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davidkelly0324's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
stephanierachel's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
roseawall's review against another edition
3.0
The main reason I gave this book three stars is that it’s very slow to start and spent far too much time going over the backgrounds of a lot of the characters featured in the story
celtic_oracle's review against another edition
2.0
This is the first P.D. James book I've read, and I think I missed something by not having previous familiarity with the characters. That might be why it took me a while to really get into this Adam Dalgliesh story. It's a decent whodunit, set in a museum, which provided some nice description. Also an interesting twist at the end.
Not quite enough to make me want to seek out more P.D. James books, but I certainly would read another one if it was handed to me.
Not quite enough to make me want to seek out more P.D. James books, but I certainly would read another one if it was handed to me.
sarabookdragon's review against another edition
2.0
one of those books that while reading you cannot wait to get through, and while reading you also cannot really care neither for the characters not for the plot.
why did i read it you may ask? well, because 1 - i wanted to know who did it, and 2 - it was my only companion while driving
the book has very boring characters, annoying I dare say, at times, and has boring victims. it also has a very loose plot in the sense that you can read the image that the author is trying to paint, but it's very dull and lacks the vibrancy of a well-written mystery. in other words, it felt as if i was watching one of those dull very old badly-plotter film noirs.
the book is essentially (3 murders/books) that were supposed to be linked. same investigative team, and same murder place, just badly divided. badly plotted to a point where right now I vaguely recall who the murderer was, but definitely do not recall the reasoning or method of killing.
i have nothing much to say except that i would't recommend it!
why did i read it you may ask? well, because 1 - i wanted to know who did it, and 2 - it was my only companion while driving
the book has very boring characters, annoying I dare say, at times, and has boring victims. it also has a very loose plot in the sense that you can read the image that the author is trying to paint, but it's very dull and lacks the vibrancy of a well-written mystery. in other words, it felt as if i was watching one of those dull very old badly-plotter film noirs.
the book is essentially (3 murders/books) that were supposed to be linked. same investigative team, and same murder place, just badly divided. badly plotted to a point where right now I vaguely recall who the murderer was, but definitely do not recall the reasoning or method of killing.
i have nothing much to say except that i would't recommend it!
missbryden's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, engaging. Maybe I'm not so annoyed with characters, or I've just got used to them being the same unappealing characters overall, as well as recurring characters acting the same as previous. In the beginning, description of Dr. Dupayne put my sympathy with others, but then the way those others acted towards him put my sympathy with him.
Near the end it's indicated that the team know the suspect who they want to arrest, significantly before the reader is told. Not that it was without clues, but there was unrevealed action, research that they did is mentioned after the fact and not featured unlike the many long, detailed red herring sections.
Time:
Character Celia is said to have left the school "last year, end of spring term Spring of 2001" so it's Autumn 2002? It's earlier said to be Autumn (at least several previous books all seem to take place in Fall). And the mayor's messing with the traffic lights is mentioned multiple times which fits in that time.
Characters' ages:
Dalgliesh ponders Conrad Ackroyd's apparent agelessness. Is this at all an authorial nod that "yes, I know Dalgliesh is apparently ageless, too"?
Kynaston described in Dalgliesh's thoughts of how he's aged.
Still no such about Dalgliesh except about appearing mentally tired or stressed to Kate.
Kate in thought seems to indicate she's meant to be under 35 ("Sometimes Kate reflected wryly that she would soon be the only person under thirty-five without a degree"), which would've made her 17 in her first book, [b:A Taste for Death|3830|A Taste for Death (Adam Dalgliesh, #7)|P.D. James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388889433l/3830._SY75_.jpg|1807620], when she was already an Inspector (so that promotion does seem overdue).
On reintroduction of the team, promotions and transfers were mentioned. One, the replacement of Sergeant Robbins with a new sergeant. But the other promotions are only mentioned as wanted or probable, and are not decided as of the end of the book.
The romance seems, maybe not out of place, because why shouldn't AD have a personal life, but perhaps stuck into the book in a way that doesn't flow. Not to mention what must be great age differences as discussed in the review of [b:Death in Holy Orders|3825|Death in Holy Orders (Adam Dalgliesh, #11)|P.D. James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1321172618l/3825._SY75_.jpg|728749].
Also the timeline again: they'd met apparently in 1999 and have had only four dates (because some had to be cancelled, but still), and then that ending? Improbable, I think that's the word I'm looking for.
Near the end it's indicated that the team know the suspect who they want to arrest, significantly before the reader is told. Not that it was without clues, but there was unrevealed action, research that they did is mentioned after the fact and not featured unlike the many long, detailed red herring sections.
Time:
Character Celia is said to have left the school "last year, end of spring term Spring of 2001" so it's Autumn 2002? It's earlier said to be Autumn (at least several previous books all seem to take place in Fall). And the mayor's messing with the traffic lights is mentioned multiple times which fits in that time.
Characters' ages:
Dalgliesh ponders Conrad Ackroyd's apparent agelessness. Is this at all an authorial nod that "yes, I know Dalgliesh is apparently ageless, too"?
Kynaston described in Dalgliesh's thoughts of how he's aged.
Still no such about Dalgliesh except about appearing mentally tired or stressed to Kate.
Kate in thought seems to indicate she's meant to be under 35 ("Sometimes Kate reflected wryly that she would soon be the only person under thirty-five without a degree"), which would've made her 17 in her first book, [b:A Taste for Death|3830|A Taste for Death (Adam Dalgliesh, #7)|P.D. James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388889433l/3830._SY75_.jpg|1807620], when she was already an Inspector (so that promotion does seem overdue).
On reintroduction of the team, promotions and transfers were mentioned. One, the replacement of Sergeant Robbins with a new sergeant. But the other promotions are only mentioned as wanted or probable, and are not decided as of the end of the book.
The romance seems, maybe not out of place, because why shouldn't AD have a personal life, but perhaps stuck into the book in a way that doesn't flow. Not to mention what must be great age differences as discussed in the review of [b:Death in Holy Orders|3825|Death in Holy Orders (Adam Dalgliesh, #11)|P.D. James|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1321172618l/3825._SY75_.jpg|728749].
Also the timeline again: they'd met apparently in 1999 and have had only four dates (because some had to be cancelled, but still), and then that ending? Improbable, I think that's the word I'm looking for.
pewterwolf's review against another edition
4.0
RTC on here and The Pewter Wolf
A slow start (character development of victim and circle of suspects who work or who are involved in the Dupayne Museum), but once the first murder happened, this moves as a nice pace, building to a nice, gripping crescendo. Though at times, the writing is a tad much for my taste, I am very intrigued to try more of her novels (I have, I think, four other novels on my kindle and one collection of short stories to read).
A slow start (character development of victim and circle of suspects who work or who are involved in the Dupayne Museum), but once the first murder happened, this moves as a nice pace, building to a nice, gripping crescendo. Though at times, the writing is a tad much for my taste, I am very intrigued to try more of her novels (I have, I think, four other novels on my kindle and one collection of short stories to read).
jdew4516's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bluestarfish's review against another edition
3.0
I like how PD James treats her characters. Even those who end up being victims are still human and not just plot devices. Adam Dalgliesh is called in to solve a murder that happens at a museum near Hampstead Heath with a Murder Room celebrating (?) famous crimes between the two world wars. I didn't quite get how it suddenly became so obvious to everyone in the book who did the murdering but it was a good read. Bits of it feel quite old fashioned so it's a bit of a jolt when things like mobile phones intrude into the story but I liked the writing.
cimorene1558's review against another edition
3.0
I have a very odd relationship with P.D. James' books. I don't really know how much I actually like them, but I find them fascinating and sometimes I just have to read some.