Like many of us in the real world, Barbara relunctantly comes to understand that her former mentor (another woman) may be a good cop, but she also has feet of clay. The investigation revolves around race, not just because it looks like a race-based crime, but because the primary investigator has racial prejudices herself and brings those prejudices to her work. This happens all too often in the real world, in all fields of work.
George is an excellent writer. My only complaint is again, the language used tends to be more colorful then I would like it. I know I am deaf, but surely people do not speak like that constantly. I am being naive, I guess...but maybe we need to put ratings on books to indicate language, violence, and sex for those who prefer not to be exposed to this stuff all the time? Just a suggestion!
Karen Sadler,
University of Pittsburgh
Book Review: Improbable solution, unanswered questions
Summary: 2 Stars
Readers should not judge Elizabeth George by this book. It is far and away the least satisfying of all her work. Every, and I do mean EVERY, character introduced is a suspect, and when we learn the real murderer, we are astonished. How on earth could she/he have learned the habits of the victim enough to do the man in? Absolutely unbelievable! And equally unsatisfying is her decision to leave hanging the predicaments the other characters are in. What did Sahlah decide? What did Theo decide? What did Emily decide about reporting Barbara? What did Barbara decide about reporting Emily? Did Mohannad get caught? With more than 600 pages invested in developing the story, couldn't the author have given us at least one paragraph helping to resolve Sahlah's predicament, for example? Nonetheless, I strongly recommend Elizabeth George's other books. Don't judge a book by its cover, or Elizabeth George by Deception On His Mind. (And PS: where does that title come from, and what does it have to do with the plot?)