What is Nicola’s connection to the young man found with her? Her parents insist she was engaged, so the relationship could not have been romantic. More, her parents tell the police that they’ve never seen the young man before. The patient collection of bits of information reveals that the young man is Terry Cole and that he made a somewhat precarious living by posting advertisements for prostitutes in callboxes in London. More than ever, Nicola’s parents are certain their daughter, who had been in the middle of law school in London, could have nothing to do with Terry Cole.

However, nothing is as it seems.

Lynley’s handicaps himself by refusing to use the skills of his long-time partner, Barbara Havers. As a result of the events of the previous spring, Havers has been demoted. Lynley, far from supporting Havers, agrees with the inquiry that censured her and limits her to the most routine gruntwork. Wounded by his lack of faith and determined to prove her value once and for all, Havers runs a clandestine parallel investigation in London while Lynley works in the north of England.

Absolutely nothing is as it seems.

Characters, primary and secondary, are vivid and well-developed, the guilty and the innocent alike portrayed in shades of gray that suggest that none of us is entirely one thing or the other. Everyone conceals something, for motives as varied as the characters themselves. As each layer of deceit is peeled away, each character is forced to face things he or she would rather avoid. Why Nicola Maiden died with Terry Cole is discovered and justice is done, but at what cost?

In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner is the ninth Lynley and Havers mystery, and like all the others can be read on its own. However, one of the great pleasures of the series is the ongoing development relationship between Thomas Lynley, the Yard’s nobly-born golden boy, and Barbara Havers, London-bred and nobody’s favorite. Lynley’s distrust of Havers changes the terms of that relationship in a way that makes me eager for the next installment.

Once again, Elizabeth George provides a strong, compelling mystery. I strongly recommend In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner.

--Katy Cooper