With No One as Witness (Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers Novels) | 
| Author: Elizabeth George
Publisher: Harper
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  44 reviews
Sales Rank: 4325
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 784
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.9
ISBN: 0060545615
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780060545611
ASIN: 0060545615
Publication Date: March 1, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: worn cover
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Product Description
The police never suspected a serial killer was at large until they found the fourth murdered boy -- the first white victim -- his body draped over a tomb in a London graveyard. Suddenly a series of crimes and a potential public relations disaster have Scotland Yard on the defensive, scrambling to apprehend a maniac while avoiding accusations of racism. Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley, distracted by concerns for his pregnant wife, has been assigned to the investigation, along with his disgraced partner, Barbara Havers, who's fighting for her professional future. Winston Nkata -- deservedly, if hastily, promoted to detective sergeant -- is the black face who will speak to the media. But none of them can imagine the tenacity and ingenuity of the killer they seek . . . and no one is prepared for the savage, shocking instant when everything will change forever.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 39 more reviews...
 Very Disappointed February 24, 2008
It took me two years to finish this book. I adore Elizabeth George and always eagerly await her next novel. But, this book was so boring that I kept putting it down and picking it up and putting it down and picking it up. Very unusual for me to do. I have to confess that I read the "What Came Before He Killed Her" before I finished this novel. That book was far more palatable, but, overlong as is this book. By the time I finished both books I really didn't care "who did it." I must admit that I felt very sad at what happened. I will not give it away in case anyone reading this posting has not read either book.
 Hey! These characters are not real people February 18, 2008
Some of this book's negative reviews, even outraged ones, have fascinated me. I too have read all of George's police procedurals. I favor British works in this genre and must remind myself that George is American. Regardless of a book's length, I am usually sad when it ends. For me it is like saying "so long" to a good friend who has stopped by for a visit and I don't know when she will be back.
I just learned that Elizabeth George returns later this Spring. I called my daughter who is 17, away at school, and also an avid George fan. My daughter will certainly welcome her back.
My five stars is not only for George. It is for this particular book, a weighty and complex novel that just happens to be a mystery but crosses into the designated genre of literature.
Finally, a reminder: George is not dead, only one of her characters.
Was not long enough for me! January 20, 2008
I discovered Elizabeth George's Lynley / Havers series years ago in an English bookstore in the south of France during a long vacation. I gathered up every book she had published to date and inhaled them. Since then, I've read each of the series as they've been published. "With No One As Witness" is one of her very best -- shocking, gripping, and not long enough for me.
a "weeper" October 30, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Like tragedies and to be depressed? Then this book and this author are for you. The pleasure of the intricate mystery puzzle cannot compensate, in my opinion, for the tragic ending (the main character loses his beloved new family). So a caution, if you like the "good guys" to win and the "bad guys" to lose, DON'T read this author. This was my first E. George novel and it's also my last. Given the storyline descriptions of previous novels, this book is probably characteristic of the series so George is off my list -- so many authors, so little time!
"He was in need of redemption" October 3, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After a disappointing A Place of Hiding, Elizabeth George goes back to the basics, bringing back Havers and taking the series to the next level. George has always distinguished her novels by creating a product that is distinctly different from the typical police procedural. The differentiating factor is that she spends a considerable amount of time telling us about the personal lives of the characters. As a result, you will get much more enjoyment from reading this series in order, so if you are new to George's work, I recommend that you go back to the beginning: A Great Deliverance. For those that have been following this series, fasten your seat belts, because not only are you going to get a story with a devious serial killer that is hard to catch, but also on where there will be some important developments in the lives of the main characters.
Four boys have been murdered, but it was not until recently that the police and the Scotland Yard realized that there is a serial killer out there. The situation can be best described as a public relations nightmare, since only the last victim is white, and there are likely to be some accusations about this, probably justified. The good news is that all of our beloved characters make an appearance in this novel, Lynley, Havers, St. James, Nkata and even Havers' neighbors and Nkata's object of desire.
I liked the way in which George provides the story with several layers, transforming it in a mesmerizing read. For example, the pressure by the press on the Scotland Yard generates serious problems between Superintendent Lynley and his superior. There is also the issue of the previous demotion of Havers and now the promotion of one of her friends, trying to assuage the fire of public opinion. The relationship between Havers and Azhar, Nkata and his romantic pursue of Yasmine, and Lynley and Helen's soon-to-be-born son are other important storylines.
The writing is superb, and that is the only reason why George can write a 700+ page novel without us losing interest at any point. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the omniscient narrator that allowed us a look into the killer's mind, allowing for a better understanding of his motives. Finally, there is the big surprise towards the end, which some people may not like, but I think that sometimes it is necessary to shake things up a little. Ultimately, this is one of the best books in the series, and I am already looking forward to what comes next.
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