A Great Deliverance (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: Elizabeth George, Lady Helen, Father Hart (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her debut novel, George too often plays to the gallery with characterizations broad enough to border on caricature. The legendharking back to violent events in Cromwell's timethat surrounds local Keldale Abbey pales in comparison to a modern-day crime committed in this quiet corner of Yorkshire, England: Roberta Teys, a silent, obese adolescent, is accused of killing her church-going father with an axe. The detectives sent by Scotland Yard to investigate are a mismatched pair. Inspector Thomas Lynley is smooth, attractive and utterly upper-class; "stubby, sturdy" detective-sergeant Barbara Havers, conscious of her plain appearance and lower-class origins, considers Lynley a "sodding little fop." Thrown together, they weigh the general conviction in the villagethat Roberta could not possibly have wielded the bloody axeagainst mounting evidence that damns the now catatonic girl. In sifting slowly through the ashes of the past, the detectives find enough horrific skeletons in every closet to lead them to a climax unexpectedly loaded with fire and fury. While Lynley seems rather bland despite emotion roiling beneath the surface, it is Havers' painful secrets and driving rage that encourage one to overlook decidedly uneven passages in this essentially intriguing psychological thriller. 35,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Spellbinding...a truly fascinating story that is part psychological suspense and part detective story."
--Chicago Sun-Times

"Pure entertainment from its insidious beginning to its gripping end."
--The Washington Post Book World

"Exceptionally assured and impressive...highly entertaining."
--Newsweek

"Awesome...immediately thrusts the author into P.D. James' dark orbit."
--Kirkus Reviews -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (May 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553278029
• ISBN-13: 978-0553278026
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #136,523 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 1 in The Thomas Lynley/Barbara Havers Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A worthy start to a great mystery series, July 3, 1999

By A Customer

I've read several of the Lynley/Havers mysteries already, and have loved every one of them. But I've never read this, the first book in the series. Now I have, and I only wish I'd read this one before all the others. I'd never known how Lynley & Havers got together in the first place, or of the details of Lynley's friendship with St. James and his wife, along with Lady Helen. Now that I'm aware, I'll probably go back and re-read those books in the series that I've already read to get a new perspective on the characters.

Now, as to the plot - all I can say is, "wow". The same for the writing. Most British mysteries seem to me to be basically the same - a body is found in a small, quaint English village, or sometimes in a city such as London, and the sleuth - whether it's a local constable, a Scotland Yard person, or someone like the redoubtable Miss Marple - comes in and solves the crime. Along the way, we learn a little bit about the eccentricities of the local population. The basic story is much the same here - but Ms. George fleshes the characters out, and makes them appear three-dimensional - and gives us incredible, breath-taking descriptions of the local scenery. Not only that, but her eventual resolution of the story - the reason for the crime, and its effect on both the main and secondary characters - is so intensely real that I wanted this book to continue on after its ending. With Lynley & Havers, that will be possible by reading the other books in the series, but for the other characters, that probably won't be. And I'd like to have seen what happened to them a few weeks or months (or even years) down the road. I found myself hoping that things would work out for all of them. I'm hoping Ms. George will refer back to them in her future novels - even if it's only a few lines; I'd like to know how they're doing.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this--you won't stop, October 9, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Portland, Maine) - See all my reviews

I wanted to start with George's first book and I am glad I did. I can see how the characters will continue their relationships in the next books. The author's writing is easy to follow with the full nuances of England and Scotland Yard. Excellent writing that makes me want to continue through the entire series. I HIGHLY recommend it. Peter Robinson fans-go for it!!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Essential Reading for Lynley and Havers Fans, May 3, 2005

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

"Who knows what darkness lies in the hearts of men? Only the Shadow knows." That opening from the old radio show came to mind as I reread this book about the almost unspeakable evils that people do to one another.

First published in 1988, A Great Deliverance is the first book in the distinguished series featuring Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, the English detective duo who have delighted so many readers since then. I first read this book many years ago and was impressed at the time by the careful character development. Little did I know that that character development would make the subsequent series such a remarkable delight. Rereading the book now, I must say that I don't remember a first book in a detective series that did nearly so much to establish the backgrounds, thought processes, influences and loves of the lead characters. I'm much more impressed than the first time.

As the story opens, Father Hart is on a pilgrimage to Scotland Yard to help heal a rift among those who have been investigating the beheading of a local farmer. While most detectives would feel that finding the farmer's daughter, Roberta Teys, next to the body as she confesses that she's guilty would be enough evidence, Father Hart believes that Roberta is innocent. Thus, Scotland Yard enters the case. Havers is dispatched to haul Lynley back from a wedding he's attending, and the reader is soon enmeshed in "what might have been" thoughts concerning the lives of both Lynley and Havers.

Lynley is the golden boy, the eighth earl of Asherton, who doesn't even need to work . . . but who sees work as his obligation. Havers is a loose cannon of emotions, instincts and prejudice . . . but who's brilliantly and doggedly determined to find the answers to any crime. How they develop comfort with one another is quite intriguing in the book.

The mystery itself is pretty straightforward, so don't look for that aspect of the book to delight you with its charm. If you judge mysteries by how hard the mystery is to solve, this one will be a 2 or 3 star effort to you.

But if you love rich, complex characters with nuanced reactions in tricky situations, this book will delight you.

Literature fans will appreciate the references that are included in sorting out the mystery.

Those who require absolute accuracy in all aspects of what's English will detect false notes here and there. Still, the overall result is quite impressive coming from an American. And most American readers won't be able to tell the difference anyway.

If the mystery had been better designed, this could have been one of the great mystery stories of all time. Do read on. There are many other fine books in this series. The rich character development in this book will add much delight to your reading in the subsequent ones.