Scan barcode
simplyparticular's review against another edition
2.0
The plot was gripping, and readers had insight into the villians head, but as a reader I felt detached from the detective and his team. More recent crime thrillers get you inside the heads of the detectives. This is a different style of mystery than I prefer.
audra_spiven's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first P. D. James novel, and while I don't really have anything to criticize about this novel, I can't say that it kept me on the edge of my seat either. It is pretty boilerplate detective fiction, and it held my interest without fascinating me. It picked up a bit around 2/3 of the way through, and then the end was probably different from James's usual endings, but 20+ years after publishing it just doesn't seem all that innovative now. I am always conflicted in a situation like this--I dropped myself into the middle of a series in which a principal character is followed but also in which each book stands alone, so while I haven't read the previous 9 novels to cultivate a personal interest in the detective character, I am also not totally lost on plot because the plot starts and ends with this book--so my conflict is, is it worth getting to know Adam Dalgliesh by going back to James's first book and reading the series in publication order, or do I pretty much have the scope of him from this one book from late in the series. I feel quite milquetoast about it overall, so I probably won't pursue more Dalgliesh, but I am confident in saying that P. D. James is a capable writer of complex narrative and a creator of characters who have depth. I enjoyed this.
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
5.0
This is the 10th book in the Adam Dagliesh series. This was masterfully written. The development of the character of Venetia Aldridge allows the reader to feel as though they “know” her, as much as you could anyone. Dagliesh himself is not really the focus of this particular book. Venetia and her unfortunate situation with her daughter and the daughter’s fiance, other members of the Middle Temple, and D.I. Kate Miskin, who struggles with demons from her own past, are more front and center in this book and it works superbly. We hear from Dagliesh almost as a voice in the background questioning and guiding but allowing others to take center stage.
A Certain Justice starts by introducing us to Venetia Aldridge in criminal court as she successfully gets a suspected murderer a “Not Guilty” verdict. We then delve in to the interesting British legal system of courts and solicitors and barristers and the things that occur behind closed doors in Chambers. We know from the start that Venetia will die, we spend the rest of the exploring how, why and who. There are some very unlikable characters and some that are pitiable for various reasons.
This is one of my favorites of the Dagliesh series so far. So well written and engaging, not written as a thriller, but rather as a book for immersing yourself in the world that P.D. James created.
A Certain Justice starts by introducing us to Venetia Aldridge in criminal court as she successfully gets a suspected murderer a “Not Guilty” verdict. We then delve in to the interesting British legal system of courts and solicitors and barristers and the things that occur behind closed doors in Chambers. We know from the start that Venetia will die, we spend the rest of the exploring how, why and who. There are some very unlikable characters and some that are pitiable for various reasons.
This is one of my favorites of the Dagliesh series so far. So well written and engaging, not written as a thriller, but rather as a book for immersing yourself in the world that P.D. James created.
psalmcat's review against another edition
5.0
I have no idea how I missed this one when it came out ten years ago, but I'm glad I read it finally. It reminds me a bit of another of hers in that it ends in a non-solution, although we do find out "whodunnit." This one, however, involves the death of an attorney in her locked "room" (office) with a judge's wig and blood on her head.
And there are plenty of suspects; this was not a woman that anyone found anything much good to say about. She's actually one of those characters who rather 'deserved to die.' And so when one of the suspects turns out to have had a great deal to do with her death, it's a shame that the character turns out to be much more likable than the victim was.
Lots of twists and turns, as usual in all James' books.
And there are plenty of suspects; this was not a woman that anyone found anything much good to say about. She's actually one of those characters who rather 'deserved to die.' And so when one of the suspects turns out to have had a great deal to do with her death, it's a shame that the character turns out to be much more likable than the victim was.
Lots of twists and turns, as usual in all James' books.
cirosreads's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
nextboldmove's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't really expect to like this book as much as I did. Mysteries aren't really my thing, but I did enjoy this a great deal. There were some places where the author's biases against defense lawyers or working women leaked into the prose, but I forgave her since the book was such a good read.
lindamoore's review against another edition
P.D. James is a master storyteller and reading her is usually a delight. This particular story just contains too much ugliness and pettiness on the part of its characters for me to read right now.
ssminski's review against another edition
2.0
I was prepared to love this, given how much I love Agatha Christie books. However, the murder took forever to happen, the main detective character is barely featured, the ending is equal parts unrealistic and infuriating, and the murderer is exposed much to early to the reader, before the detective is even on the scent. Maybe this is not the right Adam Dagliesh book to start with, but I don't know if I have the appetite to pick up another any time soon.
ssminski's review against another edition
2.0
I was prepared to love this, given how much I love Agatha Christie books. However, the murder took forever to happen, the main detective character is barely featured, the ending is equal parts unrealistic and infuriating, and the murderer is exposed much to early to the reader, before the detective is even on the scent. Maybe this is not the right Adam Dagliesh book to start with, but I don't know if I have the appetite to pick up another any time soon.