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.
...ContinuaElisabeth George è una garanzia: giallo classico applicato ad un'analisi della società, mettendo al centro dell'attenzione i ragazzi. Godibilissimo, chiaro, lineare, ben architettato, ben strutturato, la George porta avanti le sue storie tramite i suoi personaggi che diventano via via famigliari: l'imbattibile sergente Havers, indispensabile contrappeso al perfettino Lynley; poi Lady Helen, Deborah e Saint James. I suoi migliori però restano: "Questo mio corpo mortale" (bellissimo!) e "La donna che vestiva di rosso".
...ContinuaA great setting, a gruesome story.
Simon and Deb's relationship at a crucial point, racial issues, school rules, both the written and even more the unwritten ones. A truly rich novel, one of the saddest of the series, maybe. But that's hard to tell.
Very good book by E. George once again. The contrast between Lynley and Havers is evident and enriches the story, which is good by itself. As usual, the story between the main characters - Lynley, Lady Helen, Havers, St.James and Deborah - goes on during the investigation.
The end is thrilling and surprising.
