- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Faber and Faber; New edition edition (20 May 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0571204902
- ISBN-13: 978-0571204908
- Product Dimensions: 19 x 12.2 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,788,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Cover Her Face
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Product Description
Review
'The greatest contemporary writer of classic crime.' Peter Kemp, Sunday Times 'P. D. James is one of the national treasures of British fiction... Each new book gives pleasure not just for macabre crimes or ingenious solutions but its density of experience.' Malcolm Bradbury, Mail on Sunday 'Unlike so many crime writers, James still has the power to move, fascinate and astonish.' Independent 'James... manages to invest even a simple mystery novel with a depth and intelligence that few in her trade can match.' The Times
Review
'The greatest contemporary writer of classic crime.' Peter Kemp, Sunday Times 'P. D. James is one of the national treasures of British fiction... Each new book gives pleasure not just for macabre crimes or ingenious solutions but its density of experience.' Malcolm Bradbury, Mail on Sunday 'Unlike so many crime writers, James still has the power to move, fascinate and astonish.' Independent 'James... manages to invest even a simple mystery novel with a depth and intelligence that few in her trade can match.' The Times
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Sally Jupp is unexpectedly attractive--and an unwed mother in an era when such still carries considerable stigma. After a sterling record at a home for "fallen women," she finds work as a maid for the aristocratic but somewhat impoverished Maxie family, and once installed shows another aspect of her personality: a perverse pleasure in creating unpleasantness for virtually every one who crosses her path. The Maxie family is largely impervious to her machinations... but when Sally goes so far as to tantalize a proposal of marriage from the Maxie son, her game of troubling the water turns lethal, and Scotland Yard's Inspector Dalgliesh is on the job.
This 1962 effort was P.D. James' first novel, and at the time it drew enough praise to immediately place among the foremost mystery writers of the day. And indeed there is much to be said for it: the story is well-constructed, the characters well drawn, and the crime is appropriately mysterious; on the whole it is a fast and fun read. But not all P.D. James fans will be impressed. Although there is more than a hint of the distinctive style and convolutions James will bring to her later work, it borrows a great deal in construction from Agatha Christie and not a little from Dorothy Sayers in terms of literary style, and Inspector Dalgliesh is not as well developed here as he will eventually become.
On the whole, I recommend the novel--but I recommend it to established fans of P.D. James, who will be interested to see her working in the "classic English murder mystery" style and enjoy comparing this debut work to the author's later and more impressive work. First timers would do better to select one of the many novels that find James at the peak of her form--with DEATH OF AN EXPERT WITNESS or A TASTE FOR DEATH particularly recommended.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The distinguished Adam Dalgliesh stories begin with Cover Her Face. Few will find this their favorite book in the series. I decided to read Cover Her Face again to provide perspective on P.D. James's latest, The Lighthouse. From that retrospective look, I came away even more impressed with The Lighthouse.
But I do recommend that you read Cover Her Face. Although it isn't going to be a favorite of yours, it will be good reading.
The book's main weakness is that the detailed development of the place and characters doesn't quite have rich enough material to work with.
The plot itself has some marvelous twists and turns that build around the character of a most unusual murder victim, Sally Jupp, a marginally acceptable servant in a wealthy home. The other interesting aspect of the story relates to several interesting variations on the locked room mystery subgenre.
In later stories in the series, Baroness James let her imagination run freer . . . with superb results.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The distinguished Adam Dalgliesh stories begin with Cover Her Face. Few will find this their favorite book in the series. I decided to read Cover Her Face again to provide perspective on P.D. James's latest, The Lighthouse. From that retrospective look, I came away even more impressed with The Lighthouse.
But I do recommend that you read Cover Her Face. Although it isn't going to be a favorite of yours, it will be good reading.
The book's main weakness is that the detailed development of the place and characters doesn't quite have rich enough material to work with.
The plot itself has some marvelous twists and turns that build around the character of a most unusual murder victim, Sally Jupp, a marginally acceptable servant in a wealthy home. The other interesting aspect of the story relates to several interesting variations on the locked room mystery subgenre.
In later stories in the series, Baroness James let her imagination run freer . . . with superb results.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Stirring up trouble
It is interesting to read the book which kicked off P.D. James' writing career. Published in 1962, it lacks the psychological depth of her later works and hovers interestingly... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Clive A. H. Still
Typo-mania
In common with many others who purchased this as a book to read on their Kindle, my enjoyment of it was seriously marred by the huge number of mistakes. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jamble
Cover her face
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the setting and the characters. Beautifully written . The writing takes you back to a more innocent time.
Published 4 months ago by Moody cow
E Book
Great present, ordered it, it arrived in the time stated, exactly as described and the recipient was happy.
Overall a great purchase.
Overall a great purchase.
Published 4 months ago by Roger
Good story, shame about the typos
I've never read any P.D. James before and enjoyed the story a great deal. Unfortunately, my enjoyment was tempered by the appalling spelling mistakes throughout this Kindle... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Lochy Pearson
Really bad editing, lots of typos
This is a great murder mystery but the typos really spoilt it for me. I think that it needs to be taken off Kindle and re-done with a proper proof read. Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. Munroe
Cover Her Face
How P.D.James and Dalgeish improved after this, her first book.
The story begins 3 months before the muder and the first 20% leads us in. Read more
The story begins 3 months before the muder and the first 20% leads us in. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Blodwen
P D JAMES Cover her face
I enjoyed the story.. but mistakes drove me crazy "mat" replaced that... "Happy" replaced nappy.. too many errors to report. whoever proof read this should find a new occupation
Published 5 months ago by Jenex
proof reading fail
I am appalled that on at least a dozen occaisions the word "mat" has replaced the word "that" on my copy. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dawn KP
Grrat book shame about the spelling mistakes
I love PD James and this book is o exception. The only issue is there are a lot of spelling mistakes in this kindle edition. Shame that this has not been edited well. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. T. L. R. Merchant
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