Product Description

Two bodies, their throats cut with brutal precision, lie in a waste of blood in the dingy vestry of St Matthew's Church, Paddington. One is an alcoholic tramp; the other, Sir Paul Berowne, a recently resigned Minister of the Crown. Dalgliesh arrives to begin his investigations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #547795 in Books
• Published on: 1989-10-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 528 pages

Customer Reviews

Another masterpiece from the queen of crime.
P.D.James shines here with this novel which contains everything needed in a murder mystery.
Gripping from start to finish, this novel sees Dalgliesh caught up in an investigation which has turned personal - he knew the victim. There are many twists and turns here as they try to unravel the clues and evidence to point them to a ruthless and sadistic killer. There are many sub-plots in the novel which try to lead you astray, but ultimately it comes down to one ruthless murderer. Kate Miskin features heavily in this story and a great part of the novel involves her personal life which we have not seen until now.
A truly thrilling cerebral mystery, which delivers the goods intelligently and VERY Englishly! One of my personal favourites which I read again and again.

p d james at her very best
I have always loved p d James books and would rate them very highly. This book has taken her to a new stratoshere in the genre of crime writing. It has a beautiful prosse, well rounded characters and a top class whodunnit. I loved the plotline. How could a top MP and a tramp both end up with their throats cut in a london church? we are drawn into the whys and wherefores from page one and there are fabulous sub plots which touch at the heartstrings, Detective Kate Miskin and her humble upbringing is an example. She has risen from a council high rise flat to become a top detective and still she has her doubts as to where she really fits in to the team inveatigating the double murder. the ending is both poignant and surprising. What more can you ask from a high class whodunnit?

A brilliant plot, as usual !
P.D. JAMES enveils a little more of her inspector psychology and life, while driving us thru this investigation. Little by little everything is put into place and becomes clearer(Dagliesh and the plot !). Questions, doubts... this investigation is a really difficult one for Dagliesh, on a professional and personnal level.
As usual, the plot is really well written and the end surprises us, still being absolutely evident !
But it is the psycological aspect of this book which makes the difference.