"In The Presence of the Enemy"

"In The Presence of the Enemy," a mystery by Elizabeth George, is a Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers novel. I've long been a fan of the Inspector Lynley mystery series I've viewed on public television but this is the first time I can remember reading one of the books. This one was "daunting" at 517 pages but well worth the read. The novel is divided into three parts with each focusing on a different aspect of this complicated case. Ten year old Charlotte Bowen, the daughter Dennis Luxford fathered but never acknowledged at the insistence of Charlotte's mother, is kidnapped and her life is threatened if Dennis doesn't admit her existence on the front page of the newspaper he edits. Matters are complicated by the fact that Charlotte's mother is a high ranking political figure who wants to preserve her career. When Eve Bowen won't give her permission for the story to be published, Luxford contacts forensic scientist Simon St. James for help hoping to find his daughter without involving the police. St. James and his assistant, Helen, as well as St. James' wife make some headway but not before the police have to be called in. When Lynley learns of their involvement without contacting authorities, he's furious at all three of them and it adds tension to his relationship with Helen -- who he hopes to make his wife. While Lynley works on the disappearance in the London area, he sends Havers out to the countryside to follow some leads. As they work the case from both locations, clues come together that lead to a climatic ending! George does an excellent job of character development so I felt I was really in their shoes understanding their feelings -- a book not to be missed! pazt