Search advanced search
 
Books
Search:
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

Well-Schooled in Murder
  • Rated 0 stars
Read Well-Schooled in Murder
Inspector Lynley: Book 3

Well-Schooled in Murder (1990) (edit title/settings)

by Elizabeth George (Author) (edit contributors)

Share this book on:
see page history

Description edit see section history

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... read more

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Summary edit see section history

Old school loyalties entangle Thomas Lynley in a case that promises to be both tragic and troubling. A boy has gone missing from Bredgar Chambers, an independent school in the heart of West Sussex, and John Corntel, the lad's housemaster, has turned up at New Scotland Yard to ask for Lynley's... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Old school loyalties entangle Thomas Lynley in a case that promises to be both tragic and troubling. A boy has gone missing from Bredgar Chambers, an independent school in the heart of West Sussex, and John Corntel, the lad's housemaster, has turned up at New Scotland Yard to ask for Lynley's help. Because West Sussex is not within his jurisdiction, Lynley knows he should keep well clear of the case, but the boy within the man remembers his own school days at Eton and his former close ties with John Corntel. Thus, in Well-Schooled in Murder, Lynley finds himself deeply involved in the search for a child and, too soon, for that child's murderer.

With the assistance of Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers and forensic scientist Simon Allcourt-St. James, Lynley seeks the identity of an amoral killer. As the inspector and his sergeant question school prefects, the Headmaster, and both teachers and pupils closest to the dead boy, they begin to sense that something extraordinary and evil is going on at this privileged enclave of the elite's children. And the key that will unlock the reality of Matthew Whateley's death lies in uncovering the secrets and undermining the loyalties of a closed society.

For Lynley, who is mourning the absence of Helen Clyde, for Sergeant Havers, who is trying desperately to escape the responsibilities of her claustrophobic family life, and for Simon St. James, whose marriage is disintegrating for reasons he cannot understand, the investigation into Matthew's death will lead perilously close to their own emotional wounds. It will be these personal issues, as much as the cryptic clues that refuse to yield a definitive suspect, that may blind them all to the signs of another murder in the making-and to a terrible act of desperation that will break down the barriers of the past to expose a truth too long hidden in the name of love.

This is a highly charged work of dark motives, powerful feelings, and treacherous infidelities that takes the reader even deeper into he interlocking lives of Lynley, St. James, and Havers.

-taken from the author's website at www.elizabethgeorgeonline.com

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Thomas Lynley: Detective Inspector, New Scotland Yard
  • Barbara Havers: Detective Sergeant, New Scotland Yard; in this book, her father is very ill and her mother's rambling mind means her father gets limited care when Barbara is not there.
  • Matthew Whateley: Murder victim found by Deborah St. James while she is on a photo shoot in a country churchyard. Beautiful boy. Adopted. His father carves stone. He was trying to protect his friend from bullying.
  • Alan Lockwood: Head of the school. Concerned with appearances and wants a quick resolution that he can present to the board. Does not want the school to be responsible.
  • Brian Byrne: Student. Looks at Chas Quilter a lot. Is estranged from his father, who is on the board.
  • Deborah St. James: Is depressed after her fourth miscarriage. Is traveling on a photo shoot to illustrate a book of poems when she finds the murdered boy.
  • John Comtel: Lynley's Eton schoomate who is head of the house that the victim lived in. He did not do his rounds the night be boy was murdered. Seeks Lynley's help out of guilt and because of their school ties. He kept Lynley from being expelled when his father was ill.
  • Clive Pritchard: Older student. Big braggart about his sexual conquests.
  • Harry Morant: Matthew's friend. He is being bullied. Matthew seeks to protect him. He was thought to be with Harry when he was, in fact, being murdered.
  • Giles Byrne: Brian's father. School board member. Also a TV personality. He is vain and critical.
  • Tommy Lynley: Inspector Lynley is very sad in this case because Helen has fled from his keen interest in her and he is being depressed by the case.
  • Kevin Whateley: Matthew's father. He is violently angry over his loss.
  • Mattie: short for Matthew
  • Edward Hsu: Former student at the school who was brilliant but who committed suicide. Mr. Byrne was particularly attached to him and had a statue erected after his death.
  • Jean Bonnamy: Colonel Bonnamy's daughter who takes care of him. She drives Matthew to their home and back to school each week while he visits with them. The three of them enjoy the arrangement.
  • Cecilia: Lives near the cemetery at Stoke Poges. Ill. Seems to be hiding something.
  • Chas Quilter: Prefect of Matthew's house. The model student. His older brother had been expelled for stealing. Chas seems determined to be above suspicion and to excel at school and go to Cambridge. He seems disgusted by the boys' rooms, which are disastrous and dirty.
  • Simon St. James: Forensic scientist. Married to Deborah but their relationship is strained, and he misunderstands part of the reasons.
  • Patsy Whateley: Matthew's mother is coming unraveled in her grief.
  • Helen: Tommy's love interest who is afraid of commitment. She is charming, perspicacious, glib, and loves high heels.
  • Erebus: The name of Matthew's house.
  • St. James: aka Simon
  • Mrs. Streader: Foster mother to Cecilia
  • Cowfrey Pitt: Teacher who dislikes Corntel; sloppy
  • Preston: Add a description of this character.
  • Eddie: aka Edward Hsu
  • Detective Inspector Canarone: The local policeman in Slough. Amenable.
  • Rhena Byrne: Byrne's current wife. Pakistani.
Show all 28 characters
Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

First Sentence edit see section history

The rear garden of the cottage in Hammersmith's Lower Mall was set up to accommodate artistic endeavours.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 3 of 18 in Inspector Lynley. (standard series)

Preceded by Payment in Blood, and followed by A Suitable Vengeance.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Elizabeth George (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Bantam
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 1990
ISBN: 0553070002
Page Count: 356

Classification edit see section history

We’re hiding the errata, movie connections, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.

© 2006-2013 Shelfari | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy

Close