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lauraborkpower's review against another edition
2.0
Although P.D. James is an excellent writer and her mysteries are interesting and intelligent, I just can't seem to warm up to Adam Dalgliesh. He's such a cold fish and it doesn't help that he--or James, through him--seems to have a certain disdain for the audience, who are the "suspects" in Dalgliesh's case and the reader in James's case.
In this mystery, James avoids a typical "reveal" where Dalgliesh sits everyone down and lets them and the reader know how and why the crime occurred. Instead, she has him discover the how about 75 pages from the end, but though he tells the detective in charge of the investigation (Dalgliesh himself is on vacation visiting his aunt and not officially involved with the case) and helps to solve the murder, James keeps this revelation from the reader, which feels to me like a cheat. Dalgliesh is observing something, the knowledge comes to him, we never knew how, and that is that. End of story. Now, we do get the why and how at the very end, but never Dalgliesh's epiphany and we're left to feel how he has "outgrown the satisfaction of being proved right. He had known who for a long time now and since Monday night he had known how. But to the suspects the day would bring a gratifying vindication and they could be expected to make the most of it."
Well, since I'm in there, as an observer along with the suspects because James keeps so much hidden from the reader, I feel that Dalgliesh is tired of me, too. And that's just off-putting.
Now, as I mentioned, James's writing is good as always, and the murder takes place in a seaside town full of authors of one kind or another, which is fun. But that ending really soured it for me and I'll be hard pressed to pick up the next Dalgliesh mystery unless I'm snowed in and have gone through all of my Christies.
In this mystery, James avoids a typical "reveal" where Dalgliesh sits everyone down and lets them and the reader know how and why the crime occurred. Instead, she has him discover the how about 75 pages from the end, but though he tells the detective in charge of the investigation (Dalgliesh himself is on vacation visiting his aunt and not officially involved with the case) and helps to solve the murder, James keeps this revelation from the reader, which feels to me like a cheat. Dalgliesh is observing something, the knowledge comes to him, we never knew how, and that is that. End of story. Now, we do get the why and how at the very end, but never Dalgliesh's epiphany and we're left to feel how he has "outgrown the satisfaction of being proved right. He had known who for a long time now and since Monday night he had known how. But to the suspects the day would bring a gratifying vindication and they could be expected to make the most of it."
Well, since I'm in there, as an observer along with the suspects because James keeps so much hidden from the reader, I feel that Dalgliesh is tired of me, too. And that's just off-putting.
Now, as I mentioned, James's writing is good as always, and the murder takes place in a seaside town full of authors of one kind or another, which is fun. But that ending really soured it for me and I'll be hard pressed to pick up the next Dalgliesh mystery unless I'm snowed in and have gone through all of my Christies.
amyingomar's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
3.0
This wasn't a bad book. It's the third in the Adam Dalgliesh series, and was another typical Agatha Christie style "country house" thriller, and sees a mystery writer disappear, only to turn up dead later, in a similar way to the plot of one of his thrillers.
It's not a bad book, but I will say that initially Dalgliesh doesn't seem to be best detective in the world. Secondly,the early books in the series seem a little too "country house" for my liking. Others might feel the same way.
It's not a bad book, but I will say that initially Dalgliesh doesn't seem to be best detective in the world. Secondly,the early books in the series seem a little too "country house" for my liking. Others might feel the same way.
jnelsontwo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
bookwoman1967's review against another edition
1.0
Bleh. I've read other P.D. James that I enjoyed but not this one. I thoroughly disliked all the characters, including the police. The plot was bloated and slow. And there were no real clues for the reader or any indication of how Dalgliesh worked out the mystery.
About the only thing going for ths is description of the environment and that's pretty desolate.
About the only thing going for ths is description of the environment and that's pretty desolate.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Digital Audiobook read by Penelope Dellaporte
In book three of the mystery series, Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh has a holiday planned. He’ll spend ten blissfully uneventful days with his spinster aunt at her seaside cottage on the Suffolk coast. It’s a well-earned break, and his plans include nothing more taxing that long walks, tea by the fire, and some personal reflection. And then a headless, handless body washes ashore.
I came late to the PD James party, but here I am and I’m ready to enjoy myself. Dalgliesh is a marvelous character – a supremely competent detective, astute, observant, and intelligent, but also sensitive to nuance and willing to reflect on numerous possibilities.
James gives us several possible suspects and enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. There’s also a thrilling scene involving a major storm that puts everyone in danger. I hadn’t identified the culprit before the reveal. A totally satisfying mystery. I’ll continue with this series.
Penelope Dellaporte does a fine job of narrating the audiobook.
In book three of the mystery series, Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh has a holiday planned. He’ll spend ten blissfully uneventful days with his spinster aunt at her seaside cottage on the Suffolk coast. It’s a well-earned break, and his plans include nothing more taxing that long walks, tea by the fire, and some personal reflection. And then a headless, handless body washes ashore.
I came late to the PD James party, but here I am and I’m ready to enjoy myself. Dalgliesh is a marvelous character – a supremely competent detective, astute, observant, and intelligent, but also sensitive to nuance and willing to reflect on numerous possibilities.
James gives us several possible suspects and enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. There’s also a thrilling scene involving a major storm that puts everyone in danger. I hadn’t identified the culprit before the reveal. A totally satisfying mystery. I’ll continue with this series.
Penelope Dellaporte does a fine job of narrating the audiobook.
billd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Unnatural Causes by P.D. James is the 3rd book in the Adam Dalgliesh mystery series. I've read a couple of others our of sequence but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the books. This book, like the others I've read, was so smartly and well - written. It wasn't favorite though.
Dalgliesh is taking a vacation. Once or twice a year he goes to visit his aunt, his only relative, on the Suffolk coast; partly just to decompress from a case he was working on and also, in this case, to sort out his feelings for his girlfriend. Does he or does he not want to marry the lady. Unfortunately, this visit will be interrupted by a dead body.
His aunt, Jane Dalgliesh, lives in an isolated community of writers and artistes. They tend to go their for peace and quiet. But, as I mentioned, this weekend will be disrupted by a body and also by a torrential storm. The body is discovered in a boat which floated to shore. Oddly, the man has had his hands cut off. It turns out the body is one Maurice Seton, a famed mystery writer who lives right next to Dalgliesh's aunt. We see the 'culprit' placing the body in boat at the very beginning so it's not a surprise to we readers. But there are some surprising things that seem to take place that present various suspects. What did the man and woman bury on the shore? Why was Latham suspiciously watching Dalgliesh?
To be fair, this is not Dalgliesh's case. It's that of the local cop, one Inspector Reckless. Dalgliesh is somewhat frustrated that he's not asked to take over but also sort of angry that he's subordinated to the investigation. It seems the corpse may have died of natural causes (surprising, since the title is Unnatural Causes eh?) but why were the hands removed? Where did he die?
It's an interesting story, filled with a cast of suspicious, nosey characters. PD James can spin a yarn. It moves sort of slowly and methodically until Dalgliesh visits London and the storm erupts on the coast. Lots of action then.... But in my mind, the story winds down sort of anti climactically, sort of satisfying but also kind of shoulder shrugging. Maybe because we don't have the benefit of Dalgliesh's team involvement. At any rate, it's still entertaining and it's always good to visit P.D. James' world. (3.5 stars)
Dalgliesh is taking a vacation. Once or twice a year he goes to visit his aunt, his only relative, on the Suffolk coast; partly just to decompress from a case he was working on and also, in this case, to sort out his feelings for his girlfriend. Does he or does he not want to marry the lady. Unfortunately, this visit will be interrupted by a dead body.
His aunt, Jane Dalgliesh, lives in an isolated community of writers and artistes. They tend to go their for peace and quiet. But, as I mentioned, this weekend will be disrupted by a body and also by a torrential storm. The body is discovered in a boat which floated to shore. Oddly, the man has had his hands cut off. It turns out the body is one Maurice Seton, a famed mystery writer who lives right next to Dalgliesh's aunt. We see the 'culprit' placing the body in boat at the very beginning so it's not a surprise to we readers. But there are some surprising things that seem to take place that present various suspects. What did the man and woman bury on the shore? Why was Latham suspiciously watching Dalgliesh?
To be fair, this is not Dalgliesh's case. It's that of the local cop, one Inspector Reckless. Dalgliesh is somewhat frustrated that he's not asked to take over but also sort of angry that he's subordinated to the investigation. It seems the corpse may have died of natural causes (surprising, since the title is Unnatural Causes eh?) but why were the hands removed? Where did he die?
It's an interesting story, filled with a cast of suspicious, nosey characters. PD James can spin a yarn. It moves sort of slowly and methodically until Dalgliesh visits London and the storm erupts on the coast. Lots of action then.... But in my mind, the story winds down sort of anti climactically, sort of satisfying but also kind of shoulder shrugging. Maybe because we don't have the benefit of Dalgliesh's team involvement. At any rate, it's still entertaining and it's always good to visit P.D. James' world. (3.5 stars)
alex_watkins's review against another edition
4.0
Here P.D. James changes up the formula a bit. Dalgliesh is not on the case but on vacation. This one is less police procedural, more atmospheric thriller. Once again I failed to solve the case myself, though I did get one or two things right. The best part of this book and perhaps the most richly developed was the lonely sea cliff town. Full of howling winds, desolate rocky beaches, and dark caves. Reminded me of some kind of more ominous pacific northwest or that island from the Ring. But perhaps much of England is like this? Also there is a bit of the meta in here (James always a woman before her time), as the murderee is a mystery writer. I think more could have been done with this. Overall, one of the better Dalgliesh novels.
pam_simpson06's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
extrememochi's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to this on audiobook.
Like many others have said, it was disappointing that this killer had no evidence towards them that the reader could have deduced. What Dalgliesh figured out himself seems pretty far fetched for anyone to be able to figure out.
The ending honestly confused me and I still don't really understand the killers motive.
Like many others have said, it was disappointing that this killer had no evidence towards them that the reader could have deduced. What Dalgliesh figured out himself seems pretty far fetched for anyone to be able to figure out.
The ending honestly confused me and I still don't really understand the killers motive.