The Evidence Exposed

Rating:
Summary: A puzzle.
Review: I'm a huge fan of Ms. George's work and I was puzzled by this short book of mystery stories. They seemed like something a person would write for an adult education language arts class - maybe they were, for something she was teaching? She joined her students in the exercise? I don't know the background. They seemed like skeletons of stories. Why release them, then? They didn't even serve as something a fan could use to tide her over until the next novel, because her usual characters don't appear (except for a cameo by Lynley and his wife in the first story). Please Ms. George, write another full length novel that features Barbara Havers heavily. It's what a lot of fans are waiting for.

Rating:
Summary: Writer's block?
Review: There is some kind of con going on here. The Evidence Exposed is a collection of three stories; while I. Richard, the next collection out, is the same three stories (though with one drastically altered), plus two more, plus author introductions. The title story of The Evidence Exposed is also the lead story in I. Richard, but called simply, "Exposed." The author is quite frank about the repetition, saying that she was so dissatisfied with The Evidence Exposed that she wrote it again, realizing that she had "killed the wrong person." It is a story that did not work the first time, and does not work the second time, either. She should have left it alone -- in fact, forgotten it.

The best story in this collection is,"Remember, I'll always love you." It was the only one that was not predictable. Otherwise, it does seem hard on Elizabeth George's many fans that they should be tricked into buying two books that are almost identical. In effect, they are being asked to pay out again, in order to read a couple more yarns, plus a revision. In her defence, it must be recognized that inspiration does not always oblige, especially when an author has set such high standards for herself. It would be nice if her publishers would give her breathing space to regroup, and quietly devise another of her wonderful plots without being pressured by contractual or commercial obligations. I am sure her fans would understand and be patient.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent collection of short stories
Review: These are great. They are all different, all entertaining, all well written.

The title story is perhaps the worst of the collection. The solution to the whole thing is a bit silly. the motive for the killing just not believeable...but up until then it is a stunning short story. There is a memorable cast of eccentric characters who are really well drawn and believeable, in true George style.

The second story "I, Richard" is perhap a little long, but nonetheless it is an interesting character study on people's motives, also it is very good in that it provides some really interesting tidbits of historical english detail (which even I, as a person from england, did not fully know). The twist at the end is a surprise, and also quite amusing. The lead character in the story is not a likeable man, and he really gets some compuppeance!

"The Surprise of His Life" the final story in this collection is also very good. They all are very good showcases on human weakness and what will drive people to murde.r this story to some extene deals with paranoia and obsession leading to a tragic death. the build up to the death is suspenseful and intriguing. Yet again, when we think everything is all going along smoothly, George pulls the wool over the reader's eyes once again with another nice sting in the tail.

All in all, this collection has flaws (perhaps the middle story is a little long. the solution to the first story is not very believeable) which is why it gets four stars. But overall, the quality of these short stories is very good, and they are a nice little treat to tide you over until her next full-length novel.