Most Popular Books by Elizabeth George

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “Those who haven’t discovered Elizabeth George . . . should rush to read Playing for the Ashes.”—Us “The story begins with my father, actually, and the fact that I’m the one who’s answerable for his death. It was not my first crime, as you will see, but it is the one my mother couldn’t forgive.” Acclaimed author Elizabeth George reveals the even darker truth behind this startling confession in Playing for the Ashes, a rich tale of passion, murder, and love in which Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers once again find themselves embroiled in a case where nothing—and no one—is really what it seems. Intense, suspenseful, and brilliantly written, Playing for the Ashes is “a treasure” (Cosmopolitan).

The brutal, inexplicable death of Inspector Thomas Lynley''s wife has left Scotland Yard searching for answers. Who is the twelve-year-old boy who pulled the trigger? What were the circumstances that led to his horrific act? That story begins on the other side of London, where the three mixed-race Campbell children are sent to live with their aunt. The oldest, fifteen-year-old Ness, is headed for trouble as fast as her high-heeled boots will take her. That leaves the middle child, Joel, to care for the youngest, Toby. But before long, Joel has his own problems with a local gang. To protect his family, he makes a pact with the devil— a move that leads straight to the front doorstep of Thomas Lynley. The anatomy of a murder, the story of a family in crisis, What Came Before He Shot Her is a powerful, emotional novel that only the incomparable Elizabeth George could write.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “One of George’s best . . . insightful, tense, and compassionate.”—Entertainment Weekly Balford-le-Nez is a dying seaside town on the coast of Essex. But when a member of the town’s small but growing Asian community is found murdered near its beach, the sleepy town ignites. Intrigued by the involvement of her London neighbor—Taymullah Azhar—in what appears to be a growing racial conflagration, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers arranges to have herself assigned to the investigation. Setting out on her own, this is one case Havers will have to solve without her longtime partner, Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley— and it’s one of the toughest she’s ever encountered. For Havers must probe not only the mind of a murderer and her emotional response to a case unsettlingly close to her own heart, but also the terrible price people pay for deceiving others . . . and themselves. Praise for Deception on His Mind “So much fun to read, it’s criminal.”—Newsday “It’s tough to resist the pull of George’s storytelling once hooked.”—USA Today “Falls smartly into place in [George’s] literate, impassioned series, one of today’s best.”—Chicago Tribune “Fascinating . . . there are wrenching stories here, and George conveys them with exceptional grace.”—People

“The Lynley books constitute the smartest, most gratifyingly complex and impassioned mystery series now being published.”—Entertainment Weekly When thirteen-year-old Matthew Whately goes missing from Bredgar Chambers, a prestigious public school in the heart of West Sussex, aristocratic Inspector Thomas Lynley receives a call for help from the lad’s housemaster, who also happens to be an old school chum. Thus, the inspector, his partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, and forensic scientist Simon Allcourt-St. James find themselves once again outside their jurisdiction and deeply involved in the search for a child—and then, tragically, for a child killer. Questioning prefects, teachers, and pupils closest to the dead boy, Lynley and Havers sense that something extraordinarily evil is going on behind Bredgar Chambers’s cloistered walls. But as they begin to unlock the secrets of this closed society, the investigation into Matthew’s death leads them perilously close to their own emotional wounds—and blinds them to the signs of another murder in the making. . . . Praise for Well-Schooled in Murder “George is a master . . . an outstanding practitioner of the modern English mystery.”—Chicago Tribune “A spectacular new voice in mystery writing.”—Los Angeles Times “A compelling whodunit . . . a reader’s delight.”—Daily News, New York “Like P.D. James, George knows the import of the smallest human gesture; Well-Schooled in Murder puts the younger author clearly in the running with the genre master.”—People “Ms. George may wind up creating one of the most popular and entertaining series in mystery fiction today.”—The Sun, Baltimore

Filled with personal anecdotes and bits of memoir from a much loved writer, "Write Away" is an intelligent and functional guide to constructing a novel.

A hugely complex and entertaining novel - Star Pick*, The Times Crime Club Elizabeth George delivers another intelligent, intricate mystery - New York Times Superlative . . . This is a memorable addition to [the Inspector Lynley] series - Publishers Weekly (starred, boxed review) Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley are back in the next Lynley novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Elizabeth George. A Nigerian born detective sergeant working for the Metropolitan Police is found unconscious in her own flat and ends up in hospital where she dies of her injury. The post-mortem reveals that the subdural hematoma is the result of a blow to her head. DI Thomas Lynley, DS Barbara Havers and DS Winston Nkata are called in to investigate a case that touches upon not only the work and the life of the murdered detective but also upon a controversial cultural tradition that damages and often destroys the future of everyone it involves.

Fifteen-year-old Jenn McDaniel''s life on Whidbey Island becomes more complicated and her relationships with old and new friends take strange turns, partly due to the arrival of a woman researching a strange black seal.

“The Lynley books constitute the smartest, most gratifyingly complex and impassioned mysteries now being published.”—Entertainment Weekly The career of playwright Joy Sinclair comes to an abrupt end on an isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands when someone drives an eighteen-inch dirk through her neck. Called upon to investigate the case in a country where they have virtually no authority, aristocratic Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, grapple for both a motive and a murderer. Emotions run deep in this highly charged drama, for the list of suspects soon includes Britain’s foremost actress, its most successful theatrical producer, and the woman Lynley loves. He and Havers must tread carefully through the complicated terrain of human relationships while they work to solve a case rooted in the darkest corners of the past and the unexplored regions of the human heart.

To this day, the low, thin wail of an infant can be heard in Keldale''s lush green valleys. Three hundred years ago, as legend goes, the frightened Yorkshire villagers smothered a crying babe in Keldale Abbey, where they''d hidden to escape the ravages of Cromwell''s raiders. Now into Keldale''s pastoral web of old houses and older secrets comes Scotland Yard Inspector Thomas Lynley, the eighth earl of Asherton. Along with the redoubtable Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, Lynley has been sent to solve a savage murder that has stunned the peaceful countryside. For fat, unlovely Roberta Teys has been found in her best dress, an axe in her lap, seated in the old stone barn beside her father''s headless corpse. Her first and last words were "I did it. And I''m not sorry." Yet as Lynley and Havers wind their way through Keldale''s dark labyrinth of secret scandals and appalling crimes, they uncover a shattering series of revelations that will reverberate through this tranquil English valley—and in their own lives as well.

When an adolescent boy''s mutilated body is found, it doesn''t take long for the police to realize that this is the work of a serial killer.

Calder Moor is a wild and deadly place: many have been trapped in the myriad limestone caves, lost in collapsed copper mines, injured on perilous gritstone ridges. But this time, when two bodies are discovered in the shadow of the ancient circle of stones known as Nine Sisters Henge, it is clearly not a case for Mountain Rescue. The corpses are those of a young man and woman. Each met death in a different fashion. Each died violently. To Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, brought in to investigate by special request, this grisly crime promises to be one of the toughest assignments of his career. For the unfortunate Nicola Maiden was the daughter of a former officer in an elite undercover unit, a man Lynley once regarded as a mentor. Now, as Lynley struggles to find out if Nicola''s killer was an enemy of her father''s or one she earned herself, a disgraced Barbara Havers, determined to redeem herself in the eyes of her longtime partner, crisscrosses London seeking information on the second murder victim. Yet the more dark secrets Lynley and Havers uncover, the more they learn that neither the victims nor the suspects are who they appear to be. And once again they come up against the icy realization that human relationships are often murderous...and that the blood that binds can also kill.

Deborah and Simon St. James have taken a holiday in the winter landscape of Lancastershire, hoping to heal the growing rift in their marriage. But in the barren countryside awaits bleak news: The vicar of Wimslough, the man they had come to see, is dead—a victim of accidental poisoning. Unsatisfied with the inquest ruling and unsettled by the close association between the investigating constable and the woman who served the deadly meal, Simon calls in his old friend Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley. Together they uncover dark, complex relationships in this rural village, relationships that bring men and women together with a passion, with grief, or with the intention to kill. Peeling away layer after layer of personal history to reveal the torment of a fugitive spirit, Missing Joseph is award-winning author Elizabeth George''s greatest achievement.

In With No One As Witness, Elizabeth George has crafted an intricate, meticulously researched, and absorbing story sure to enthrall her readers. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, along with his longtime partner, the fiery Barbara Havers, and the newly promoted Detective Sergeant Winston Nkata are back and on the hunt for a sinister killer. When an adolescent boy''s nude body is found mutilated and artfully arranged on the top of a tomb, it takes no large leap for the police to recognize this as the work of a serial killer. This is the fourth victim in three months -- but the first to be white. Hoping to avoid charges of institutionalized racism in its failure to pursue the earlier crimes to their conclusion, New Scotland Yard hands the case over to Lynley and his colleagues. The killer is a psychopath who does not intend to be stopped. Worse, a devastating tragedy within police ranks causes them to fumble in their pursuit of him. With a surprise ending that will shock readers to the core, With No One As Witness is full of the mesmerizing action and psychological intrigue that are the hallmarks of Elizabeth George''s work.

#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Punishment She Deserves Elizabeth George has millions of fans following her Inspector Lynley series. As USA Today put it, "It''s tough to resist George''s storytelling, once hooked." With Believing the Lie, she''s poised to hook countless more. Inspector Thomas Lynley is mystified when he''s sent undercover to investigate the death of Ian Cresswell at the request of the man''s uncle, the wealthy and influential Bernard Fairclough. The death has been ruled an accidental drowning, and nothing on the surface indicates otherwise. But when Lynley enlists the help of his friends Simon and Deborah St. James, the trio''s digging soon reveals that the Fairclough clan is awash in secrets, lies, and motives. Deborah''s investigation of the prime suspect--Bernard''s prodigal son Nicholas, a recovering drug addict--leads her to Nicholas''s wife, a woman with whom she feels a kinship, a woman as fiercely protective as she is beautiful. Lynley and Simon delve for information from the rest of the family, including the victim''s bitter ex-wife and the man he left her for, and Bernard himself. As the investigation escalates, the Fairclough family''s veneer cracks, with deception and self-delusion threatening to destroy everyone from the Fairclough patriarch to Tim, the troubled son Ian left behind.

Beauty is more than skin deep— it starts in the heart and works outward Exploring the timeless wisdom of Proverbs 31, Bible teacher Elizabeth George reveals how you can become a woman of true beauty—a woman who desires to honor God in all that she says and does. Beautiful in God''s Eyes helps you make each day immensely meaningful as you delight in God and discover how to... experience instant progress toward personal goals manage daily life more effectively tap into unlimited energy apply biblical principles to enhance relationships move from the ordinary to the extraordinary You can experience a richer, more exciting spiritual walk as you embrace God''s design for true beauty in your life.

Are you frustrated, worried or depressed? Are you unsure of what to do in a specific circumstance? No matter where you are or what your situation is, God knows all about it and is with you.

“[I, Richard] will leave you dizzy, dazzled and dying for more.”—People Hailed by The New York Times as “a master of the British mystery,” award-winning author Elizabeth George is one of our most distinguished writers, widely admired by readers on both sides of the Atlantic. Her first collection of short stories is an extraordinary offering that deftly explores the dark side of everyday people—and the lengths to which they will go to get what they want most. . . . In five tantalizing and original tales, George plumbs the depths of human nature—and human weakness—as only she can. From the chilling tale of a marriage built on an appalling set of lies that only death can reveal . . . to the story of a squabbling group of Anglophiles saved from a killer thanks to Inspector Thomas Lynley . . . to the final, title story about a penniless schoolteacher whose ambition turns murderous, I, Richard is filled with page-turning drama, danger, and unmatched suspense. Ironic, revealing, and undeniably entertaining, this imaginative collection proves once again why Elizabeth George is one of today’s best-loved authors. I, Richard belongs in the library of each and every mystery devotee. Praise for I, Richard “Suspenseful and chilling . . . a bonus for fans.”—Daily News, New York “Surprisingly light in tone, satirically skewering a variety of unpleasant types while paying homage to time-honored plot devices.”—Los Angeles Times “In her first story collection, eniment author George presents five nimbly written and gripping tales, each with a stunning conclusion.”—Publishers Weekly

Elena Weaver was a surprise to anyone meeting her for the first time. In her clingy dresses and dangling earrings she exuded a sexuality at odds with the innocence projected by the unicorn posters on her walls. While her embittered mother fretted about her welfare from her home in London, in Cambridge—where Elena was a student at St. Stephen''s College—her father and his second wife each had their own very different image of the girl. As for Elena, she lived a life of casual and intense physical and emotional relationships, with scores to settle and goals to achieve--until someone, lying in wait along the route she ran every morning, bludgeoned her to death. Unwilling to turn the killing over to the local police, the university calls in New Scotland Yard. Thus, Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, enter the rarefied world of Cambridge University, where academic gowns often hide murderous intentions. For both officers, the true identity of Elena Weaver proves elusive. Each relationship the girl left behind casts new light both on Elena and on those people who appeared to know her best—from an unsavory Swedish-born Shakespearean professor to the brooding head of the Deaf Students Union. What''s more, Elena''s father, a Cambridge professor under consideration for a prestigious post, is a man with his own dark secrets. While his past sins make him neurotically dedicated to Elena and blind to her blacker side, present demons drive him toward betrayal.

A wealthy Englishman is found murdered on an isolated beach of the Island Of Guernsey.

“Exceptional. . . . Intelligent, surprising, sexy, funny, compassionate and wise.”—Washington Post From #1 New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George, a stunning mystery featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley that explores the perfect crime. After the senseless murder of his pregnant wife, Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley hands in his badge and walks out of Scotland Yard. He goes home to Cornwall. The only way he can deal with his painful memories is to hike the trails over the cliffs of the Cornish coast. There, on the forty-third day of his walk, he finds the lifeless body of a young man, dead from a fall. Thus begins a quest to unmask a clever and ruthless murderer. But this time, Lynley’s not in charge. He’s a witness—and possibly even a suspect. The vastly understaffed local copper in charge of the investigation soon figures out that Lynley can help. So can his former associate Barbara Havers, whom Scotland Yard sends to Cornwall, ostensibly to assist in the investigation, but unofficially to keep an eye on Lynley and maybe lure him back to his job.

Hailed as the "king of sleaze," tabloid editor Dennis Luxford is used to ferreting out the sins and scandals of people in exposed positions. But when he opens an innocuous-looking letter addressed to him at The Source, he discovers that someone else excels at ferreting out secrets 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 as his child will throw more than one life and career into chaos. Luxford knows that the story of Charlotte''s paternity could make him a laughingstock and reveal to his beautiful wife and son the lie he''s lived for a decade. Yet it''s not only Luxford''s reputation that''s on the line: it''s also the reputation—and career—of Charlotte Bowen''s mother. For she is Undersecretary of State for the Home Office, one of the most high-profile Junior Ministers and quite possibly the next Margaret Thatcher. Knowing that her political future hangs in the balance, Eve Bowen refuses to let Luxford damage her career by printing the story or calling the police. So the editor turns to forensic scientist Simon St. James for help. It''s a case that fills St. James with disquiet, however, for none of the players in the drama seem to react the way one would expect. Then tragedy occurs and New Scotland Yard becomes involved. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley soon discovers that the case sends tentacles from London into the countryside, and he must simultaneously outfox death as he probes Charlotte Bowen''s mysterious disappearance. Meanwhile, his partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, working part of the investigation on her own and hoping to make the coup of her career, may be drawing closer to a grim solution—and to danger—than anyone knows. In the Presence of the Enemy is a brilliantly insightful and haunting novel of ideals corrupted by self-interest, of the sins of parents visited upon children, and of the masks that hide people from each other—and from themselves.

Change Your Priorities to Change Your Life and Your Home Now in easy-to-read 18-point font! You will experience peace, order, and joy when you follow God''s guidelines for every area of your life, and best of all, you will become a woman after His heart! Elizabeth George shares God''s Word and woman-to-woman practical wisdom on how you can pursue God''s priorities by... putting God first in your day, your heart, and your life improving your relationships with family and friends building a strong bond with your husband raising your children to follow Jesus and make right choices growing in your service to others As you embrace God''s plans for you, you will find real purpose in a life of prayer and practicing God''s priorities as you become A Woman After God''s Own Heart®.

Award-winning author Elizabeth George delivers another masterpiece of suspense in her Inspector Lynley series: Lynley and his pugnacious and deeply loyal Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers find themselves up against one of the most sinister murder cases they have ever encountered. When a Member of Parliament shows up in the office of the Assistant Commissioner at New Scotland Yard, trouble quickly follows. He is there to request an investigation into the suicide of the son of one of his constituents in the medieval town of Ludlow, who happens to be a wealthy brewer with a team of solicitors ready to file a major lawsuit over the death. The Assistant Commissioner sees two opportunities in this request: the first is to have an MP owing him a favour, and the second is to get rid of Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, whose career at the Met has been hanging by a thread for quite some time. So he assigns Barbara Havers to the case and partners her not with her regular partner but with the one person who shares his enthusiasm for ridding the Metropolitan Police of Barbara Havers, Detective Chief Superintendent Isabelle Ardery. But Ardery has her own difficulties, the most heartbreaking of which is the loss of her twin sons to a move to New Zealand. She is not happy to be sent away from London and as a result is in a rush to return. This rush causes her to overlook things, important things, and prevents her from uncovering an earlier crime that set everything in motion.

After a woman is found dead in an isolated cemetery, Inspector Thomas Lynley and his former partner, Barbara Havers, find that the roots of the crime trace to a long-ago act of violence that has poisoned subsequent generations.

Women love Elizabeth George''s contagious enthusiasm for walking closely to God and His Word—an enthusiasm that''s felt throughout this new collection of devotionals. It''s when we draw near to the Lord that we find the strength, peace, and confidence we need for both the everyday moments and bigger challenges of life. These devotions, while brief, are filled to overflowing with Elizabeth George''s trademark practical wisdom and encouragement, which are sure to bring direction and stability to every woman''s day. Women will find this an ideal source of inspiration for their busy lives. Every devotion highlights... a truth from God''s Word to recall throughout the hoursa quick reminder of God''s promises for every needan insight for building a greater knowledge and understanding of God Each devotion is a ray of biblical sunshine and optimism, reminding women of God''s great love for them.

Elizabeth George shares the best of A Young Woman After God''s Own Heart, A Young Woman''s Call to Prayer, and 2007 Christian Book Awards finalist A Young Woman''s Walk with God (combined sales of 290,000 copies). Teens and tweens will enjoy these dynamic, practical messages that build good habits, cultivate can-do attitudes, and fan the flames of passion for God. This beautiful book is packed with stories, how-to advice, and enthusiastic energy. Each short devotion features a topic specifically for teens and a brief prayer. Readers will discover how to: look to God''s Word for help in making choices grow spiritually through Jesus tap into God''s strength for handling stress live Jesus at home...and elsewhere form healthy friendships This devotional shows girls that God''s Word is a roadmap they can count on as they face each day...and the future. An excellent gift!

This inspiring devotional journey through Psalm 23 encourages women to walk ever more closely with God. Bestselling author Elizabeth George shows women 12 truths that will help them in every season of life. As readers discover how David, a man of faith and failure, overcame his challenges and built his trust in God, they will uncover strength for their own journey as they embrace promises of provision for all that a woman needs healing of brokenness and past wounds comfort for the trials protection for their physical and spiritual journey guidance for decisions and choices God’s assurances create a powerful foundation for every woman to stand on and depend on as they live out a life of faith and hope with an unfailing confidence in Christ. Formerly Powerful Promises for Every Woman.

Women who desire to move onward and upward in their spiritual growth can do so with the help of this growth and study guide that builds upon the principles in Elizabeth''s dynamic new book A Woman''s High Calling. Using a quiet time calendar, practical exercises, and thought-provoking study questions, this guide will help readers take the 10 essentials for godly living to a deeper level and discover how they can¼ turn every task into an opportunity to glorify God place God at the center of every thought, word, and activity transform potentially negative situations into positive outcomes This handbook is designed to be used along with A Woman''s High Calling.

Elizabeth draws on wisdom from her bestselling books (more than 4 million sold) and popular "Woman After God''s Own Heart" radio spots and podcasts to provide 365 dynamic devotions in a beautiful, new format. With insight and "I''ve been there too" openness, Elizabeth shares practical ideas to help busy women get the most out of life. They''re encouraged to: jumpstart their day through God''s Word and prayer trust the Lord in every circumstance enjoy a daily harvest of the fruit of the Spirit experience the joy of serving God and others make every day count by setting and meeting goals love their families and model Christlikeness use their influence to motivate others As readers focus on God''s truth and power, they''ll be uplifted and energized. Every woman needs to know God loves them, provides for them, and is always available to them!

Do you desire greater strength for today and help for all your tomorrows? Discover 12 life-changing promises from God''s Word that can carry you through every day and every season of life...promises that truly refresh and encourage, bringing purpose and hope in the midst of life''s frantic pace. Even in your seemingly impossible situations, you can know that God''s resources are available to you through His promises. Book jacket.

More than 300,000 copies of Elizabeth George''s Growth and Study Guides have been sold! And now comes Elizabeth''s A Mother After God''s Own Heart Growth and Study Guide! This companion to the book of the same name gives moms more insights and opportunity for personal growth through additional scripture references, detailed questions, and practical life applications. Perfect for group or individual study.

If you are a child of God, do you know one of the most important things you can do is read your Bible? That''s how you spend time with God and learn more about Him. And there are more reasons you want to get to know your Bible—it shows you how to live God''s way. The Bible can help you... know how to find good friends get along better with your parents and family make right choices instead of wrong ones learn how to use your time well grow and become a stronger Christian The Bible is God''s message especially for you. Take your first steps now to discovering just how much He loves and cares for you!

Twenty-eight-year old virtuoso violinist Gideon Davies has lost his memory of music and his ability to play the instrument he mastered as a five-year-old prodigy. One fateful night he lifted his violin to play in a Beethoven trio . . . and everything in his mind related to music was gone. Gideon suffers from a form of amnesia, the cure for which is an examination of what he can remember. And what he can remember is little enough until his mind is triggered by the weeping of a woman and a single name: Sonia. Then, one rainy evening, Gideon''s mother Eugenie travels to London for a mysterious appointment. But before she is able to reach her destination, a car swoops out of nowhere and kills her in the street. In pursuing Eugenie''s killer, Lynley and Havers come to know a group of people whose lives are inextricably connected by a long-ago death, a trial, and a prison sentence handed down as retribution for a crime no one has spoken of for twenty years.

Elizabeth George—speaker, teacher, and bestselling author of A Woman After God''s Own Heart®—admits to being a disorganized, goal-less woman when she was in her 20s. Over the decades, the love and patience of God and the transforming power of his Word and Spirit have taught her the life-changing principles she shares here, including how to... live each day God''s waytake charge of busyness and find a balanced lifebe a better steward of resources "Just for Today" and "Just for This Week" sections help readers apply and solidify transforming new habits. This unique sourcebook will strike a chord with women hungering to live orderly lives that are a testimony to their faith.

#1 New York Times bestselling author of The Punishment She Deserves Elizabeth George delivers another masterpiece of suspense in her Inspector Lynley series: a gripping child-in-danger story that tests Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers as never before. Barbara is at a loss: Hadiyyah, the daughter of her friend Taymullah Azhar, has been taken by her mother, and Barbara can’t really help. Azhar has no legal claim. Just when Azhar is beginning to accept his soul-crushing loss, he gets more shocking news: Hadiyyah has been kidnapped from an Italian marketplace. As both Barbara and her partner, Inspector Thomas Lynley, soon discover, the case is far more complex than a typical kidnapping, revealing secrets that could have far-reaching effects outside of the investigation. With both her job and the life of a little girl on the line, Barbara must decide what matters most and how far she’s willing to go to protect it.