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tommyro's review against another edition
1.0
Dull. Murder wasn't very challenging or particularly original. Characters weren't interesting.
jenneb_readingjournal's review against another edition
3.0
Read this as part of the M.E. Mystery Challenge 2022.
Adam Dalgliesh #2 (one of my favorite detectives and a personal goal of mine is to read the entire series), and while this was a decent book you can tell the writing style of P.D. was evolving as compared to her later books, such as Death in Holy Orders. The writing isn't as tight and the characters not as sketched out. I did guess the perpetrator rather quickly but it was interesting to see the timeline needed for the murder to take place.
The book was originally published in 1963 and so there's mention of LSD being used to treat psychiatric patients. I am a nurse and I had to look up the difference between a Sister and a Nurse (the term Sister for a nurse stems from the time nuns were nurses). From the research I could find (and if anyone in the UK reads this, please correct me if I'm wrong), a Nurse in the UK would be similar to a Staff Nurse in the US; a Sister or Ward Sister in the UK is similar to a Charge Nurse in the US; a Nurse Matron in the UK is similar to a Nursing Director in the US. The one thing I really enjoyed about this book was learning about all this (the LSD therapy in psychiatry and UK nursing terms).
One murder: stabbing.
Adam Dalgliesh #2 (one of my favorite detectives and a personal goal of mine is to read the entire series), and while this was a decent book you can tell the writing style of P.D. was evolving as compared to her later books, such as Death in Holy Orders. The writing isn't as tight and the characters not as sketched out. I did guess the perpetrator rather quickly but it was interesting to see the timeline needed for the murder to take place.
The book was originally published in 1963 and so there's mention of LSD being used to treat psychiatric patients. I am a nurse and I had to look up the difference between a Sister and a Nurse (the term Sister for a nurse stems from the time nuns were nurses). From the research I could find (and if anyone in the UK reads this, please correct me if I'm wrong), a Nurse in the UK would be similar to a Staff Nurse in the US; a Sister or Ward Sister in the UK is similar to a Charge Nurse in the US; a Nurse Matron in the UK is similar to a Nursing Director in the US. The one thing I really enjoyed about this book was learning about all this (the LSD therapy in psychiatry and UK nursing terms).
One murder: stabbing.
bowienerd_82's review against another edition
3.0
Didn't enthrall me quite as much as the first book, but still quite a decent read. I think I just wasn't as interested in the characters in this one, and I still feel like Adam hasn't been explored as the detective very much.
I also spent far too much time boggling over the fact that some of the outpatient psych patients were being treated with LSD, but this was written in the early 60s...
I also spent far too much time boggling over the fact that some of the outpatient psych patients were being treated with LSD, but this was written in the early 60s...
mirificmoxie's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars
*An astute and easy to read classic mystery*
Classic Mysteries make great in-between reads. They are quick, engaging, and easy to read. And there is something comforting in the formula of murder-investigation-justice. So I decided to check out the next book in the Adam Dalgliesh series.
In the first book of the series, I was surprised how little Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh was actually in the story. He was barely more than a cameo. I’m not sure whether or not he was intended to a continuing character. But in A Mind to Murder, Dalgliesh plays a larger role. You also get to learn more about his background and personality, although there is certainly still plenty of room for expansion.
As with [b:Cover Her Face|3832|Cover Her Face (Adam Dalgliesh #1)|P.D. James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1298412294l/3832._SY75_.jpg|625423], A Mind to Murder is as much about the characters’ reaction to the murder as it is about the actual murder investigation. The cast consists of mostly morally grey characters whose flaws are evident as they simultaneously try to cast aspersions and avoid blame for the crimes committed. Also in keeping with the first book, many issues of the time period are woven throughout the story giving it a bit more depth and reality.
A Mind to Murder is not exactly a locked room mystery, but there is a limited pool of suspects which affects both the investigation and the suspects’ reactions to each other. The actual mystery still kept me guessing although it was not groundbreaking. Overall, this was a solid installment in the series.
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 4 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 3 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 3 Stars
*An astute and easy to read classic mystery*
Classic Mysteries make great in-between reads. They are quick, engaging, and easy to read. And there is something comforting in the formula of murder-investigation-justice. So I decided to check out the next book in the Adam Dalgliesh series.
In the first book of the series, I was surprised how little Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh was actually in the story. He was barely more than a cameo. I’m not sure whether or not he was intended to a continuing character. But in A Mind to Murder, Dalgliesh plays a larger role. You also get to learn more about his background and personality, although there is certainly still plenty of room for expansion.
“Right and wrong stood for him as immutable as the two poles. He had never wandered in that twilight country where the nuances of evil and good cast their perplexing shadows.”
As with [b:Cover Her Face|3832|Cover Her Face (Adam Dalgliesh #1)|P.D. James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1298412294l/3832._SY75_.jpg|625423], A Mind to Murder is as much about the characters’ reaction to the murder as it is about the actual murder investigation. The cast consists of mostly morally grey characters whose flaws are evident as they simultaneously try to cast aspersions and avoid blame for the crimes committed. Also in keeping with the first book, many issues of the time period are woven throughout the story giving it a bit more depth and reality.
“She would not wish anyone violently dead but, since it had happened, one might as well make the most of it.”
A Mind to Murder is not exactly a locked room mystery, but there is a limited pool of suspects which affects both the investigation and the suspects’ reactions to each other. The actual mystery still kept me guessing although it was not groundbreaking. Overall, this was a solid installment in the series.
RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 4 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 3 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 3 Stars
literaryfeline's review against another edition
3.0
The office administrator at the Steen Psychiatric Clinic is found murdered in the records room. It is up to Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh to unravel the mystery and uncover who murdered Miss Bolam and why. Ms. James is gifted at letting readers into the minds of her characters without giving away who was behind the murder. A Mind to Murder was an entertaining murder mystery.
em_beddedinbooks's review against another edition
4.0
There are few crime and mystery authors whose books I reread (for reasons obvious), and PD James and Agatha Christie have a prominent place among them. This was a reread for me, but seemed like a new story, as I read it a long time ago and had totally forgotten the circumstances leading to the murder. I quite enjoy PD James' style. I like reading about Dalgleish and team. The background for this mystery is a private psychiatry clinic, whose administrating officer is found dead in the records room. The suspects are naturally her co-workers as it was almost closing hours and all the patients present at that time had no access to her. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
eafm's review against another edition
2.0
I was disappointed with this one. It was fine, but forgettable. Too many irrelevant details, too many interchangeable characters.
jessica_sim's review against another edition
2.0
I don't like it when I give low scores but well, I am not on the Dalgliesh bandwagon yet.
Reading these books in order will hopefully prove to be interesting but for now, the reading of the 2nd book came a little too early after finishing the first. There was a complete change in scenery but still, the characters could be swapped out between books without any problem, they all sounded exactly the same. Also, Dalgliesh doesn't seem to be integral to the story at all. It could just as well be an anonymous detective. The only thing connecting the two books is an obviously doomed romantic relationship with one of the previous suspects.
Reading these books in order will hopefully prove to be interesting but for now, the reading of the 2nd book came a little too early after finishing the first. There was a complete change in scenery but still, the characters could be swapped out between books without any problem, they all sounded exactly the same. Also, Dalgliesh doesn't seem to be integral to the story at all. It could just as well be an anonymous detective. The only thing connecting the two books is an obviously doomed romantic relationship with one of the previous suspects.
chfugal's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Audio library
Overall good mystery. The end was not what I expected. Adam Daglesh still remains somewhat of a mystery.
Overall good mystery. The end was not what I expected. Adam Daglesh still remains somewhat of a mystery.