In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner

This is the latest installment in George's immensely popular series featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his subordinate, Detective Sergeant (here demoted to Detective Constable) Barbara Havers. A young man and woman who seem to have no connection with each other have been found murdered on the same patch of a large moor. The young woman's dad is a former cop; when her body is found, he asks for Lynley's help. This is a long (16 tapes) and complex tale. The investigation moves back and forth between London and the scene of the crime. Several plot lines take place simultaneously, each plot with its own largely separate cast of characters. Donada Peters rises well to the challenge without losing the listener. Her pacing is precise, and each of her characters is distinctive. She is particularly strong with accents, even managing to hint at the subtle inflections of an American character who wishes to be thought English. R.E.K. (c) AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine

Inspector Thomas Lynley of New Scotland Yard approaches each case with immense confidence. It doesn't always lead him in the right direction--as here, where he sets out to solve a double homicide on the moors of Derbyshire. Derek Jacobi possesses the same sureness with the narrative--an astute sense for the right tone and inflection. He easily leads listeners through the many changes of scenes and characters. He's able to keep the story's momentum even though the abridgment allows mere glimpses into other subplots. Music used to underscore some of the narration--more than the usual "bridge"--is an interesting addition, giving the production a more dramatized feel. R.F.W. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine