Careless in Red

By: Elizabeth George

Narrated by: Charles Keating

Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

In her most eagerly anticipated novel yet, Elizabeth George brings back Scotland Yard's Thomas Lynley to investigate a ruthless crime.

After the senseless murder of his wife, Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley retreated to Cornwall, where he has spent six solitary weeks hiking the bleak and rugged coastline. But no matter how far he walks, no matter how exhausting his days, the painful memories of Helen's death do not diminish.

On the 43rd day of his walk, at the base of a cliff, Lynley discovers the body of a young man who appears to have fallen to his death. The closest town, better known for its tourists and its surfing than its intrigue, seems an unlikely place for murder. However, it soon becomes apparent that a clever killer is indeed at work, and this time Lynley is not a detective but a witness and possibly a suspect.

The head of the vastly understaffed local police department needs Lynley's help, though, especially when it comes to the mysterious, secretive woman whose cottage lies not far from where the body was discovered. But can Lynley let go of the past long enough to solve a most devious and carefully planned crime?

Investigate another case with Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley.

©2008 Susan Elizabeth George (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

Not my favorite E George book

It seemed like this book was all about characters and relationships that I had little interest in. It seemed to go on too long too, but then that's how it is when you're not involved with a book. This just wasn't my favorite Elizabeth George book. But unlike some writers I could name, she doesn't write the same book over and over, so I'm on to the next one.

Interesting Read

Really enjoy Elizabeth George's work but this last book left me bewildered. The story line is complex which the author usually manages to plot well but this time it just didn't quite jive. It rambled in some parts. The characters were hard to follow and the necessity of the murder didn't make any sense.

At the beginning of the book she piques your interest when the body is found but as it goes on you couldn't quite follow the plot..it was too shallow. Of course, I wanted to know what happened to Inspector Lynley after the murder of his pregnant wife in George's last book. How was he coping with his wife's and unborn son's death and she depicts him very well in his grief. He is such a defined character in all her novels. It was disappointing but will read her next one when she publishes it She writes very well.

Elizabeth George is Back...Whoo Hoo!

After EG's last excursion into fringe Lynley-land with "What Came Before He Shot Her" I am SO happy to have George, and Thomas Lynley back again. Alhough Lynley is also still recovering, as this erstwhile reader is, from "What Came Before" he is back again!

This is an exquisite little book about birth and all that ones birth and place in family and universe entails, as Lynley traipses through England on a soul-scourging, post trauma walk, he ends up in the middle of the Book's requisite murder mystery. But the web of characters, including Lynley and yes, Havers, includes several beautifully rendered portraits of people who are struggling with what they were born to be, who there parents were or were not, what their psychic inheritance is, what their birth really means, what their place in the universe really is. And the beautiful thing about this unveiling of character is that it is NOT, as was the case with "What came before..." heavy-handed or pedantic. George is, rather, at her exquisite best in sculpting what is not simply a murder mystery, but is much more resonantly a mystery of birth, birthright and birthwrong.

Not My Favorite

I was surprised that this story seemed a little disjointed to me. The last fourth of the book was good. But, characters popped up and I wasn't sure how they got there.

Need help with characters' names

I've just started listening to this book and like all of Elizabeth George's books, it's great. BUT I'm having trouble nailing down the wonderful set of characters who populate the book's universe. It's pretty easy when you're reading, and can see the names in print, and page back and forth to figure out who's who, but listening to a reading is much harder, particularly since the story takes place in Cornwall so the names are slightly unusual to my American ear. I've looked all over the web for help, or for a way to contact the author, but can find nothing. Can anyone help?

Super Read

Both my wife and I enjoyed this book very much and argued about who got the Ipod next! It cooks right along with a plot full of twists and turns leaving you wanting to listen to just one more chapter. Excelent reader and well crafted plot. Good character development and lots of human lesons. Dont worry about the many characters and their relationships, just read on and all will become clear. Thanks to EG and the reader!

Glad to finally read this one.

What did you like best about Careless in Red? What did you like least?

George conveys Linley's moods and feelings extremely well. We can really feel how devastated he is over the loss of Helen and the baby.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Learning about the level of interest in surfing in this area of England

Which scene was your favorite?

Haven't completed the book yet, I'm not sure.

Could you see Careless in Red being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I would like to see the PBS series continued.

One of her best.

Exquisite is a great descriptor for this audiobook. Full of real characters with real secrets that are peeled away as an onion loses it's skin. I loved the reader, the accents were wonderful. Highly recommended. I wanted my drive to and from work to be longer so that I could hear more each time.

Just ok...

This book was...ok...typical plot, with a typical ending.

ABRIDGED!!! UGH!!!!!!!

I'm another one who wished I noticed this was an abridged production. I read when it first came out and thought it would be a treat to hear Charles Keating read it, and although he's quite good, I'm disgusted that it's ABRIDGED!!!