Reviews

Death of an Expert Witness by P.D. James

kari13's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

missbryden's review against another edition

3.0

Similar to previous in series, so many characters introduced and hard to keep track, hours (of audio) before Dalgliesh shows up. In audio most characters sound unlikeable and whiney, especially the female voices (which seems odd since it was a woman who narrated).

littletaiko's review against another edition

3.0

I generally like police procedurals and this one was enjoyable enough. Not sure I really bought into the ending and the motive for the murder. Lots of secrets to uncover in this small town.

cimorene1558's review against another edition

3.0

One of the bleakest novels of an author who specializes in bleak. No one's very nice, the setting (fen country) is depressing and oppressive, but it's still a well-crafted mystery.

colorfulleo92's review against another edition

3.0

It was a fine read, wasn't very exciting but would like to read more by P.D. James before I make my mind about her.

dailbrae's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

michael5000's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I usually assume that audio gives a detective novel a bump of a half-star to a star. And, I had little patience for the Dalgleish novels when I was listening to them. But after I nicked this paperback from a B&B last weekend, I found it pretty compulsive reading. Maybe P.D. James is better read than heard. Or, maybe any light fiction seems fantastic when you read it right after "Moby Dick."

Great title, too.


2024: Gosh, maybe audio works against detective fiction!  This one was just fine in the headphones, but more 3-star fine than 4-star fine.

i_attri_'s review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

1.5

jof68's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

lbast's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0