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)

Another great story!

I don’t know where Elizabeth George gets her ideas, but the twists and turns in this book, and the ongoing interpersonal relationship issues among the various characters make this another in a long line of excellent books she’s written for this series. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.

Huge disappointment!

Any additional comments?

There was no actual murder that took place in this story, the book just went on and on and on, and it was o atypical of Elizabeth George. The only good thing about the story was the narrator. It really was a waste of 23 hours, but I hung in there thinking it would get better because it was by Elizabeth George. Anyway, lesson learned.

The worst of the Lynley series

Deborah St. James is so unbelievably annoying that I wish someone would shoot her. And I am appalled that George lets her off the hook for what she does here.

The narration is not for me

The Narrator was far to busy. She was jumping from one over-dramatic voice to another. It was terribly distracting. I could read this but her narration was not for me. I hope that I can return the book.

A MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT FROM A GREAT AUTHOR

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

It is just too long and too confusing. Elizabeth George is one of my favorite authors but this book feels like a mish-mash of short stories written by rookie writer wannabes compiled into a 23 hour painful mess!

Has Believing the Lie turned you off from other books in this genre?

I've read or listened to many of George's prior books in the Inspector Lynley series and loved them, except for #16 "This Body of Death". It wasn't as good as its predecessors but it was no where as bad as THIS one!!!!

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

Davina Porter is the reason that I decided to give George another chance. But she has nothing to work with here. Porter is great with different characters, sexes, dialects and accents. However, there are so many characters in this book - most of them forgettable - that Ms. Porter didn't stand a chance of delivering her usual masterful performances. By hour 10, everyone begins to sound alike.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT! Followed by acute narcolepsy! I turned on this book last night, without utilizing the sleep timer. I immediately fell into a deep sleep and slept for 10 hours straight until my phone battery went dead. I suffer from chronic insomnia and normally take a sedative to get 3-4 hours of sleep. But, thanks to this awful book, I may be able to flush my meds down the toilet!

Any additional comments?

After missing out on 10 hours of this book while sleeping, when I went back to the book, I felt as if I hadn't missed a thing! I was already confused over the multiple weak story lines and a kazillion uninteresting characters BEFORE sleeping through almost half of this book. The main character, Inspector Lynley, gets totally lost in this offering. It is just too long! I don't think Elizabeth George could stand listening to this hot mess.

I normally buy my audiobooks based on the reviews of Audible members. Unfortunately, I failed to read the reviews here. I bought this book because I'd just finished a great 4 book series narrated by Davina Porter, along with the author's reputation. I should have read and heeded the reviews. .

Least favorite book by this author

Lynley and Havers seem minor characters in this story. The story itself is disjointed .The characters and subjects are just weird and dark. I have enjoyed her other books .Wish I’d skipped this.

Did not like this book.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Narrator read too fast with her accent. I never could understand some of what she read. I had to listen to parts over and over to try to follow storyline. Took over six months of trying to listen to it.

Would you ever listen to anything by Elizabeth George again?

Not with this narrator

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No

Any additional comments?

No

Wish I had believed

What disappointed you about Believing the Lie?

This was not even close to the work I have come to expect from Elizabeth George. First, it's a crime novel with no crime committed. The author has focused throughout solely on the personal dramas at work in the lives of the investigators, Lynley and Havers. The most foolish and immature of characters, Lynely's friend, whose name I have utterly blocked from my mind, has hijacked the story with her own personal agenda, contrary to any realistic legal limits on privacy. What the author was thinking I do not know. I wish I had believed the bad reviews I read prior to wasting a credit on it.

Has Believing the Lie turned you off from other books in this genre?

Other books in this series, certainly

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

She is always good.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Yes.

Not her best

This whole book was very odd. I didn't care for her portrayl of Debra at all. The main and subplots were just off.

Strung Out

So many threads. Overwhelmed by so many story lines. New characters introduced chapter after chapter. I like the author and I wanted to enjoy the book, but finally lost the ambition to keep going around 10 hours. Fatigue had set in. This one is a real miss by Elizabeth George.