Something to Hide – Inspector Lynley Book 21
by
Elizabeth George (published 11 January 2022)
(Read on Kindle)
****
A black female police detective, Teo Bontempi, is found unconscious in her home. She is taken to hospital but her life cannot be saved. The autopsy reveals that she had been given a blow to the head, and a murder investigation is started. She had been working on a special task force to do with FGM – female genital mutilation (female circumcision). Acting Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley is assigned to the case, together with Detective Sergeants Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata.
Parallel to the murder case, we're introduced to a Nigerian family, husband and wife (Monifa) with two children, a teenage boy (Tani) and a younger daughter (Simisola). The father wants to keep the old traditions from his native country, and against his son's wishes, he is making arrangements for him to marry a young girl in Nigeria. He also starts making similar arrangements for his own daughter, even though Simi is still just a child. Those arrangements include FGM – female genital mutilation (female circumcision). Husband and wife have some different opinions about this ritual though. Monifa can't really see a way to stop her husband's plans – but she has her own ideas about how deal with it. At the same time, Tani is prepared to do everything he can to protect his little sister - from both their parents...
Lynley's old friends Simon and Deborah St James (from several previous books in the series) manage to get involved in this case (or these cases) as well. Deborah is a photographer, and as such working on a film/photo project with an organization working against FGM and domestic violence. Through this project she gets to know both victims and helpers – some of whom might be involved (one way or another) in the murder case as well.
As usual, the detectives' personal lives play a role in the story too. We get to know a bit more about Nkata's background and family (I can't recall having heard all that much about his family before, but I may have forgotten). Lynley is (still) struggling in his relationship with Dairdre, and also still processing the loss of his wife Helen (who was murdered I forget how many books ago). Although his own life is vastly different from the case he is working on now, there are still certain parallels that can be drawn when it comes to relationships and what men/women expect from each other. As for Barbara Havers, she too is still struggling with what other people seem to expect from her.
There are
a lot of loose ends to either untangle or tie together in this book;
which takes the author some 700 pages to sort out. I did feel from
time to time that there were a few too many repetitions, and that it could
all have been wrapped up quicker. On the other hand, I suppose the
length of the novel does reflect the complications involved: cultural
differences, unclear identities, missing paperwork and evidence,
wrong conclusions, need for secrecy vs bureaucracy, mistrust of
authorities, etc.
All in all, the book deals with an important topic, and the plot is quite interesting. But I can't help getting the feeling that after 20+ books, the author has a bit of a struggle sometimes with how to proceed with the personal lives of the detectives...
Hmm... part of me is really interested, but I also remember how I gave up on the last Lynley mystery I started to read - it was just too lengthy for me, and unnecessarily so. I don't need super fast-paced thrillers to keep me going, but that was just too much. If I remember correctly, it was the one where Helen is murdered, and I have not read another one since.
ReplyDeleteBarbara Havers has always been my favourite character in that set-up.
And I agree that FGM deserves more attention.
Meike, I agree that the series (and especially Lynley himself) changed with Helen's death. I have struggled with many of the later books. Barbara remains my favourite character, too.
DeleteI read several Elizabeth George books years ago and have caught the occasional Lynley episode on TV. He's not a character I follow, and have often found the author's books over long, as you and Meike have both commented. Perhaps her later Lynley books have been lengthened with the TV series in mind, rather than capturing the reader's interest?
ReplyDeleteCG I think the TV series went off on its own track a long time ago - or in my opinion, more or less from start. In my head, I also never could get the actors to fit with the characters in my head from the books, so I gave up on the TV version long ago. (Is it even still going on? I haven't seen it on Swedish television in years.)
ReplyDeleteThere have been repeats of the Lynley series from time to time, on various channels, but I don't know if any new series have been made. Like you, I could never fit the actors with the characters, and don't think I've ever watched a complete episode.
ReplyDeleteJust checked with Wikipedia: The Lynley TV series aired on BBC 2001-2008. Out of six seasons only the first two + two episodes from the third were based on EG:s novels (and even those often "significantly altered"). Later episodes were "original stories for television based on her characters". - I also checked a list of the books in order. I doubt very much that she wrote any of them to fit the TV series - rather the opposite! ;)
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