For fans of Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers, Elizabeth George’s 18th novel in her series is a must read. Having tied up many of the loose ends in her last four books dealing with the murder of Lynley’s wife, George is free to involve Lynley and Havers is a new series of murders.
There are, of course, important details that have been explored in previous novels that once again reappear in “A Banquet of Consequences.” Most importantly are Thomas Lynley’s romantic involvement with a woman he met after the death of his wife and Barbara Havers trying to get back into the semi-good graces of her boss after she disobeyed orders in order to help her ex-neighbor and his daughter.
Elizabeth George has carefully crafted a plot in her newest novel that involves the lives and loves of several characters. There is a dark, sinister overtone to these relationships that is slowly revealed. A well-known feminist writer, Clare Abbott, dies of what appears to be natural causes. After the persistent pleas by her editor, it is revealed that she has been poisoned. As the novel progresses, all clues seemed to point to Abbott’s assistant Caroline Goldacre as the murderer. As Havers pours through reams of evidence, she puts together what she believes is a fool-proof case.
The ending of “A Banquet of Consequences” may not satisfy all readers. But novelist George has carefully woven important clues throughout the story. The key clue, however, is not reveled until the very last pages which makes this a definite page turner.