In the Presence of the Enemy

By: Elizabeth George

Narrated by: Donada Peters

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Barbara Havers must navigate fraught politics and explosive secrets in this “rich [and] addictively readable” mystery in the renowned Inspector Lynley series.

Don’t miss the upcoming BritBox streaming series Lynley!

“Combining the eloquence of P.D. James with a story John Grisham would envy, George serves up a splendid, unsettling novel.”—People

Hailed as the “king of sleaze,” tabloid editor Dennis Luxford is very good at ferreting out the sins and scandals of people in exposed positions. But when he opens an innocuous-looking letter addressed to him, he discovers that someone else excels at it as well. Ten-year-old Charlotte Bowen has been abducted, and if Luxford does not admit publicly to having fathered her, she will die.

But Charlotte’s existence is Luxford’s most fiercely guarded secret, and acknowledging her will throw more than one life in chaos. For Charlotte’s mother, Eve, is one of England’s most high-profile Junior Ministers and quite possibly the next Margaret Thatcher. Eve refuses to let Luxford damage her career by printing the story or calling the police.

As Luxford struggles to find help, another tragedy brings Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Barbara Havers into the case—one whose tentacles reach from London to the countryside—as the investigators navigate a world of corrupt self-interest in which the sins of parents are visited upon children.

Critic reviews

“Combining the eloquence of P.D. James with a story John Grisham would envy, George serves up a splendid, unsettling novel.”— People

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

“Rich . . . and addictively readable . . . elegant and unsettling, classy and caustic . . . [a] page-turner with unusual breadth and generous depth.”—USA Today

“Elizabeth George only gets better . . . another superb British mystery.”—Daily News, New York

“A masterpiece.”—Winston-Salem Journal

“Tough, breathtaking.”—Cosmopolitan

“A dazzler.”—The New Yorker

Best Elizabeth George book yet!

I've been a fan of Elizabeth George books for years and this is among the very best! Never figured out "who done it" until the end, which is unusual with most other mystery, thriller books. Outstanding performance too. A 20 hour book that never got slow, confusing or boring, it was hard not to stop listening as the story kept progressing throughout. Highly recommended!!!

Not to be missed for fans of Lynley & Havers!

A story with plenty of plot twists and challenging personalities. The ending racing at you with heart-pounding intensity.

Elizabeth George at her best

definitely a hit with me. I love the Barbara Havis and Lynley combo. This plot has all the elements of a good murder mystery. Recommend it for a great listen!

Surprise plot twists

Another riveting Elizabeth George book. Suspenseful and thought-provoking. She asks the reader to consider grave matters of ethical conduct and honesty and human relationships. Re-read after many years and just as compelling.

One of the Best

This truly is one of the best in the series so far!!! Good storyline with great characters.