A Slowly Dying Cause
- Judith D Collins
- Sep 1
- 4 min read
By: Elizabeth George
A Lynley Novel
Narrator: Simon Vance
Penguin Audio
ISBN: 9780593493588
Publisher: Viking
Publication Date: 09/23/2025
Format: Other
My Rating: 4 Stars (ARC)
A hightly anticipated series reboot Lynley releasing this fall from BritBox
Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley are back in the next Lynley novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George.
Michael Lobb has just been found dead on the floor of his family’s tin & pewter workshop. It’s suspicious enough that his body was found by a representative of Cornwall EcoMining, a company keen on acquiring his family’s land, and it’s made even worse when he’s revealed to have been the majority owner of the business and the sole obstacle preventing a deal from being made. But it doesn’t take long for Inspector Beatrice Hannaford to unearth the layers of estrangement that surrounded Michael in his final days, pointing suspicions elsewhere. In comes Kayla, a young woman half Michael’s age, who has just been made his widow.
Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers are brought in to help solve the crime and search for justice in a community where lust, greed, and family traditions collide with devastating consequences.
My Review
Renowned New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George makes her much-anticipated return with the latest installment (#22) of her beloved Lynley series, A SLOWLY DYING CAUSE.
About...
In this gripping tale, Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and the indomitable Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers are called upon to untangle a web of deceit and uncover the truth behind a shocking crime. Set against the backdrop of a community grappling with the tumultuous forces of lust, avarice, and deep-rooted family traditions, their investigation reveals the devastating consequences that arise when desire and obligation collide.
This fall on BritBox...
Exciting news for fans: a brand-new Inspector Lynley television series, featuring the rich narratives and complex characters of George’s creation, will premiere this fall on BritBox, promising to bring the intrigue and drama of the novels to life in a captivating way.
My Thoughts...
Set against the stunning backdrop of beautiful Cornwall, this gripping narrative weaves the story of a family deeply entrenched in the legacy of tin mining, a tradition that spans generations.
The tale unfolds from April to May through multiple perspectives, with alternating chapters from Michael Lobb's journal, which not only provides vital clues and rich backstory but also unveils the events leading up to the murder that shakes their community.
The dynamic relationship between Lynley and Havers continues to be a captivating thread, marked by the complexities of their personal and familial ties. Their interactions are laced with intrigue, showcasing the deep emotional layers that define their partnership.
The novel boasts a diverse cast of characters, each brought to life through meticulous research into tin streaming—a time-honored, above-ground mining technique for extracting the precious tin ore known as cassiterite from the alluvial deposits found in river valleys. This labor-intensive method involves skillfully diverting streams to wash away lighter sand and silt, leaving behind the heavier tin ore for further processing, immersing readers in the rich history of this ancient practice.
George's A SLOWLY DYING CAUSE stands as a compelling and satisfying addition to the Lynley/Havers series with surprising twists and turns. Long-time, devoted fans will find themselves richly rewarded, as this highly anticipated mystery unfolds with layers of tension and depth that keep the reader engaged until the very last page.
Thanks to Viking and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Sept 23, 2025
Praise
"George again delivers a winner…this is George at her best; she delivers a stunning must-read for Lynley fans new and old."
—Booklist (starred review)
"Plenty of intriguing twists and turns that will leave the reader guessing. Trademark George, with a satisfying resolution that’s a long time coming."
—Kirkus Review
"[George] is an essential writer of popular fiction today."
—The Washington Post
"[George is] one of the reigning queens of the genre."
—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"Elizabeth George is a superstar of the crime-fiction world."
—The Seattle Times
"It’s tough to resist the pull of [George’s] storytelling once hooked."
—USA Today
"George can do it all, with style to spare."
—The Wall Street Journal
"[Lynley is] one of the greatest character portraits in contemporary crime fiction."
—The Boston Globe
About the Author
Elizabeth George is the New York Times and internationally best selling author of twenty British crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his unconventional partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers. Her crime novels have been translated into 30 languages and featured on television by the BBC. She is also the author of a young adult series set on the island where she lives in the state of Washington.
A longtime instructor of creative writing, she has taught at colleges, universities, writers' retreats, and conferences internationally. She most recently taught a live online creative writing class for Hedgebrook Women's Writers' Retreat on Whidbey Island. She is the recipient of the Anthony Award, the Agatha Award, France's Grand Prix di Literatture Policiere, and Germany's MIMI. She has twice been nominated for an Edgar Award, and she is the recipient of an honorary doctorate of humane letters from California State University Fullerton, and an honorary MFA from Northwest Institute of Language Arts (Whidbey Island MFA Program).
She has also written the longtime best selling creative writing book Write Away, has edited two volumes of short stories, and is the executive chair of the Elizabeth George Foundation.
