This Body Of Death

Echoes of a Murdered Past

When a local fisherman hauls in a body tangled in driftwood off the windswept coast of Cornwall, Detective Superintendent Thomas Lynley and Inspector Barbara Havers are summoned to a crime scene more baffling than any they have faced before. The victim—an unknown woman in her thirties—bears no identification and her cause of death is obscured by the briny depths. As Lynley contemplates the grim tableau framed by jagged cliffs and roaring surf, Havers uncovers a fragment of torn fabric snagged on a jagged rock, hinting at a struggle fought far from the sea. Elizabeth George skillfully sets the stage for a mystery that bridges past and present, weaving atmospheric tension into every crashing wave and wind-whipped moor.

Threading the Tangled Web

With the forensic pathologist’s report inconclusive, Lynley and Havers delve into the victim’s life, chasing false leads through remote villages and opulent estates alike. A reclusive artist whose studio overlooks the cliffs, a bereaved widower haunted by loss, and a circle of academic colleagues all fall under suspicion. Havers’s relentless attention to overlooked details—a muddy footprint in the garden, a coded diary entry, an unclaimed photograph—begins to unravel a web of secrets dating back decades. Meanwhile, Lynley grapples with personal demons: the obligations of his title, the strain on his marriage, and the ethical quandaries that complicate every step toward justice.

Race Against Time

As the investigation hurtles toward its climax, the Cornish weather turns treacherous—fog smothering the cliffs, rain skidding across icy roads—and Lynley fears that the killer may strike again under cover of darkness. With mounting pressure from the press and the Home Office demanding swift results, he and Havers must reconcile their contrasting methodologies: his genteel intuition versus her dogged persistence. In a breathtaking finale set amidst the ruins of an ancient chapel, long-buried motives collide with fresh betrayals, forcing a confession that shocks even seasoned detectives.

Author’s Description

Elizabeth George is an internationally bestselling author acclaimed for her richly drawn characters and intricate plotting. A master of psychological suspense, she brings depth, empathy, and moral complexity to her award-winning Inspector Lynley series, captivating readers around the world.