Death in Holy Orders

An Adam Dalgliesh Mystery

By: P. D. James

Narrated by: Charles Keating

Length: 15 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

The setting itself is elemental P. D. James: the bleak coast of East Anglia, where atop a sweep of low cliffs stands the small theological college of St. Anselm’s. On the shore not far away, smothered beneath a fall of sand, lies the body of one of the school’s young ordinands. He is the son of Sir Alred Treves, a hugely successful and flamboyant businessman who is accustomed to getting what he wants—and in this case what he wants is Commander Adam Dalgliesh to investigate his son’s death.

Although there seems to be little to investigate, Dalgliesh agrees, largely out of nostalgia for several happy summers he spent at St. Anselm’s as a boy. No sooner does he arrive, however, than the college is torn apart by a sacrilegious and horrifying murder, and Dalgliesh finds himself ineluctably drawn into the labyrinth of an intricate and violent mystery.

Here P. D. James once more demonstrates her unrivalled skill in building a classic detective story into a fully realized novel, gripping as much for its psychological and emotional richness as for the originality and complexity of its plotting—and, of course, for the horror and suspense at its heart.

Filled with unforgettable characters, brilliant in its evocation of the East Anglian scene and the religious background against which the action takes place, Death in Holy Orders again offers proof, if proof were needed, that P. D. James is not only the reigning master of the crime novel but also, simply, one of the finest novelists writing today.

©2001 by P.D. James (P)2001 Random House, Inc., Random House AudioBooks, a Division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"There are very few thriller writers who can compete with P. D. James at her best ... One of the things that sets P. D. James apart from other writers in this genre is the intellectual assurance of her work. This is manifest in her use of language - she writes beautifully - but also in the light touch with which she displays her learning ... DEATH IN HOLY ORDERS is pure pleasure." --Charlotte Joll, The Spectator

"DEATH IN HOLY ORDERS is a page-turner ... but it is also so well-written that you linger over James's beautifully-observed descriptions of characters or scenes ... More, please, P. D. James." --Rosita Boland, The Irish Times

"Adam Dalgliesh's latest outing possesses the confident interplay of classical discipline, contemporary morality and strong evocation of place that had hitherto distinguished James's novels. Writing for the most part within the conventions of the detective story, she has again proved its constraints to be a liberating force for the creative imagination, drawing on accepted generic elements to produce a thoughtful, beautifully-written book which is far more complex than the sum of its parts." --Nicola Upson, The Observer

Great Story!

Loved the story! Kept me guessing till the end!

Looking forward to my next PD James read!

Wonderful book

I have read most of PD James novels, and this is one of the very finest. The character development was extensive and convincing, the storyline was interesting and compelling. I thoroughly enjoyed this most wonderful book.

Death in Holy Orders - good PBS

I chose this title because I have enjoyed the Adam Dalgliesh stories on PBS' Mystery, and I wasn't disappointed. P D James is able to convey atmosphere and suspense in the locale and in the characters, so that I was able to envision the story as it unfolded. It may not have the breakneck speed of some American suspense stories, but it has it's own pace and remains true to it's path. I was not disappointed in the ending as others were - one of the traits of a good mystery is to give enough information for the reader to follow the trail along with the detective. Unpredictable twists that defy logic can ruin a mystery. I would love to see more PD James titles available, unabridged, please.

highly recommended

This was a very long listen, but very enjoyable. It is an intricate, believable, and carefully crafted story. The narration is excellent. More PD James is called for!

An excellent book.

Of all the Adam Dalgliesh audio books those read by Charles Keating are my favorite.

P.D. James

Well read and one of her better stories.

P d James at her best

The British mystery at its best and read by a fabulous narrator. Commander Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard arrives to investigate a suspected suicide and encounters much more.

Don't try to figure out this who-done-it ...

... just enjoy her elegant writing. P.D. James is eloquent in describing the brooding poet, Detective Adam Dalgliesh as he tries to discover who murdered an Anglican seminarian. At some point everyone is a suspect (which must be a requirement in English murder mysteries).

Reader was not an actor.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

No, because the reading was poorly done. Male, female, old and young characters all had the same voice.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It was OK. I was very distracted by poor reading.

What didn’t you like about Charles Keating’s performance?

An actor, not just a reader is needed for audiobooks. His performance was distressing.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I never do. I like to draw my listening out.

Any additional comments?

Please choose actors as readers. Emilia Fox is very good.

superb

The narration, although one I had to slow down, made me feel the chill of the air, the beauty of the rough seas, and even the smell of damp wool.

The writing is, to me, undeniably descriptive and drew me to believe that somehow I was one of the participants.

The character portrayals are well developed and show many instances of human frailties and goodness.

Worth the listen.