I enjoyed this police thriller, featuring Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, although some of the subject matter was not to my liking (female genital mutilation). However, it brought awareness to this subject matter, so I guess that is a good thing.

In this story, Havers and Lynley are trying to solve a case where a police officer called Teo Bontempi has died, and they are also involved in a lot of other things.

This is a very long book - it is 640 pages long, so it took a while for me to get through it. It is not my favourite Elizabeth George book, but I have read a lot of her books and enjoyed them, so I will continue to read more of them. This book was well researched, and well written, with a lot of interesting characters and a story which is heartbreaking at times.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I was kind of disappointed by this book as I'm a fan of the TV show. I didn't love the writing that much and felt like it was a slog to get through. The characters were done well but at times, they felt like they were a little disconnected and didn't seem fully realised. I liked what they tried to do with the plot but it wasn't there for me.

As with all the author’s novels there is a lot of “meat on the bones”. This is a disturbing read centring on the emotive subject of female genital mutilation.
I’m sure we are all fully aware of what an awful crime this is and how the victims suffer lifelong difficulties as a result.
As you would expect, a novel about such a subject is slightly harrowing, but not not gratuitously so. There is a very good story line to this and the actions of the characters seem wholly believable.
We are shown how racial lines limit communication and how criminalisation of things just force the issues underground. In all, this is a thoroughly researched and lifelike representation of the issue in the 21st century, to my admittedly white point of view.

Something to hide is the 21st Inspector Lynley and Barbara Havers novel, however do not let that deter you . Although I have read many of this series this is my first for a while and it did not make the slightest difference to my enjoyment. Elizabeth George’s writing is so well formed that within a few short pages I was once again hooked and silently kicking myself for missing out on such incredible reads. This latest novel deals with a very heart breaking and scary matter of FGM. Detective Sergeant Teo Bontempi had been rushed to hospital and had slipped into a coma and passed away. However, the blunt force trauma to the back of her head ensured that she did not die through any accident. To add to the concerns of the Police force and Acting DCS Linley, Teo was a black Nigerian detective working as part of an anti-FGM task force under the leadership of DCI Mark Phinney. As Linley, Havers and Nkata start investigating the threads of the investigation seem to be turning in many directions. Was Teo targeted for her police work? Was Ross , Teo’s husband, actually telling the truth as he supposedly was with her after the attack? All the twists and turns of the story serve to make this novel an extremely compelling read.
This maybe the 21st in the series but the next cannot come too soon, meanwhile I will be reading the novels in the series I’ve missed. Proving that the writing is so good that this book works as a stand alone novel in its own right.

Complex, Disturbing….
The twenty first Inspector Lynley novel in which the reader is invited to solve another complex and disturbing puzzle when a death throws up much controversy, implications and concerns. A long tale indeed, perhaps too drawn out, but a welcome return for the detectives and the compelling storyline has much to commend it and with a denouement that is, perhaps, an unexpected one.

This is a difficult but absorbing read. At the heart of the plot is the practice of FGM, and the marketable value of girls and young women in some communities. Set in London and beginning with the murder of a police woman, we follow the fortunes of a family with an eight year old girl at risk, alongside the police investigation. This is not an easy subject to tackle in a novel but I was thoroughly invested in the characters and have learned a lot at the same time.

I'm a huge fan of the Lynley series of books- but I don't know. This one is sooooooo long which is absolutely fine when it's not wasted narrative but quite honestly I could have done without at least 30% of this.

The authors writing is fantastic as ever and the subject matter at the heart of it is important, relevant and obviously well researched. But gosh it dragged and I found myself skimming over swathes of irrelevant background noise to get to the soul of it.

Personally I also found that the mainstay characters, the ones whose story you stay for, seemed rushed and shoved to the side. The brilliant thing about this series comes with the ongoing protagonists lives - remember THAT book where Lynleys life changed forever? - or even the one off characters whose voices filled the inbetween in earlier books like Playing For the Ashes- I didn't get that here.

The central story is good but the feeling that Lynley might be becoming just another police procedural series meant this just wasn't as emotionally resonant for me. Hopefully in the next one...

When this book began it was a bit difficult to get hold of the characters and the story - it felt very ‘bitty’, flitting quickly from one character/action to another and quite difficult to follow at times. But then Thomas Lynley, Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata appeared and all was familiar and well again! It’s a murder mystery, and a gripping one at that, but also a sensitive exploration of the subject of FGM and the two stories are very convincingly linked and explored. This is a long book, but it just gets better and better as it goes on and the ending is as unexpected as it is satisfying.

I am a huge fan of Elizabeth George’s novels, as they are always meticulously researched, with well-rounded characters and serious contemporary issues explored sensitively along each plotline. Unbelievably, this novel represents Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers’ twenty-first outing, and these literary characters show no signs of slowing down. This time, they are initially tasked with solving the murder of a Nigerian woman in the UK, but their trail soon leads them to a missing girl by the name of Simisola and the brutal practice of FGM. I was delighted to see Simon and Deborah St James, two of my favourite characters from previous Lynley and Havers novels make a reappearance in this book. I also wondered whether the young female person of interest was named Simisola in recognition of the late Ruth Rendell’s 1994 novel of the same name, or whether Simisola is simply a very popular Yoruba first name. As in her previous novels, George expertly and deftly executes the many twists and turns of Lynley and Havers’ indomitable search for the truth and as readers we are in her capable hands. Several sections of this book could have been compressed as they were overly long, but George’s fans will no doubt cope with this lengthy tome and enjoy immersing themselves in George’s fictional world once more.

Having watched Inspector Lynleys mysteries on television and thoroughly enjoyed them I have no idea why I haven’t read any of the books yet. Wow what a great book to start with - very disturbing topic to read about but it did spark my interest in finding out more about this outrageous practice and I certainly lost some sleep over it.
A young female police officer who had been working in an undercover investigation was found murdered in her own flat. Inspector Lynley and his team are assigned to work the case to find out why she was murdered and uncover the murderer. Based in North London there is a lot of cultural references which may not be palatable to some audiences.
I personally recommend it as I enjoyed reading the book but I know it’s going to stay with me for a very long time.

Something to Hide by Elizabeth George
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Publication Date 11/1/22

4.5 stars out of 5
No Spoilers

Lynley & Havers have long been my favourite detective duo and I think I’ve read every book. This did not disappoint. Meticulously researched and plotted as ever with plenty of twists and turns. Be warned though - the subject matter is very disturbing.

I’d like to thank the author, publisher and netgalley for providing me with this advance digital copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

A very disturbing novel – an eyeopener.

Deborah St James, the Undersecretary of State for the School System have asked a photographer to produce a book that will tell the story of women who have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and those trying to escape their parents who are insisting on having FGM performed on their daughters. The daughters have heard that Orchid House, founded and run by Zawadi can keep them safe from their parents until social services, and Zawadi can speak and hopefully, re-educate the parents into signing documents stating that FGM will not be performed on their daughters. Narissa, a filmmaker, will be interviewing and filming responses from other women who have undergone FGM.

They are an unlikely group of women to form any kind of bond, but as they grudgingly (especially Zawadi) get to know each other they realise that to make the maximum impact on parents, they will need to cooperate and work together.

Tanimola Bankole, has an eight-year-old sister, Simisola. His Nigerian parents Abeo and Monifa, come from a very traditional background where FGM is expected to take place. Tani must try to protect his sister from her father, from arranging this practice to be performed on her.

All these characters will become involved in the investigation, led by Acting Chief Superintendent Thomas Lynley, together with his team; Detective Sergeants Barbara Havers and Winston Nkata when the body of Detective Sergeant Teo Bontempi is discovered in her flat – murdered. None of them might be suspects however, their stories will play a huge part in the investigation.

The suspects for Teo’s murder could be her boss, Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Phinney, his wife, Pietra, the woman running the clinic where FGM is performed illegally, her husband, Ross, or sister Rosie. There are so many suspects, and the actual perpetrator is the last person I could imagine killing anyone.

It’s an exceptionally long novel. However, as always, Elizabeth George is such a pleasure to read. The writing is superlative and descriptive. The subject is something I’ve heard about and before reading this book; I blocked my ears when FGM was discussed. Reading about it made me then see it from all sides. However, the idea that girls can be treated in this appalling manner will haunt me forever. There is nothing that can mitigate this barbaric act being performed.

Rony

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review.

When you pick up an Elisabeth George novel, you know you’re in for a superbly written story, with engaging characters and an interesting plot. This 21st Lynley novel is exactly that. The topic this time is female genital mutilation and focuses on the struggles between family members who want to stick to ‘the old ways’ from their Nigerian culture, and the ones that learn to think different about it. It’s cleverly done that a young teenage boy, born and bred in England, is horrified when he hears what his father is planning to be done to his little sister. He’s even more horrified when he learns that his mother is by no means able to stand up to his father. Well, this father is some character… he’s the kind of man who terrorizes his family all in the name of ‘he’s head of the household and knows what’s best’. Of course having affairs, behaving like a bully and slapping your wife and children around is not ‘the best’.
While we read about FGM and how this family gets stuck into the hidden world of ‘nurses’ who operate on (very) small girls, we also read about Teo Bontempi, a colleague of Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers who is found unconscious in her apartment, to die later in hospital. It soon appears that both stories are intertwined in a complicated way.
Although I found the plot interesting and just love Elisabeth George’s beautiful style, the story started out quite slow and it could have done with less information about the exact things the characters were doing or planning to do. However, I could well relate to certain characters – and learned to dislike others – and it was good to have more background information on Nkata. I’m curious as to the next book will focus more on the personal life of Tommy, Barbara, Winston and even Dorothea.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder&Stoughton for this review copy.

This is the 21st book in the Thomas Linley mystery series. It could be read as a standalone.
All the characters from previous books are back, and it’s like seeing old friends that you’ve really missed. This time they’re solving the murder of a fellow police officer who was working an important case on the side.

She was trying to stop FGM in London. FGM (female genital mutilation), although illegal, is still practiced among families from African countries where the tradition is strong. It signifies that the girls are clean and ready for marriage, although it can cause painful issues for the women involved.

This is a sensitive and powerful issue that Elizabeth George takes head on. I especially liked the scenes of the Bankole family, it was a glimpse into their lives and beliefs, from the father’s insistence on complete obedience from his family to the brother, who will do anything for his little sister and protects her from being cut. They’re a Nigerian immigrant family who wants to follow Nigerian traditions in London.

This book is beautifully written and elegantly plotted. My only gripe is that it’s a too long. I kept getting bogged down in details that hindered the plot flow. This isn’t a quick read, the subject matter precludes that, but it’s definitely worth reading. 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This tale, Something to Hide is book 21 in a series by Elizabeth George and is my introduction to both the series and the writer. Set in North London, I really liked Thomas Lynley, an Acting Chief Superintendent who has plenty of personality. I enjoyed meeting Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and DS Winston Nkata and in this volume, the reader becomes acquainted with Nkata's parents. There are many threads to the story, and the dead person doesn't appear until over 100 pages in. This was a long novel that went into some detail about a theme that was quite difficult to read about, female genital mutilation, referred to as FGM, so it is not for the faint-hearted. But it is in the mystery sections of the book where the author really excels as the reader is led on a journey to find out who murdered DS Teo Bontempi. Overall, an excellent plot, leading to a conclusion I started guessing at towards the end without ever being positive.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

As a long time reader of Elizabeth George's books I was delighted to read this latest offering. It took a little longer in this title for her regular characters to appear but was worth the wait. There were many characters who were possibly responsible for the two cases being investigated, giving the plot many twists and turns.
Elizabeth George has obviously done her research on FGM and the subject is handled in a balanced way.
Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Lynley's love life is a problem for him; Barbara Havers still has a poor diet and has problems with Dorothea trying to set her up with someone which provides much humour and Winston Nkata's family appear more in this story.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Elizabeth George/Hodder & Stoughton for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

So enjoy these Linley/Havers books. Think I have read them all so know the full background of the main characters. That does help, especially with Linley's storyline. Despite the extremely unpleasant subject matter this was a strong plot. Sadly, this is an all to real problem still affecting girls. Thanks to Netgalley.

I received an advance copy of this via netgalley in exchange for a review.
I have read all of the Elizabeth George Inspector Linley books and have been looking forward to this one for a long time. It did not disappoint. Although this book could be read alone, it is book 21 in a series and is most enjoyable read after the others.
The book is set in London and tackles a tricky subject, that of FGM, of which I know a lot more now than I did before.
I enjoyed meeting with the regular characters all of whom have developed across the years. This book though focuses less on the personal relationships of the characters than previous books have done. The personal stories were still there, just less prominent.
There are various strands to the book, the murder of a police colleague, is the starting point. Her investigation into FGM provides the link to the other main strand of the book.
I enjoyed the story and I enjoyed the incidental learning about some of the, African communities in London.
Although there are still occasional language glitches of an American writing in UK English, the book is well written and I thoroughly enjoyed it
The door is open for the next in the series which I look forward to. A good, but long read which drew me in, I read it over just 3 days.

I have been a fan of Lynley throughout the entire series and found this even more absorbing as the previous books in the series. The subject matter is challenging but it gave me insights into very different cultural issues whilst maintaining the usual high standard of the police procedural mystery.

This is not one of Elizabeth George’s more enjoyable books, for me at least. I had thought from the synopsis that I was requesting a murder mystery thriller. This book is that, to a certain extent, but it is much more focussed on an organisation heavily involved in FGM, which had I known, I would not have requested the book. This is such a very emotive, difficult topic, that I felt like a voyeur, reading a fictional story which deals with it. I did not feel that it was particularly sensitively handled in this book, and I felt very uncomfortable reading about it.
The whole novel is far too long, with large chunks of extraneous ‘ padding’, where the flow of the narrative slows down so much it almost stops. I admit to skim- reading these passages. I feel that some judicious editing would have improved the narrative flow. This is just my opinion however, and people should read it for themselves.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.