Helpful Score: 1
A classic Dagliesh mystery--two murders in the vestry of a small church; one man a powerful, rich politician, and the other man a homeless bum.
Helpful Score: 1
gritty contemporary british murder mystery
Excellent, beautifully written mystery from a Master. The characters are particularly well-nuanced, and the liturgical background adds another layer of depth to the plot. Her writing is so vivid that the book takes on a life of its own in which I am totally engrossed until the ending. With P.D.James, I have been known to read the last chapter and immediately turn to the beginning to start again so the enjoyment does not disappear. It is a rare writer who provoked that response. Highly recommend!!
A little long,. but still a great read. THis is the first book in which Inspector Dalgliesh works with his newly formed Sensitvie Case squad.
In her latest Commander Adam Dalgliesh detective novel, James subtly deepens the complexities of his personality, making him an ever more credible protagonist. When two bodies are discovered with their throats slashed in a London church, Dalgleish is called upon to solve the case. One victim is Sir Paul Berowne, former Minister of the Crown; the other is a tramp accustomed to sleeping in the church vestibule. It seems that these deaths may be tied to those of two young women who have recently been employed in the Berowne household. Dalgleish feels an unusual empathy in this case; he had known Berowne and sensed several parallels in their lives. Yet James's civilized digressions do not detract from the suspense of the plot. She does not employ horrific details for shock effect, but her step-by-step description of procedural details, particularly those of forensic medicine, totally immerse readers in the investigation. Literate readers who have not yet made Adam Dalgliesh's acquaintance should rush to the bookstores for this one.
ONE OF HIS BEST NOVELS
In her latest Commander Adam Dalgliesh detective novel, James subtly deepens the complexities of his personality, making him an ever more credible protagonist. When two bodies are discovered with their throats slashed in a London church, Dalgleish is called upon to solve the case. One victim is Sir Paul Berowne, former Minister of the Crown; the other is a tramp accustomed to sleeping in the church vestibule. It seems that these deaths may be tied to those of two young women who have recently been employed in the Berowne household. Dalgleish feels an unusual empathy in this case; he had known Berowne and sensed several parallels in their lives. This sense of compassion is one of the things that distinguishes James's novels. In delving into what she calls "the fascination of character," she makes each actor in the drama memorable. The characters here read Trollope and Philip Larkin; they are knowledgeable about architecture and art. Yet James's civilized digressions do not detract from the suspense of the plot. She does not employ horrific details for shock effect, but her step-by-step description of procedural details, particularly those of forensic medicine, totally immerse readers in the investigation. Literate readers who have not yet made Adam Dalgliesh's acquaintance should rush to the bookstores for this one.
I couldn't get through this book because i found it highly boring. I quit reading it before the first chapter ended.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
This may be the longest P.D. James book I've read. It's a long story with a lot of subplots, characters and numerous red herrings.
This could never be a movie, but would have to be a long running mini-series. Still, I enjoyed it.
This could never be a movie, but would have to be a long running mini-series. Still, I enjoyed it.
Two men are killed in a church - what links them is a mystery. P.D. James is one of my favorite crime authors and this book does not disappoint! It stands on its own as a novel, not just a whodunit.
The bodies of Sir Paul Berowne, a retired Minister of the Crown who was an acquaintance of Dalgliesh, and Harry Mack, a tramp, are found in the vestry of St Matthews Church with their throats cut. Berowne holds the weapon that caused the death of both men. Is it murder and suicide? Daiglesh is assigned to investigate.
The family of the minister sees little reason to cooperate with Dalgliesh so he, DCI John Massingham and DI Kate Miskin must wade throught the details to discover what happened. Berowne's mother, his wife and her lover, daughter, his mistress and others are interviewed looking for motive and opportunity. Eventually, the trio discovers that the motive is actually two - money and jealousy. It takes awhile to sort through the statements and determine what and why the two men were killed.
I totally enjoy the author's writing and pick up a nover by her periodically because, in fact, she writes a darn good mystery. This one is no exception.
The family of the minister sees little reason to cooperate with Dalgliesh so he, DCI John Massingham and DI Kate Miskin must wade throught the details to discover what happened. Berowne's mother, his wife and her lover, daughter, his mistress and others are interviewed looking for motive and opportunity. Eventually, the trio discovers that the motive is actually two - money and jealousy. It takes awhile to sort through the statements and determine what and why the two men were killed.
I totally enjoy the author's writing and pick up a nover by her periodically because, in fact, she writes a darn good mystery. This one is no exception.
Their throats slit, the two men had turned the old vestry of St. Matthew's Church red with blood. In death united, in life no two men could have been more disparate: one a Baronet; the other an alcoholic derelict. Commander Adam Dalgliesh believes that to find the killer he has to find the thread that connected the two lives.
I love anything by PD James. This book is especially spooky.
Their throats slit, the two men had turned the old vestry of St. Matthew's Church red with bood. In death united, in life no men could have been more disparate: one a Baronet and Minister of the Crown, the other an alcoholic derelict. Commander Adam Dalgliesh believed that to find the killer, he had to find the thread that connected the two lives. But he found himself following a tangled skein of lofty emotions and base ambitions into Britain's enigmatic upper class - and into a labyrinth of ever widening scandal and murder without end...
P D James is one of my all-time favorite authors and her detective Adam Dalgliesh never disappoints. Beware...it is good to have a dictionary on hand and a source for googling, especially for church architecture, which I can never keep straight.
Set mostly in London, A Taste For Death starts out with a Member of Parliament being sent a blackmail letter accusing him of several deaths. After having a mystic experience in a non-descript London church, he returns to spend the night, after resigning his seat and finding his wife pregnant. The next morning he is found with his throat cut and a tramp, dead in the other room. A special team of detectives set out to discover whether it was murder or suicide.
I give it a four, as it has an action-packed finale. I prefer more quiet endings, than chases an SWAT teams. Lesser James is still great, however.
Set mostly in London, A Taste For Death starts out with a Member of Parliament being sent a blackmail letter accusing him of several deaths. After having a mystic experience in a non-descript London church, he returns to spend the night, after resigning his seat and finding his wife pregnant. The next morning he is found with his throat cut and a tramp, dead in the other room. A special team of detectives set out to discover whether it was murder or suicide.
I give it a four, as it has an action-packed finale. I prefer more quiet endings, than chases an SWAT teams. Lesser James is still great, however.
This book has some bent corners, spine creases and lots of rubbing but A GREAT READ!!
Amanda H. (willowxand25) reviewed A Taste for Death (Adam Dalgliesh, Bk 7) on + 111 more book reviews
This book does not have the paper wrapping around the cover. Other than that, book is in excellent condition.
When two bodies are found with their throats slashed in the vestry of St. Matthew's Church -- one a street tramp named Harry Mack and the other Paul Berowne, a recently resigned Minister of the Crown -- Dalgliesh and his squad are called in to investigate the highly sensitive case. As Dalgliesh delves deeper into the government official's checkered past, the list of possible suspects -- and potential motives -- grows longer with each interview. With very few clues to go on, Dalgliesh must figure out "which of the suspects has the means, the opportunity, the knowledge, the physical strength, the motive?" The answer will surprise even the most adept armchair sleuth...
Fans of highly cerebral mysteries by authors like Ruth Rendell, Francis Durbridge, and Elizabeth George -- writers who delve into the dark intricacies of the human psyche and focus more on police procedures and deep introspection than over-the-top blood-and-guts -- should by all means sample an Adam Dalgliesh mystery (The Lighthouse, The Murder Room, Devices and Desires, et al.). They are sure to find these novels, featuring a brilliant detective who is also a critically acclaimed poet, absolute crime fiction masterworks. James -- whose first Dalgliesh mystery dates back to her very first novel, 1962's Cover Her Face -- isn't called the Queen of Crime for nothing. Paul Goat Allen
When two bodies are found with their throats slashed in the vestry of St. Matthew's Church -- one a street tramp named Harry Mack and the other Paul Berowne, a recently resigned Minister of the Crown -- Dalgliesh and his squad are called in to investigate the highly sensitive case. As Dalgliesh delves deeper into the government official's checkered past, the list of possible suspects -- and potential motives -- grows longer with each interview. With very few clues to go on, Dalgliesh must figure out "which of the suspects has the means, the opportunity, the knowledge, the physical strength, the motive?" The answer will surprise even the most adept armchair sleuth...
Fans of highly cerebral mysteries by authors like Ruth Rendell, Francis Durbridge, and Elizabeth George -- writers who delve into the dark intricacies of the human psyche and focus more on police procedures and deep introspection than over-the-top blood-and-guts -- should by all means sample an Adam Dalgliesh mystery (The Lighthouse, The Murder Room, Devices and Desires, et al.). They are sure to find these novels, featuring a brilliant detective who is also a critically acclaimed poet, absolute crime fiction masterworks. James -- whose first Dalgliesh mystery dates back to her very first novel, 1962's Cover Her Face -- isn't called the Queen of Crime for nothing. Paul Goat Allen
Sandi K W. (Sandiinmississippi) reviewed A Taste for Death (Adam Dalgliesh, Bk 7) on + 265 more book reviews
Vintage P D James
A mystery I read way back in '87. I remember thinking it was a very good mystery but can't remember what it was about any more. I've moved beyond fiction so I no longer have room for this in my library
