A Taste for Death

A few thoughts on why this is tripe.

Verbosity - circa 220 pages to cover first 24 hours of the investigation. Adjective-itis - every noun must have one and preferably two.
Self-indulgence - prolonged insights on church architecture.
Stereotyping - a) half expected Lady Ursula to shout 'a handbag' at any moment, b) token female Police Officer/working class crumpet whose hard exterior conceals a soft centre...
Snobbery - does every Police Officer go to Oxford/Eton with odd visits 'to some Northern University'?
Pretentiousness - if Ms James uses 'propitiate' once more...

Dalgleish is given a huge build-up to the first time reader eg) nationally renowned poet, church afficianado, confidante to the aristos, hurrahs and politicos, Upper Middle Class, loves his Sunday school teacher, tragic loss of child. The big problem is that none of this character is displayed in his speech, thought or deed in solving the case. It could be another person.

The victim's old, aristocratic family and servants lie, perjure and deceive with impunity whilst Dalgleish lets it pass without comment or confrontation. The novel reeks of being written by an elderly, female Establishment figure and it is way too long.

From the back cover..... (1/2 people found this helpful)

In the small vestry of St Matthew's, Paddington, two bodies lie in a welter of blood, their throats cut with gaping precision. One is a local tramp, the other an ex-Minister of State. Adam Dalgliesh finds himself faced with the most confused and convoluted case of his career. Why was Sir Paul Berowne sleeping in this dingy vestry shortly before his death?

* The narrator, MICHAEL JAYSTON, is a highly regarded actor, having appeared in numerous films, among them ZULU DAWN and CROMWELL. He has also taken major roles in such television productions as JANE EYRE and QUILLER. His stage credits include EQUUS and THE WAY OF THE WORLD.

p d james at her very best (9/12 people found this helpful)

I have always loved p d James books and would rate them very highly. This book has taken her to a new stratoshere in the genre of crime writing. It has a beautiful prosse, well rounded characters and a top class whodunnit. I loved the plotline. How could a top MP and a tramp both end up with their throats cut in a london church? we are drawn into the whys and wherefores from page one and there are fabulous sub plots which touch at the heartstrings, Detective Kate Miskin and her humble upbringing is an example. She has risen from a council high rise flat to become a top detective and still she has her doubts as to where she really fits in to the team inveatigating the double murder. the ending is both poignant and surprising. What more can you ask from a high class whodunnit?

Overlong, humourless, unreadable (3/7 people found this helpful)

Tedious beyond believe, every paragraph proclaiming, 'THIS IS A REAL NOVEL, NOT A MERE DETECTIVE YARN.' An intriguing enough mystery has been entirely ruined by 'fine' writing and an over-abundance of 'psychological insights'. The novel collapses under its own weight. It falls between two stools -- tiresome both as crime and straight novel. No one in the end could possibly care whodunit. Incredible that it got the Gold Dagger -- it must have been a terrible year for detective novels.

Another masterpiece from the queen of crime. (17/21 people found this helpful)

P.D.James shines here with this novel which contains everything needed in a murder mystery.
Gripping from start to finish, this novel sees Dalgliesh caught up in an investigation which has turned personal - he knew the victim. There are many twists and turns here as they try to unravel the clues and evidence to point them to a ruthless and sadistic killer. There are many sub-plots in the novel which try to lead you astray, but ultimately it comes down to one ruthless murderer. Kate Miskin features heavily in this story and a great part of the novel involves her personal life which we have not seen until now.
A truly thrilling cerebral mystery, which delivers the goods intelligently and VERY Englishly! One of my personal favourites which I read again and again.

P.D. James

Reader Reviews:

Make mine an adjective (1/1 people found this helpful)

From the back cover..... (1/2 people found this helpful)

p d james at her very best (9/12 people found this helpful)

Overlong, humourless, unreadable (3/7 people found this helpful)

Another masterpiece from the queen of crime. (17/21 people found this helpful)

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