Based on the best-selling novels of Elizabeth George, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries find Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley (also known as the 8th Earl of Asherton) and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers solving cases of murder that would challenge the savviest of detectives. Divided by class barriers both real and imagined, but united in their efforts to uncover the truth, Lynley and Havers form an unlikely yet successful sleuthing duo. Such a close working relationship is likely to expose their personal lives, and so Lynley often finds himself bearing witness to Havers bruising encounters with the dating scene; while Havers becomes both a punching bag and a shoulder to cry on as Lynley s love-life takes him through marriage, separation and bereavement at one point leading him into a relationship that marks him a murder suspect. From politics to the all-too personal; from smuggling to blackmail and corruption; from Cornwall to the House of Lords; The Inspector Lynley Mysteries find murder lurking in every corner and for Lynley and Havers solving those murders can sometimes come at a very heavy price.

When England cricketer Kenneth Waring dies of asphyxiation after a fire is set at a friend's house, the police have no doubt they are dealing with murder. The house belonged to Waring's patron and close friend Miriam Whitelaw who had a visitor the evening Waring died, her estranged daughter Olivia. Waring was separated from his wife Jeannie and had recently given her divorce papers. As well, his lover and agent Gabriella Patten, the ex-wife of a cricket teammate, has gone missing. Miriam had recently been attacked by animal rights activists which, unbeknown to her, included her daughter. When Waring's son confesses to the murder, Lynley has his doubts. Lynley decides they need a profiler on the case and not surprisingly hires Helen Clyde for the job but things don't go very well. Havers moves into her new flat.

Gordon Comstock is a copywriter at an ad agency, and his girlfriend Rosemary is a designer. Gordon believes he is a genius, a marvelous poet and quits the ad agency, trying to live on his poems, but poverty soon comes to him.