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genre_fiction_is_literature's review against another edition
4.0
With surgical precision PD James weaves a murderous tale in the shadows of a small seminary school. The plot is as good as any police procedural and the writing matches up to most fine literature. As the body count grows, the sea is flooded with demented red herrings, but unlike much contemporary fiction James closes her story with well-planned scenes and satisfying splashes of panache.
This is a must read novel/series for fans of the genre and should be considered by a wider reading audience. Death In Holy Orders is proof of that literary crime fiction can be more exhilarating than the popcorn novels available in airport bookshops. Long live the queen.
This is a must read novel/series for fans of the genre and should be considered by a wider reading audience. Death In Holy Orders is proof of that literary crime fiction can be more exhilarating than the popcorn novels available in airport bookshops. Long live the queen.
abbutterflie's review
3.0
The book was good... but I found the ending underwhelming. The motive didn't make a ton of sense to me, nor was it clear how the murders were effected. Still I might try another PD James - lighter reading has been a theme of 2017, and I can see that continuing into 2018...
marlisenicole's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
wlwhitehead's review against another edition
5.0
My all-time favorite author and my all-time favorite murder mystery.
heyhey_pk's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gillyrosh's review against another edition
4.0
Better than The Lighthouse, but something's still missing. Lots of intrigue and amazing detail - especially with regard to setting, but I couldn't really connect with most of the characters, except for Comm. Dalgliesh. He sounds positively dishy in this one :-)
bbrien's review against another edition
4.0
This is a beautiful book, with wonderful descriptions and almost lyrical prose. I am slightly disappointed with the identification of the criminal, but I doubt I would have preferred anyone else.
gigishank's review against another edition
4.0
Here P.D. James is at her best, just a great novel that happens to be a mystery.
100% loved it.
Quotes:
" a fascination with the complexity of the intellectual bastions which men could construct to withstand the tides of disbelief" Piers Tarrant
"Maybe we'd do better if we tried to behave more like good animals and less like gods." Kate Miskin
"It was, he thought, a good time of year to look at trees." Adam Dalgliesh
100% loved it.
Quotes:
" a fascination with the complexity of the intellectual bastions which men could construct to withstand the tides of disbelief" Piers Tarrant
"Maybe we'd do better if we tried to behave more like good animals and less like gods." Kate Miskin
"It was, he thought, a good time of year to look at trees." Adam Dalgliesh