Devices and Desires

P.D. James does not write for the impatient or the restless. Her extraordinary knowledge of and advanced use of the English language, are for the reader who enjoys to dwell on intricate and almost philosophical descriptions, not only geographically and materialistically, but of the human mind in all its variety of moods.

"Devices and Desires" is a typical example of Ms James' writing. Slowly and meticulously the reader is drawn into the story. The introduction of the many participants, the questions as to their part in - or rather importance to - the mystery at hand, invites curiosity as well as confusion as loose threads keep popping up and no significant pattern has as yet emerged.

Commander Adam Dalgliesh remains for a long time a bystander on holiday at his late aunt's cottage, while the local police are handling the case of "the Whistler", a mass murderer of young women in the community of Larksoken on the cost of Norfolk.

The first hundred pages of the book comes through as a sort of introduction, painstakingly introducing the surroundings and participants in the drama. However, after the Whistler strikes again and claims his fifth victim, Commander Dalgliesh is eventually drawn into the investigation and the pace of the story is slowly accellerating and the stage finally set.

At this point, the patient reader is most certainly hooked and ready to enjoy yet another murder investigation superbly crafted by a master story teller.

It is a dark story. Images and threads are drawn back to horrendeous events of the past, and as the story unfolds, it appears that the Whistler is not the only murderer at loose. The remote headland scenery on the Norfolk coast in the shadow of a nuclear power station, with only a few old cottages scattered around, hardly seems the most inviting habitat where to settle, and creates a becoming atmosphere for the evil at work.

When the mystery is finally solved, the pieces of the puzzle fall surprisingly easily together. Yet, as the case is closed, the true facts are never revealed and the official explanation is convenient and acceptable both to the public and all parties involved.

This is not my favourite P.D. James book. There is too much human suffering and distress in people's blind groping for happiness in the most unlikely places, in addition to the dark effect surrounding it all. Also, Adam Dalgliesh's somewhat pheriperal role does somewhat diminish my pleasure in the book. Hence the four stars.

Still, one is drawn to follow each step until all is told and the last chapter closed. P.D.James is undoubtedly the Queen of the mystery genre.

Excellent whodunnit, excellent novel (6/6 people found this helpful)

This is the second PD James I have read and quite different from the superb Innocent Blood. This is basically a whodunnit but what is really excellent is that the format and assumptions change as the story moves on. With the rather sinister backdrop of a power station,the tale involves a serial killer but doesn't stop there. The strong characters and relationships make this more than a run-of-the-mill crime thriller, from the businesslike control of Alex Mair to the rather feckless Neil Pacoe. The last whodunnit-type story I read was by Peter Robinson and, although reasonable, that really throws PD James's genius into bold relief: in Devices and Desires, violence is horrifying yet never voreuristic, the police talk like rounded characters not TV cut-outs and the people act with quirky humanity not dull cliches. Rickards is great as the rather downtrodden detective and Dalgliesh brilliantly understated as his rival, each struggling to get on with the other. To say more would probably give too much away but I highly recommend this.

A Brilliant Read (9/9 people found this helpful)

I REALLY enjoyed this book! Although I am fairly new to P.D James, "Devices and Desires" is my favourite one so far (I have also read "Original Sin", "Shroud for a Nightingale" and "Murder Room") The author's descriptions of the Norfolk landscape are so atmospheric and they set the tone for this dark novel. I thought the first murder was written in brilliant, chilling detail, in fact the description of the "Whistler" was scary, frankly!
I liked the way the novel progressed at an organic rate and it flowed well. I also liked James' exploration of nuclear power and the effect of Larksoken as an accepted part of the landscape, albeit grudgingly by some.
It was also refreshing to have Dalgliesh isolated from his London home and placed in a much less familiar territory. I was quite pleased there were no references in this book to his love life, as in "Muder Room"- which I felt detracted from the story and was of little interest.
I would highly recommend this book!

P.D. James

Reader Reviews:

Not for the impatient or the restless (0/0 people found this helpful)

Excellent whodunnit, excellent novel (6/6 people found this helpful)

A Brilliant Read (9/9 people found this helpful)

Similar Products

Categories