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When I listened to the abridged audio rendition of IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ENEMY, I was cheated out of fully experiencing this writer's capabilities. In reading WITH NO ONE AS WITNESS, the 13th of her New Scotland Yard series, I discovered the true scope of Elizabeth George's phenomenal talent. The police never suspected a serial killer was at large until they found the fourth murdered boy -- the first white victim -- his body draped over a tomb in a London graveyard. Suddenly a series of crimes and a potential public relations disaster have Scotland Yard on the defensive, scrambling to apprehend a maniac while avoiding accusations of racism. Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley, distracted by concerns for his pregnant wife, has been assigned to the investigation, along with his disgraced partner, Barbara Havers, who's fighting for her professional future. Winston Nkata -- deservedly, if hastily, promoted to detective sergeant -- is the black face who will speak to the media. But none of them can imagine the tenacity and ingenuity of the killer they seek . . . and no one is prepared for the savage, shocking instant when everything will change forever. This American writer has a thoroughly comprehensive understanding of her British setting and characters. WITH NO ONE AS WITNESS explores the darkest of London's mean streets and underground cultures, with evocative descriptions and lyrical dialect that bring each scene to vivid life. There is so much going on in this story that I found myself not so much reading it as absorbing it so that I wouldn't miss a single detail. Numerous intricate subplots provide a solid underpinning for the main mystery. Lynley's team branches out in all directions to stop a serial killer targeting boys with an apparent connection to an organization designed to counsel the troubled youth of London. Havers and Nkata do most of the legwork in the investigation, but they both have distractions of their own. Havers has unwittingly caused a rift between her stoic neighbor and his energetic daughter, and her mother is in a mental health facility suffering from advanced dementia. While Nkata fights to protect his past and his family from the press, he fears for his former lover and her young son, who fits the profile of the killer's victims. Lynley is also frustrated to the point of infuriation by his superior, AC Hillier's attempts to control the investigation, through his frequent press conferences and the FBI-trained profiler Hillier foists onto Lynley against his wishes. More boys become victims, and tensions at the Yard escalate to the breaking point. When the unthinkable happens, the entire department suffers the consequences. George's storytelling is so inclusive that even with the length of the book and the many characters, she leaves nothing lacking. Each character, no matter how minor, is fully fleshed out; each plot element, regardless of how insignificant it seems, is an integral piece to the larger puzzle. WITH NO ONE AS WITNESS far surpasses its promise to deliver suspense at its best. In one heart-wrenching moment, George takes shocking endings to a whole new level, and fans of the series will have their faith tested at the turn of events in this deeply emotional story.
Reviewed by J. B. Thompson, August 2006
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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