Just One Evil Act cover art

Just One Evil Act

An Inspector Lynley Novel, Book 18

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Just One Evil Act

By: Elizabeth George
Narrated by: Davina Porter
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About this listen

 When Hadiyyah Upman disappears from London in the company of her mother, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers is as devastated as the girl's father. They are her close friends as well as neighbours, but since the child is with her mother, nothing can be done. Five months later, Hadiyyah is kidnapped from an open air market in Lucca, Italy, and this triggers an investigation in the full glare of the media spotlight. Barbara's clever manipulation of the worst of London's tabloids forces New Scotland Yard to become involved. But rather than Barbara herself, her superior officer DI Thomas Lynley is assigned to handle a situation made delicate by racial issues, language difficulties, and the determination of an Italian magistrate to arrest and convict someone - anyone - for the crime.

(P)2013 Penguin Group USA©2013 Susan Elizabeth George Crime Thrillers Mystery Police Procedurals Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Fiction Italy Crime Suspense

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Critic reviews

PRAISE FOR ELIZABETH GEORGE
She's brilliant
The connoisseur's crime writer
A very fine writer
A master of the English mystery
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
George is a master
A fascinating list of subjects . . . wrenching stories . . . George conveys them all with exceptional grace
It's tough to resist George's storytelling, once hooked
All stars
Most relevant
Loved this book. No dull pages to read through. A very clever and interesting read.

Gripping

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Elizabeth George at her best again and a very good, even sounding narrator. Much enjoyed.

brilliant

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The story is fine - not perhaps Elizabeth George's best, but still worth a read.

Unfortunately the book is let down by the narrator, who sounds like an older lady with a rather old fashioned way of reading better suited to 1950's cosy murder mysteries than modern crime novels. It just doesn't do the story justice.

Additionally, there's a lot (a lot!) of usage of Italian which is untranslated. I somehow think it would be easier to get a gist of things, and also to remember the Italian names, if the reader actually saw the text in black and white.

In summary: I suggested listening to a long sample before purchasing. (When will I ever learn that I always need to do this?!)

A story better read than heard?

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Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Barbara Havers, I love her sailing ever closer to the wind, and her loyalty.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I did find some of the Italian pronunciation a little ott at times

Enjoyable

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Would you consider the audio edition of Just One Evil Act to be better than the print version?

No. As other reviewers have said, there's far too much Italian. I can read Italian a bit but couldn't follow the speech. It would have been better if the author had translated somehow where necessary because sometimes the Italian was relevant to the plot. Also the names would be easier to follow in print.

Would you be willing to try another book from Elizabeth George? Why or why not?

I have always loved Elizabeth George's books and grabbed this one before there were any reviews. It is a disappointment.

What didn’t you like about Davina Porter’s performance?

Her voice wasn't suitable to the book - a man would have been better. Maybe she was chosen for her Italian?

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Too long and complicated for one sitting.

Any additional comments?

I am just at the end of Part 3 and no longer really care who did what to whom but am gritting my teeth to get to the end. This seems quite different from Elizabeth George's previous Lynley books and seems a bit self-indulgent.

Agreeing with other listeners.......

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