Death in Holy Orders
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Despite challenges from Ruth Rendell and (more recently) Minette Walters, PD James' position as Britain's Queen of Crime remains largely unassailed. Although a certain reaction has set in to her reputation (and there are those who claim her poetry-loving copper Dalgleish doesn't correspond to any of his counterparts in the real world), her detractors can scarcely deny her astonishing literary gifts. More than any other writer, she has elevated the detective story into the realms of literature, with the psychology of the characters treated in the most complex and authoritative fashion. Her plots, too, are full of intriguing detail and studded with brilliantly observed character studies. Who cares if Dalgleish belongs more in the pages of a book than poking around a graffiti-scrawled council estate? As a policeman, he is considerably more plausible than Doyle's Holmes, and that's never stopped us loving the Baker Street sleuth. Death in Holy Orders represents something of a challenge from James to her critics, taking on all the contentious elements and rigorously re-invigorating them. She had admitted that she was finding it increasingly difficult to find new plots for Dalgleish, and the locale here (a theological college on a lonely stretch of the East Anglian coast) turns out to be an inspired choice: we're presented with the enclosed setting so beloved of golden age detective writers, and James is able to incorporate her theological interests seamlessly into the plot--but never in any doctrinaire way; the non-believer is never uncomfortable. The body of a student at the college is found on the shore, suffocated by a fall of sand. Dalgleish is called upon to re-examine the verdict of accidental death (which the student's father would not accept). Having visited the College of St Anselm in his boyhood, he finds the investigation has a strong nostalgic aspect for him. But that is soon overtaken by the realisation that he has encountered the most horrific case of his career, and another visitor to the College dies a horrible death. As an exploration of evil--and as a piece of highly distinctive crime writing--this is James at her non-pareil best. Dalgleish, too, is rendered with new dimensions of psychological complexity.
--Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"'P.D. James is one of the national treasures of British fiction...Each new book gives pleasure.' Malcolm Bradbury, Mail on Sunday"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Whether she’s the reigning “Queen of Crime” or not (and she probably doesn’t care!),P.D. James is unbeatable with the police procedural. And her latest, “Death in Holy Orders” is, once again, James par excellence. What scope, what depth, what sheer writing talent when it comes to a gripping, mesmerizing, no-holds-barred whodunit! James brushes aside her critics and continues writing in the way she knows best, unassuming and
literate, psychological and breath-taking!
literate, psychological and breath-taking!
And her main man, Adam Dalgleish is back, along with his trusted assistants, Kate Miskin and Piers Tarrant, as the superintendent enters ecclesiastical waters in this episode. A theological student has been found dead on the East Anglian shore, a tragedy ruled “accidental.” However, pressed by the student’s father, Dalgleish re-examines the ruling and James is off to the races in typical (read that “exciting”) style.
Known as the “dark poet of Scotland Yard,” Dalgleish finds himself, once again, in familiar territory, as he recalls having visited the College of St. Anselm in his youth; however, momentary nostalgia aside, he finds more than he could possibly have anticipated. Of course, there is soon another death and Dalgleish’s own “little gray cells” begin working overtime! Indeed, this may be the more horrifying case he’s encountered, as James explores evil as she’s never done before.
Once again, James takes some time to present Dalgleish, the man, as well. Each of the books in his series provides more and more insight into this incredibly complex policeman. Dalgleish fans will welcome this, of course. “Death in Holy Orders” is yet another of those books that find themselves almost impossible to put down. James and Dalgleish--what a combination, what a read!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is one of the most entertaining books I have read in ages. Not being an avid reader of the genre I picked it up expecting to be mildly lulled into sleep but found myself losing sleep as I was unable to put it down at night! P D James skill is to keep the reader part of the investigating team of this suspicious series of deaths. The first death in the book is the last to be resolved and keeps the reader held until the very end. Those with a knowledge of Anglican theological colleges (especially of an Anglo Catholic bent)will I am sure recognise both priests and ordinands they have met there!
Buy it and enjoy it!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This was the first P.D.James I read, and remains one of the best in my opinion, along with Devices & Desires. There is simply something about the way P.D.James writes takes you into another world. Unlike many books in this genre it is does not dwell on the crime itself, but on building a convincing, interesting and intriging story around the main plot. An excelent read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Death in Holy Orders
Enjoyed the book but the Kindle edition has numerous typos. I think the proof reader must have been having an 'off'
day!
Enjoyable book, up to the usual standard.
day!
Enjoyable book, up to the usual standard.
Published 3 months ago by Linda
Death In Holy Orders
Dalgleish investigates the mysterious death of an ordinand at an isolated theological college.
Perhaps the greatest mystery here is, why do I keep reading P.D. James? Read more
Perhaps the greatest mystery here is, why do I keep reading P.D. James? Read more
Published 8 months ago by Rich
Superb
I approached this book with fairly low expectations having read a P D James before and not being impressed. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Neilybags
Ungodly doings
One of the great pleasures of a story by P.D. James is the contrast between her civilised, literary writing style and the stiletto blade which is buried under the surface cosiness. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Clive A. H. Still
Another cracker
Another good murder mystery from PD James. She concocts a country house murder, without it seeming contrived. Read more
Published on 17 May 2010 by pppme
Highly recommended
An apparent suicide about which the dead man's father has some doubts, a certified natural death and a brutal murder (the last one occuring after the detective arrives) - can there... Read more
Published on 10 April 2010 by N. Young
disappointed
there is no doubt that the book is at times beautifully written, full of insight and atmosphere.
but there are way too many characters jostling for position, the book... Read more
but there are way too many characters jostling for position, the book... Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2010 by minty
(3.5*) Great while you're reading it but really doesn't stand up to...
In lots of ways this is both classic P.D. James and the classic closed community mystery: lots of suspects, multiple murders, twisted motives, all spiced up by religion and... Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2009 by Roman Clodia
PD James: Death In Holy Orders
Quite the best PD James novel I have read so far (I have read seven titles). As expected from this author, the characters have been beautifully drawn and the description of the... Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2009 by M Smith
"We live as men but we die as animals. Personally I find that a...
This quintessentially British mystery, reminiscent in plot to some of those of Agatha Christie, tells an old-fashioned tale of murder and death with the murder and all the action... Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2008 by Mary Whipple
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