I really enjoyed PD James' early mystery novels, but I was so disappointed by this one (and by her "science fiction" foray, [b:The Children of Men|1815727|Les filles du docteur March se marient|Louisa May Alcott|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1188737805s/1815727.jpg|3244642]) that I wouldn't read her again for several years. I found the premise of this book - the backstory I suppose - utterly improbable. My willing suspension of belief was so sorely strained I could not enjoy the mystery aspect of the book. I felt that my personal beliefs were insulted by this story background, and while I am willing to admit that is my own fault and failing, I find it unnecessary for James to have gone so far.

The central conceit behind much of P D James' mystery writing is that "murder is the ultimate invasion of privacy". She likes to take people and places apart, to dissect them, to examine them in microscopic detail, and she does this very well. Her prose is smooth, elegant and polished, her settings are fascinating, and her tempo neither rushes nor plods.

Alas, the ultimate result of all this fastidiousness is a drone of frumpy tedium. She lavishes hundreds of words on incidental characters. She draws her minute observations from a world that I suspect either doesn't exist any more, or is so far removed from the world I see every day on my way to work that I lose all interest and empathy. (In "Death In Holy Orders", everybody refers to "guest sets" instead of "suites" or "rooms". Bring on the doilies, the chintz, and the antimacassars!) She inevitably presents fascinating and deep psychological portraits of her main characters, but I don't care much for any of them. I usually end up not even caring which one is the murderer.

Of course this is all deliberate, and I admire P D James' exquisite craft. Her books aren't boring - they're much too well-written for that - but they are dull.

As expected, a rich and rewarding read.

4.5 stars
This book had the Agatha Christie feel to it. The isolated setting almost felt like a character in the novel. Though I had an idea about how it might end, it didn't ruin the effect the book gave. P D James is a very interesting author. Will surely read more of her works.
This book can be read at leisure and at pleasure, like I did. :)

I was pretty disappointed by this book. I have heard such good things about P.D. James, and I was really excited to read something by her. And this was recommended by a librarian as one of her best. But I thought her prose was mediocre at best--in in some places just sloppy--and the story wasn't all that interesting.

That said, I can see why people like P.D. James, and I do think I will try something else by her at some point. She combines the classic British-style whodunit with more developed characters and psychology.

“Since, as a convicted paedophile, he was required to register any change of address, it was felt that the convent would offer as safe a refuge as St. Anslem’s. Dalgliesh, suppressing a smile, privately agreed that no more suitable post could be found.”

What the hell is wrong with *everyone* in this book that they’re so hot to protect a convicted pedophile? Had James lost her mind?

This was well written as always but I can’t give my normal four stars. As a culture, we all agree that those who prey on children are the dregs of society. So again I have to wonder what James was up to by hand waving the whole incident(s) like it was no big deal. I’m pretty sure it was a very big deal to the victims. One star.

Another enjoyable whodunit.