Scan barcode
A review by zwe
A Taste for Death by P.D. James
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
3.0
This book was good when it was focusing on the mystery, but that seemed to be only like, 40% of the book and the rest was useless random details and chapters about characters I don't care about.
And why does everyone clown Dalgliesh for writing poetry??? I don't get it. AND he didn't even write one damn poem in the whole book!!!! Didn't even reference one or anything!!! But just about every chapter we got details about the painting on the wall of the office waiting room or the painting on the wall in the church or the painting on the wall in the old woman author's house. Much too slow paced for me like this book draagggged.
It was surprisingly forward-thinking on abortion issues for a British book from the mid-80s, but of course shared other not so forward views of the time like Kate can't help but being in love with her emotionally unavailable and only-ever-professional-with-her boss, people in serious careers can't engage in creative outlets without being seen as absurd, and women shouldn't be cops or in charge of other cops.
Also no one wanted to mention the plot hole where the old woman said she had to row across to the Black Swan because her phone was down, but then mentions that Berowne came to her house to use her phone... girl isn't your phone down???
It got very dark and creepy towards the end and I wish the entire book had been like that. The chapter with Dominic in Kate's apartment was easily the best section and was super tense and unsettling. His character was very under-developed in my opinion since he turned out to be the murderer. The death of Kate's grandma was also SO unnecessary. Completely not needed. Like why? Very glad Alan figured out to call the police, though. Kate was definitely my favorite character and Massingham was my least favorite. He was so annoying and sexist, and honestly I found it completely tasteless and icky for him to have a chapter like, bagging on her and her grandma's funeral. Like his only character trait was that he doesn't like women.
Another complaint is that we got NOTHING after Dominic was caught; no reactions from anyone. We couldn't get a chapter of that but we got Massingham's sexist-ass attitude again?
Not a very satisfying book - too slow paced and didn't focus enough on the mystery part, like the author forgot what she was supposed to be building to every few chapters and then shoved it all in at the last minute. This book didn't need details like Kate's grandma (rip) or Miss Wharton's bedpan or the stupid poetry! There was so much irrelevant detail mentioned. I wish I enjoyed it more but I didn't.
Addition - and the fact that no one cared Harry Mack was also murdered. Like no effort into helping him get justice at all. For real??
And why does everyone clown Dalgliesh for writing poetry??? I don't get it. AND he didn't even write one damn poem in the whole book!!!! Didn't even reference one or anything!!! But just about every chapter we got details about the painting on the wall of the office waiting room or the painting on the wall in the church or the painting on the wall in the old woman author's house. Much too slow paced for me like this book draagggged.
It was surprisingly forward-thinking on abortion issues for a British book from the mid-80s, but of course shared other not so forward views of the time like Kate can't help but being in love with her emotionally unavailable and only-ever-professional-with-her boss, people in serious careers can't engage in creative outlets without being seen as absurd, and women shouldn't be cops or in charge of other cops.
Also no one wanted to mention the plot hole where the old woman said she had to row across to the Black Swan because her phone was down, but then mentions that Berowne came to her house to use her phone... girl isn't your phone down???
It got very dark and creepy towards the end and I wish the entire book had been like that. The chapter with Dominic in Kate's apartment was easily the best section and was super tense and unsettling. His character was very under-developed in my opinion since he turned out to be the murderer. The death of Kate's grandma was also SO unnecessary. Completely not needed. Like why? Very glad Alan figured out to call the police, though. Kate was definitely my favorite character and Massingham was my least favorite. He was so annoying and sexist, and honestly I found it completely tasteless and icky for him to have a chapter like, bagging on her and her grandma's funeral. Like his only character trait was that he doesn't like women.
Another complaint is that we got NOTHING after Dominic was caught; no reactions from anyone. We couldn't get a chapter of that but we got Massingham's sexist-ass attitude again?
Not a very satisfying book - too slow paced and didn't focus enough on the mystery part, like the author forgot what she was supposed to be building to every few chapters and then shoved it all in at the last minute. This book didn't need details like Kate's grandma (rip) or Miss Wharton's bedpan or the stupid poetry! There was so much irrelevant detail mentioned. I wish I enjoyed it more but I didn't.
Addition - and the fact that no one cared Harry Mack was also murdered. Like no effort into helping him get justice at all. For real??