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A review by rickaevans
Innocent Blood by P.D. James
4.0
Despite having read quite a few of Ruth Rendell’s novels, and having a particular fondness for the Barbara Vine works, this is the first time I’ve read her friend and fellow Baroness, P.D. James. Rather than get hooked into yet another detective series, I decided to start with the standalone, INNOCENT BLOOD.
This book was definitely in a similar vein to the Vine novels with its focus on buried secrets and the effects of the past on the present. Indeed, I was not surprised to read it was Rendell’s favourite of her friend’s works. Suffice it to say, any preconceptions I had of James as a cosy writer were well and truly dispelled by this novel.
The story hinges around the Children Act of 1975. A genuine act of parliament that allowed British adoptees to receive details of their biological parentage. It’s a tale of obsession, misconception and revenge, populated by characters as ghastly as they are erudite. Indeed, James’s style is rather florid at times in a way that is not so typical in a genre that often favours sparse description and dialogue. That said, the quality of the writing and the observation lifts the work above its often ugly subject matter.
I don’t want to give away details of the plot, but I was gripped throughout. James was midway through her career when she wrote this and you can feel that you are in the hands of a controlled talent. The only thing missing for me was a sense of humour. I like my gritty with a dash of gallows humour, and the seriousness of the book coupled with its unlovable characters made it feel rather clinical at times.
This was a great introduction to James, even if it’s not a classic whodunnit in the style for which she is renowned. I’ll definitely be reading more.
3.5*
This book was definitely in a similar vein to the Vine novels with its focus on buried secrets and the effects of the past on the present. Indeed, I was not surprised to read it was Rendell’s favourite of her friend’s works. Suffice it to say, any preconceptions I had of James as a cosy writer were well and truly dispelled by this novel.
The story hinges around the Children Act of 1975. A genuine act of parliament that allowed British adoptees to receive details of their biological parentage. It’s a tale of obsession, misconception and revenge, populated by characters as ghastly as they are erudite. Indeed, James’s style is rather florid at times in a way that is not so typical in a genre that often favours sparse description and dialogue. That said, the quality of the writing and the observation lifts the work above its often ugly subject matter.
I don’t want to give away details of the plot, but I was gripped throughout. James was midway through her career when she wrote this and you can feel that you are in the hands of a controlled talent. The only thing missing for me was a sense of humour. I like my gritty with a dash of gallows humour, and the seriousness of the book coupled with its unlovable characters made it feel rather clinical at times.
This was a great introduction to James, even if it’s not a classic whodunnit in the style for which she is renowned. I’ll definitely be reading more.
3.5*