Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Always more comfortable to read about a thoroughly unlikable murder victim (instead of a sympathetic one), and James delivers that here. Lorrimer is extremely unpleasant to just about everyone. The mystery is made tricky because of the plethora of suspects who had ample reason/inclination to do Lorrimer in.
Two things that were less successful for me:
1)
2) I've only read a few James mysteries so far, so maybe it's not in all of her work, but goodness, her narratives aren't forgiving to career women and sexually adventurous women. Both Domenica and Claire are starkly unsympathetic here, and Stella doesn't come off much better.
Two things that were less successful for me:
1)
Spoiler
Will James ever give us happy lesbians who don't die in the end?!2) I've only read a few James mysteries so far, so maybe it's not in all of her work, but goodness, her narratives aren't forgiving to career women and sexually adventurous women. Both Domenica and Claire are starkly unsympathetic here, and Stella doesn't come off much better.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have reread this book countless of times and it never gets old. It might not have the obvious humour but there are some dry quips and tongue in cheek which you can find if you pay attention. Though I love this book more for the sympathy towards the murderer and the heartbreaking sacrifices that some people will go to protect family and their way of home.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
It takes too long to build up the story - too much reflection and description - loses the interest of the readers quickly and just isn't able to gain it back.
Another solid Dalgliesh mystery, with a compelling supporting cast of suspects. Her prose once again elevates her above many of her genre peers.
This is the 6th Adam Dalgliesh book by PD James. Like the 5 that went before it, it feels dated. It was written in 1976/77, so that probably shouldn't be surprising.
In this book, a biologist working for the Forensic Science Service is killed in his lab in East Anglia, and it's Dalgliesh's responsibility to find out who did it, along with the murderer who killed a subsequent person in the book.
Personally, the datedness wasn't that much of a problem for me. What bugged me was that it was a little predictable. These "country house style" mysteries get a little samey after a while, and I've read 6 of PD James' books lately. This said, I suspect that you'll like the book if you haven't read that sort of book in a while (and don't mind the datedness).
In this book, a biologist working for the Forensic Science Service is killed in his lab in East Anglia, and it's Dalgliesh's responsibility to find out who did it, along with the murderer who killed a subsequent person in the book.
Personally, the datedness wasn't that much of a problem for me. What bugged me was that it was a little predictable. These "country house style" mysteries get a little samey after a while, and I've read 6 of PD James' books lately. This said, I suspect that you'll like the book if you haven't read that sort of book in a while (and don't mind the datedness).