PD James: 3 Complete Novels Avsc
List Price: $9.99
List Price: $9.99
injury solicitors doors shop counters |
James PD
Lighthouse
DescriptionCustomer ReviewsA Wonderful ReadThere are 102 reviews of this book which detail the plot, so I don't feel it is necessary to repeat it. I have been reading P.D. James since her first book, "Unsuitable Job for a Woman", was published back in the '70's. Unlike writers such as Elizabeth George, P.D. James has stood the test of time. There isn't a P.D. James book I wouldn't recommend and I certainly recommend this as a must have for collectors. LIGHT HOUSE I LIKE P.D. JAMES AND I LIKED THIS STORY. NOT THE BEST EVER, BUT WORTH THE TIME AND MONEY. The Lighthouse I have not read this one yet, but I have never read a P.D. James/Adam Dagliesh that I did not thoroughly enjoy. So I am quite confident I will also love this one. `Whatever is not forbidden is allowable.' In this novel, Adam Dalgliesh is called in to solve the murder of a distinguished visitor on the privately owned Combe Island, which is situated off the coast of Cornwall. Dalgliesh and his team, Kate Miskin and Francis Benton-Smith have some individual concerns of their own which add to the challenges posed by the murder. It quickly becomes clear that a number of residents on the island dislike the murdered man and a number of them could be considered to have motives for murder. The team has barely begun to unravel these complicated motives when a second murder occurs. I found this novel very enjoyable, and it took me a little while to work through all of the red herrings to ascertain who the murderer really was. The characters are well drawn and it is easy to picture some of the tensions between the individuals because of the complexity of their shared history. I am reading the Adam Dalgliesh mysteries out of order. This is a shame because it means that I have not yet acquired a complete picture of Adam Dalgliesh. However, it does not in any way diminish my enjoyment of the individual novels. I recommend these novels to all readers who enjoy well written mysteries. Jennifer Cameron-Smith Good Customer Service I received the book in great condition and in a very timely manner. The book was in the condition described and I am very pleased with this purchase.
A Mind to Murder
 DescriptionCustomer ReviewsHow did she ever establish such a reputation with books like this?This is the second in the author's now highly-regarded series of detective novels featuring homicide expert (and published poet) Adam Dalgliesh. And while I'm prepared to accept the general opinion of James's abilities -- and her later novels are, in fact, quite interesting and involving -- it's a bit difficult to understand how she ever developed the literary momentum to reach the status of a devoted readership. Her first novel, _Cover Her Face_, was quite ordinary and Agatha-Christie-ish. This one reads almost a dramatized game of "Clue," or like a West End stage play from the 1930s. The administrative officer of an NHS psychiatric clinic in London is found stabbed in the basement records room. The doors to the building all are locked except the front entrance, where a porter sits, logging in everyone who arrives and leaves. There are about a dozen doctors, therapists, and other members of staff in the clinic and it's obvious from the first page that one of them has to be the killer. Now Superintendent Dalgliesh arrives (promoted since the first book, apparently), lines up his suspects, and begins his interviews, gradually building up a picture for the reader of all the personalities and personal backgrounds involved. In the records room by Col. Mustard with a chisel? Perhaps. The only difference between this book and her first one, really, is that in the previous work, the first hundred pages was spent describing the players before the crime ever took place; this time, that section comes after the crime. But the detective and his sergeant still feel the need to stand around and explain the details of the murder to each other, and the killer and his own sidekick do nearly the same thing. While the writing is clear and dryly amusing, the plotting is hardly original, and the "giveaway" at the end is rather contrived. (It also depends on details that were common in 1960s Britain but unknown in the 21st century U.S. -- but that, at least, is not the author's fault.) In any case: there are some readers who feel duty-bound to finish any book they start, but this one might challenge them to maintain sufficient interest. A little tiresome I enjoy PD James and her Adam Dalgliesh mysteries, but this one was tiresome. I finished, but didn't care when I got to the end. Even a tiresome PD James is better than most authors great books. The characters are a bit flat and there are too many of them. The first part was acceptably interesting, but then it seemed to rush towards an end that was of little impact. It's an early book, maybe that's why. Another good Dalgliesh mystery PD James once again makes you think you know whodunnit, changes your mind several times, and then tidies it all up with the answer in the last few pages. This murder takes place in a psychiatric clinic when the "Administrative Officer" (Administrative Assistant in the US) is murdered. Adam Dalgliesh from Scotland Yard is called in to solve the case, which you know he is going to do, though even he has worries about whether or not he can. Almost the entire staff is suspect, and many of them have obvious reasons for wanting the victim dead. Some of them have alibis, many of them do not. Several of them seem to be hiding something. (Of course - this is a murder mystery - everyone is hiding something!) This is the 3rd Adam Dalgliesh myster I've read, and the only reason I'm giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is because I liked "Cover Her Face" and "Original Sin" a lot more. This is a worthy entry in the series, though. My one real complaint is that there are so many acronyms used that the story comes to a screeching halt whenever I read one as I try to remember what it stands for. ("A.O." means administrative officer, for example.) The characters speak to each other like they would normally without all that unecessary explaining that some authors put in when they use jargon unfamiliar to some people. That's great, but sometimes I wanted a glossary. :) I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. A Masterpiece This is my second James novel. I read The Murder Room which was written by James a few years ago and I thought that it was dreadful. It is a 500 page bore or snore. The present work was written over 40 years ago by a James in her prime. It is short and compact; and, it has a nicely balanced structure with good characters. It is written with straightforward and simple prose and it is a compelling read that is hard to put down. In short, it is what one can describe as a masterpiece. The book opens with the literary hook: a murder in a clinic basement of the Steen Psychiatric Clinic during a busy Friday afternoon in London. On discovery of the murder, the doors of the clinic are sealed, Dalgliesh is called in, and we are off on the hunt for the killer, or killers. The novel has an interesting set of characters, but not too many characters. It appears that there are just a half dozen suspects with a motivation to be involved with the killing. The mystery unfolds slowly, and the reader is given a few clues just ahead of the Dalgliesh. Readers will not be disappointed, and the book demonstrates the fame and ability of James as a crime writer. Most will want to keep the book and set it aside to read again in the future. Also, the book demonstrates again that more is not always better than less. In the elaborate 550 page slow moving story told in The Murder Room, the author has a 95 page introduction and no crime until around page 130. We wait as Dalgliesh does not enter the investigation until almost page 200. Thankfully, all of that type of writing is missing here. In a Mind to Murder, the story is well underway and the reader is fully engaged by page 10. James tells a well balanced and a compelling tale in half the space. Since the book came out in 1963, it has had approximately seven printings by three different publishers including Faber and Faber, and Penguin. It is easy to understand why. A Very Unique Twist Having recently read "A Certain Justice" I have set myself to reading all of P.D. James' works. "A Mind to Murder" firmly validated my decision to do so. In only her second mystery, Ms. James has the strength to pull a whopper of a twist. In so doing she provides some very strong character development for her Inspector Dalgliesh. He learns something very valuable in this work and will become a stronger detective for it. A murder mystery set in a mental health facility provides a wealth of opportunities, none of which are wasted in this volume. In reviewing mysteries, one must be cautious not to throw out any spoilers--but what the reviewer can and did note was that Ms. James' writing is exceptional. The characters come to life and the story has something meaningful to say. In a day and age where entertainment is its own reward, it is nice to find an author who is willing to allow the benefits and burdens of moral choice to take center stage.
Unnatural Causes
List Price: $56.00 DescriptionSuperintendent Adam Dalgliesh had been looking forward to a quiet holiday at his aunt's cottage on Monksmere Head. But Dalgliesh had reckoned without the macabre discovery of the handless corpse of crime-writer Maurice Seton.Customer ReviewsPerhaps the best of her earliest half-dozenThis is only the third of this author's detective novels and already it's a considerable improvement over the first two. James was a fast learner. Chief Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh has just completed a difficult and exhausting case and he's headed for a week's holiday up in Suffolk with his spinster aunt, Jane. Being rather like Adam in various ways, she's easy to be around and he's looking forward to peaceful walks on the beach and sitting quietly by the fireside. However, the isolated neighborhood where Jane lives is also the part-time home of a gaggle of writers (detective-type, of course) and literary critics, and Adam has hardly set down his suitcase when they all turn up on Jane's doorstep, worried about one of their number who appears to have disappeared. And then a body is found adrift in a dinghy with its hands lopped off -- the missing writer. No vacation for Adam, it seems. Although he isn't even in charge of this case -- that goes to the local homicide man, DI Reckless -- he can't turn his brain off, so he becomes involved whether he wants to be or not. And things get even more complicated when it appears that the deceased actually died of natural causes. (But keep the title in mind.) James follows her pattern of introducing all the suspects at once almost on the first page (she kind of got away from that habit in her later novels, fortunately) and she also takes every opportunity to make tongue-in-cheek comments and observations about the life and psychology of an author. Dalgliesh is given more emotional depth as well, as he tries to decide what to do about the girl he met in the first novel. This is one of the better of James's early books. Unnatural Cases Although I find P.D. James' writing, somtimes, a bit outdrawn and overly descriptive, this one Unnatural Causes was to the point. Although, once the focus was on Sylvia Kedges a bit more than usual the focus of she being the one that orchastrated the murder was clear. But, it truly was a surprise to read how she and Digby Seton did it. And, why the hands were cut off. The one mentioning startled me calling Sylvia a "cripple". Surely this could have been worded differently. But otherwise, I enjoyed the book trememdously. To get to the purchase itself, I know what to expect with P.D. James, it came in perfect condition, and the packing was great. Good mystery, great character... I've started reading my way through P.D. James (perhaps July is a month of mystery, as that seems to be what is capturing my interest now), and I really liked this book. Several books further on in the series, and this is still my favorite of the Dalgliesh mysteries. I think I liked it because it is entirely (or almost entirely) from Dalgliesh's point of view. I like a good mystery, but part of a book is the character development. James has a tendency to write different sections/chap...more I've started reading my way through P.D. James (perhaps July is a month of mystery, as that seems to be what is capturing my interest now), and I really liked this book. Several books further on in the series, and this is still my favorite of the Dalgliesh mysteries. I think I liked it because it is entirely (or almost entirely) from Dalgliesh's point of view. I like a good mystery, but part of a book is the character development. James has a tendency to write different sections/chapters from different points of view, and sometimes that can sort of spoil the book for me. I would rather read it all (or mostly) from Dalgliesh's perspective than bounce around so much, because sometimes, I simply don't like the other points of view. To me, the continuing development of the main character (who is supposed to be Adam Dalgliesh) is just as important as the plotline, and when he doesn't show up for almost half the book, I get bored and a little annoyed. Anyway, this was one of my favorites. Great mystery, perfect atmosphere, and wonderful character development. Thumbs up. Solid, perhaps not her best I really like P.D. James, so I think my review could be a bit biased. I have read four of her books and this is my second favorite so far. I thought the book had a couple of interesting twists, but it is really the feeling that I get when I read these books that I like. The descriptions are enough to put me in the place, but not get in the way of my vision of where we are. I also enjoy the characters, and don't feel they are over delveloped while their dialog seems truthful. DEUS EX MACHINA ENDING LOVED THE BOOK (AND ADAM DALGLIESH) UNTIL THE END. CONTRIVED AND TOTALLY UNSATISFYING RESOLUTION. OBVIOUSLY AN EARLY EFFORT, NOT UP TO JAMES' SUBSEQUENT NOVELS.
The Children of Men
 DescriptionCustomer ReviewsA Eulogy for MankindI have been reading P.D. James for over twenty years and enjoy her writing style. In Children of Men, the author has created a dystopic vision of a futuristic society that is childless, hopeless, devoid of faith and belief. Mankind is facing oblivion because worldwide, women are unable to conceive and as a result not one baby has been born in over twenty years. Inasmuch as there are no children to care for and no future to hope or, the spark of life is gradually extinguishing, resulting in the rise of dictatorial, dogmatic leaders. Comparison the book against the movie version is a true disservice to the novel. A movie is based upon the ideas outlined in the book and is not exact representation of the author's creation. Each medium stands upon its own merits and I found both versions to be entertaining, engrossing and well-executed. P.D James is a vivid and descriptive storyteller who is thorough in her presentation of the subject matter. Children of Men is as intriguing, disturbing, engrossing, and compelling as Orwell's 1984 and Huxley's Brave New World. Very nicely done and highly recommended. Liked the movie better Having seen the movie first, maybe I was expecting too much - because the novel was very different than the movie. The novel had some interesting ideas, but they seemed rushed and unfulfilled. The story seems much smaller in scope, and I wanted to find out more of the world PD James had created. Thought provoking story This is a book that will make you think about it afterward. It was a page turner driven by the characters - flawed human beings. Their country crumbles into police state yet a small, powerless group of people strive for change. Some are driven by ego, some inspired by faith in God, some simply can no longer ignore what is wrong. Is this how all rebellions start? The story highlights ordinary people doing extraordinary things - good & evil. The ending doesn't make any promises. The movie is great but modifies the plot to emphasize the visuals. Service, not product I gave 5 stars bc the seller was prompt. Everything with the purchase and shipping went well. I haven't read much of the book yet so I can't comment on that. Thanks Not science fiction, but I didn't expect that. I found it a little slow in the beginning, but the first part was so well-written that I thought it worthwhile to continue, and I'm glad I did. I'm not familiar with this British author, but I was suitably impressed, especially as I read it after slogging through McCarthy's "The Road." Anyway, the world is looked at from the POV of an English history professor living in the UK of the near future. For some unexplained reason all the men (everywhere!) have become sterile, meaning that the human race is doomed, since there is no prospect for reproduction. People in that time adjust their lives and viewpoints accordingly, and living for the moment seems to be all that really matters, with no posterity to judge their accomplishments. Still, some people continue activities that aren't logically justified, but done more from habit than anything else. The protagonist, Theo Faron, is a rather passionless human being, but not really unlikable, just rather dull. One day, after a lecture, he finds an attractive young woman with a deformed hand waiting to speak to him alone. She wants him to present certain requests to the Warden of England, his cousin, who happens to be the man in charge of the whole country. These requests, which soon become demands, have to do with civil rights and justice, and are the dissenting views of a small group of 5 persons. Theo reluctantly agrees to this proposal, although he thinks the whole exercise will come to nothing, since he knows his cousin will not be swayed by any of their legitimate concerns. Indeed, they might put them - and himself - in some danger, since the Warden will do whatever's necessary to maintain his unchallenged power. So, why does he undertake the mission? We don't really know, but it seems he has an attraction for the young woman. About halfway through this rather short novel the action begins to pick up a relentless momentum, so the reader keeps going to find out what happens next. The author alternates from first-person diary description to third-person narrative, but it's not terribly distracting. Just when the small group of dissenters, self-named the Five Fishes, become politically active and put themselves at great risk, Theo is informed that the young woman is pregnant, a seeming impossibility. The action picks up after this and leads to conflicts of Theo with the group, a murderous attack on them by "Omegans," the last generation born, and pursuit by the secret police of the Warden. What will be their fate? I won't tell the conclusion and spoil it for those who haven't read the book, but it's one that shouldn't depress you. (I never saw the movie, so I'm judging just what was written.) This book is not properly science-fiction or a post-Apocalyptic story, but might be described as a dystopian novel of the near future, though it is not as grim as "1984" or "Fahrenheit 451." Still, it has gloom amid relative comfort as the generations await the death of the human species on the planet. That's a thought that could severely depress anyone, and the foreknowledge of it colors everything in their world. This is a book worth re-reading, if only for the author's capable use of her writing skills. One could almost wish for a sequel, but there aren't that many unanswered questions or loose ends that would demand it. Still, I liked it, as the author is not nihilistically obsessed with herself or her language, and she does show consideration for her readers. I don't give it 5 stars because it's not perfect, but it's not a costly book, not over-long, and is worth reading, IMHO. James PD News
|
|
The BooksellerBodleian Library to publish new PD JamesThe Bodleian Library is publishing an inside look at detective fiction written by "queen" of the genre PD James. Due out on 1st October, as a hardback priced £12.99, Talking About Detective Fiction is "a personal history", which covers the development
guardian.co.ukThe Lighthouse by PD Jamesby PD James There was some animated discussion of the relation of detective fiction to "what we might call literary fiction", as one questioner put it. Did James feel that her chosen genre is sometimes "disparaged" or condescended to?