Believing the Lie

An Inspector Lynley Novel

By: Elizabeth George

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 23 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

After writing 16 Inspector Lynley novels, New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth George has millions of fans waiting for the next one. As USA Today put it, "It's tough to resist George's storytelling, once hooked." With Believing the Lie, she's poised to hook countless more.

Inspector Thomas Lynley is mystified when he's sent undercover to investigate the death of Ian Cresswell at the request of the man's uncle, the wealthy and influential Bernard Fairclough. The death has been ruled an accidental drowning, and nothing on the surface indicates otherwise. But when Lynley enlists the help of his friends Simon and Deborah St. James, the trio's digging soon reveals that the Fairclough clan is awash in secrets, lies, and motives.

Deborah's investigation of the prime suspect - Bernard's prodigal son Nicholas, a recovering drug addict - leads her to Nicholas's wife, a woman with whom she feels a kinship, a woman as fiercely protective as she is beautiful. Lynley and Simon delve for information from the rest of the family, including the victim's bitter ex-wife and the man he left her for, and Bernard himself. As the investigation escalates, the Fairclough family's veneer cracks, with deception and self-delusion threatening to destroy everyone from the Fairclough patriarch to Tim, the troubled son Ian left behind.

Crack another case with Inspector Lynley.

©2012 Elizabeth George (P)2012 Penguin

Critic reviews

"A multiplicity of subplots and a richness of physical detail.... The terrain and the weather are objective correlatives to the characters' stormy patches. Meanwhile, the story strands are untied and retied in satisfying and often moving ways." (The Wall Street Journal)

"Elizabeth George is a superstar of the crime-fiction world, British Inspector Division. Deservedly so: Her tales always provide nuanced character studies and insights into social issues along with their intricate mysteries." (The Seattle Times)

"Devilishly complicated." (Entertainment Weekly)

Classic Elizabeth George (which is a good thing)

I love mysteries and Elizabeth George has been one of my favorite authors for over 20 years. But this is the first audiobook of hers I have tried. Even though it is one of the few stories I partially figured out, I still really enjoyed it. Lots of twists and turns plus good narration made it a great listen.

George is a consistently excellent storyteller

If you could sum up Believing the Lie in three words, what would they be?

riveting, well written, addictive

What did you like best about this story?

I love the way Elizabeth George consistently weaves a story together with no lack of continuity and with over the top intrigue! This story had my full attention from beginning to end. Her prose is delicious and her character development is unmatched. I'm sad that I discovered her so late in my life but very glad I finally did find her.

Have you listened to any of Davina Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, this is the first one but I do think she's very good.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Deadly family secrets revealed

Not as good as usual but worth the credit for fans

I have been a longtime Elizabeth George fan and have read every one of her books. They can sometimes be tough to get through, so I wondered at Davina Porter's narration, but her performance was wonderful. George's characters, always so layered and unique, shine through in this audiobook...but the story! A barely-there excuse for the ever-crush worthy and luscious Lynley to waste his multitude of talents. Is there a crime? Isn't there a crime? (And at some point: Who cares if there's a crime?) I have to admit, I felt a little insulted. It just isn't a very smart plot. Also if you hated Deborah St. James before (really...couldn't George have killed HER off instead of Helen?) you will find her especially grating in this book.
But, here's the rub, if you are a Lynley fan you are probably going to get this book. I keep giving George just one more chance based on the genius of her earlier books in this series. Her characters really feel like old friends and her descriptions of London and small town England are always spot on. I feel comfortable with her novels. But maybe that's the problem. Her books have become cozy. They used to be intense and intelligent. They challenged me. I used to say I loved reading Elizabeth George because I always felt she was smarter than me. But sadly with this book I am brought one step closer to walking away from her future books and just revert to re-reading her older ones. In fact, if you have never read Elizabeth George, please don't start with this book! Come on, Elizabeth George, it's time to knock another one out of the park in the Lynley mystery series.

Results Not Typical

If "typical" is the Elizabeth George of the early 2000's, then this is yet another digression, or actually a series of digressions packaged into a novel. After dropping Elizabeth George while trying to wade through one of the several books that came between "A Traitor to Memory" and the present day, I was eager to try her again. However, I was again disappointed with the byzantine story arcs, the wealth of unnecessary detail, and the protracted scene development. I also had to ask, when in the middle of a particularly overdone scene, how important is this to the main story? And is there a "main" story? This novel seems to have the curious paradox of elaborate backstories on the one hand, combined with not enough detail on the other.

I would not recommend this - simply because the reader receives not nearly enough benefit compared to the effort involved. Technically, George is masterful, and manages abundant detail and descriptive passages with grace and expertise. However, she leads the reader into one disenchanted forest after another, which cannot be seen for the trees.

Davina Porter's narration is excellent, as usual. Her characterizations are relatable, precise, and the reader always knows who is speaking. But she's not enough to give this book the boost it needs to stay on track.

Great stuff; I just don't get the negative reviews

Any additional comments?

It was just what I would expect from Elizabeth George - delectable. Wonderful, complex characters you've come to know and love. Intriguing multiple storylines. (Audible, PLEASE offer more of this author's UNABRIDGED past works.) And Davina Porter's narration, as always, is perfect.

brilliant

What made the experience of listening to Believing the Lie the most enjoyable?

this book reads like her early novels ... intriguing, balanced, holds your interest, plethora of characters ... holds your interest throughout

Don't believe the bad reviews. It's really good.

I have been a fan of this series from the beginning. I was apprehensive about using my credit on this one after reading several bad reviews. After taking a chance and purchasing it anyway, I can say it was consistent w what fans expect from Elizabeth George and the characters in this series. I enjoyed this book very much. The narrator is excellent. The story had depth, and as is always the case with George's writing it was intelligent and well written. I am so skeptical of audible reviews lately. I listened to a 5 star rated thriller that was horrific (Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter) and poorly written. It's as if audiences want the goriest details without any literary basis. Elizabeth George is an amazing writer and this book definitely highlights that.

Not as Satisfying as Other Lynley Novels

Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers are two of the best drawn and most admirable characters in mystery literature, in my opinion. Elizabeth George did justice to Havers in this somewhat dull story, but I am disappointed in the way she has developed Lynley's character after his tragic loss (wife died in previous book).

I don't want to spoil the plot, but Lynley began as association with someone who is heinous and unsympathetic. It seemed so out of character that I was stunned. I am prepared to believe that we sometimes act differently when tragedy has knocked us flat, but ... UGH.

The story was just not that interesting.

The narrator did wonderful accents, but her "silly me" girlish voices for at least two of the women in the story were downright insulting.

Fine performance/so so story

Convoluted unnecessarily and often confusing, and sometimes boring story. Good voice makes it worthwhile when nothing else is available.

MOST ANNOYING CHARACTER SINCE DORA COPPERFIELD

Ms George is an excellent writer and usually I am enthralled by her books, but the overwhelming and annoying presence of Deborah St James ruined this book for me.
Her personal obsession with becoming pregnant was allowed to become part of and, in fact, influenced the case.
Worse, in my opinion, the author allowed the character to escape full responsibility for the chaos and death she caused. The characters that surround her, usually intelligent and compassionate, made excuses for her selfishness and stupidity and never allowed her to face the depth of damage done by her interference.
It is possible that Ms. Porter is responsible for some of this impression as Deborah St. James's voice is relentlessly self-pitying and coyly theatrical.
Oh, how I wish Mrs. St. James had been visiting and opened the door on the day of Lady
Helen's unfortunate demise.