If you have a hunk of time and are a fan of Detective Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Havers then I recommend Elizabeth George’s newest “Just One Evil Act.” Be warned, however, because this tome is 719 pages. If George was paid by the page, she made a bundle on this book.
Unlike most of the other books in this series, the focus in not on Lynley. Poor Thomas has suffered so much in the last few books that I guess George let him off easy this time around. Barbara Havers, her neighbor and his daughter are the main characters. The setting is also different. Half of the action takes place in Lucca, Italy; the other half in London.
The plot deals with the kidnapping of Taymullah Azhar’s daughter, Hadiyyah. Azhar is Barbara’s neighbor and friend. His nine-year-old daughter and Barbara have formed a very close relationship. Barbara does everything she can, legally and illegally, to find Hadiyyah and get her back to her father. Early on we find out that Hadiyyah has been kidnapped by her mother, Angelina Upman, and her newest boyfriend. This is where the plot thickens. A second kidnapping, a nun who isn’t a nun, the murder of Upman, a sleazy tabloid journalist, three corrupt investigators, and intrigue within the Met move the plot along.
George usually writes long books, but this time around her editor should have used her red pen more freely. Too many scene changes and two many details bog the book down in the middle. I kept thinking that what was driving the plot was how to create developments that would lead to the next book, and there will be a next one because two important subplots need to be addressed. I’m sure Elizabeth George is already working on the next case for Havers and Lynley and how their personal lives will change.