Instruct: Classify a review into positive or negative sentiment.
Query: Dirty, gritty, unlikeable characters....

I usually enjoy Elizabeth George mysteries. This book, however, is a travesty and far off-track from her usual novels. So.....Lady Helen Clyde-Lynley was murdered in the previous book. We did NOT need to know the history of her killer ad nauseum. In my opinion, this book has no redeeming qualities to it. George would have been better served by forging right into the story of how Inspector Thomas Lynley coped with the death of his wife, instead of wasting our time with this study of the underbelly of London society.