A Great Deliverance

By: Elizabeth George

Narrated by: Donada Peters

The investigation of a vicious murder exposes a quiet community’s sinister web of secrets—the “spellbinding” (Chicago Sun-Times) first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Inspector Lynley series

Don’t miss the upcoming BritBox streaming series Lynley!

“Pure entertainment from its insidious beginning to its gripping end.”—The Washington Post Book World

To this day, the low, thin wail of an infant can be heard in Keldale’s lush green valleys. Three hundred years ago, as legend goes, the frightened Yorkshire villagers smothered a crying babe in Keldale Abbey, where they’d hidden to escape the ravages of Cromwell’s raiders.

Now into Keldale’s pastoral web of old houses and older secrets comes Scotland Yard Inspector Thomas Lynley, the eighth earl of Asherton. Along with the redoubtable Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, Lynley has been sent to solve a savage murder that has stunned the peaceful countryside. For fat, unlovely Roberta Teys has been found in her best dress, an axe in her lap, seated in the old stone barn beside her father’s headless corpse. Her first and last words were “I did it. And I’m not sorry.”

Yet as Lynley and Havers wind their way through Keldale’s dark labyrinth of secret scandals and appalling crimes, they uncover a shattering series of revelations that will reverberate through this tranquil English valley—and in their own lives as well.

Critic reviews

“Elizabeth George reigns as a queen of the mystery genre. The Lynley books constitute the smartest, most gratifyingly complex and impassioned mystery series now being published.”—Entertainment Weekly

“Spellbinding . . . a truly fascinating story that is part psychological suspense and part detective story.”— Chicago Sun-Times

“Pure entertainment from its insidious beginning to its gripping end.”—The Washington Post Book World

“Exceptionally assured and impressive . . . highly entertaining.”—Newsweek

“Awesome . . . immediately thrusts the author into P.D. James’ dark orbit.”—Kirkus Reviews

I'm very good start to the Lynley series.

I'd seen the episode on TV many years ago. So decided to go back and read the series. It's a very good start but I must say the story is a little dated. I'm sure in the late eighties it was more shocking than it is now. For fans of the series the 1st novel is a must read but it might not be the best. And that's not a bad thing since there's more to look forward to.

Pretty good mystery

I enjoyed the lead up to the mystery part of the book and although you suspect "who done it" the development of why was good. I would have rated it better if there would have been a better balance for people of faith,

Great Book to start series

I loved this book! It's very meaty, at times intense, very suspenseful. The narrator did a great job. I was thoroughly engaged through the whole book. It's definitely not a cozy, but I would sincerely recommend to mystery lovers. I can't wait to get to book 2.

Shock Value

When writing a debut detective offering back in the 90s, it seemed to be a must for the author to land on a shocking or controversial topic for the plot. Perhaps there was more of an appetite for, or at least tolerance of, graphic crime novels . People reading this book today would do well to keep this in mind, and Audible would do its readers a kind service to alert potential buyers to the sensitive material covered graphically.

That said, I think this is a book worth reading and well-written. The later books in the series are less graphic, because, well, the publishers had their audience in tow, didn't they. EG could carry on with less shock value. The characters do change and mature with the times as the books progress. I love the series and even the BBC program that was developed from it in the 2000s. Those in the US with BritBox can view it today.

Brilliant!

The characters are as real and fully drawn as people you might know. The story, the mystery, is quite complex. A dazzling combination. Much deeper than your usual police procedural. Heartily recommend.