I love George's writing; not only is it beautiful, but she keeps you engaged throughout each book. But her subjects are typically heavy, and you end up suffering with the characters as each new tawdry detail is revealed. 
 My favorite quote from this book is here. There's a possible spoiler, so only read if you've finished the book. 
 (view spoiler)[Absalom, Absalom, Lynley thought. It was the cry of every father who had stubbornly failed to bind his life and his love to his son. But just like David's mourning the death of Absalom, the sudden flowering of Giles Bryne's solicitude could not change reality. It came far too late. 
 (hide spoiler)]