Initial Thoughts

I am not a mystery reader, so this book was a bit of an effort for me to get through. By the end, though, I couldn't wait to see how it wrapped up! So I'm glad that I kept reading, but the "hook" didn't really get set until I was about 2/3 of the way through.

I had a similar reading experience, Lisa, though I would consider myself a mystery reader. I'm familiar with this series and a fan of Barbara Havers, so I wanted to see/read her in action (not Helen). I was taken in. Good job, Elizabeth George, you pulled the wool over my eyes!

I started this thinking it would be a "cozy" British mystery and very quickly realized this was more of a realistic, modern police procedural. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters and I think they've got interesting backstories that give them some depth. I'm inspired to continue with the series to see how each character develops.

I enjoyed the Journalistic aspect of the novel, especially related to the recent news regarding Murdoch and British tabloids.

I'm not a big mystery fan usually, but this novel was great. I was amazed to learn she is an American writing such a thoroughly British mystery. I like the unorthodox characters and the continuing surprises while the outcome was realistic. Great read.

In The Presence of The Enemy kept me enthralled and entertained. The characters were very well drawn, and I loved the way Ms. George George wove between the families, the settings, and the police. Plat was never sacrificed for character and vice versa, leaving me feeling horror, empathy and dismay as I read about the Luxford's, Bowen's, the Paynes, etc. The novel was set in different worlds--journalism, politics, police, villages, London--and the novel wove seamlessly among the different locales. I will definitely be catching up on Elizabeth George's other novels!