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A Taste for Death  By  cover art

A Taste for Death

By: P. D. James
Narrated by: Penelope Dellaporta
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Publisher's summary

When the quiet Little Vestry of St. Matthew's Church becomes the blood-soaked scene of a double murder, Scotland Yard Commander Adam Dalgliesh faces an intriguing conundrum: How did an upper-crust Minister come to lie, slit throat to slit throat, next to a neighborhood derelict of the lowest order? Challenged with the investigation of a crime that appears to have endless motives, Dalgliesh explores the sinister web spun around a half-burnt diary and a violet-eyed widow who is pregnant and full of malice - all the while hoping to fill the gap of logic that joined these two disparate men in bright red death...

©2007 PD James (P)2009 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A superb detective novel....and a gift to all readers." ( USA Today)
"Glitters with the high-gloss anxiety of a first-rate detective novel, but it goes beyond that fine achievement to another realm . . . An intricate, compassionate novel." ( The Boston Globe)

Featured Article: The Best Cozy Mysteries to Keep You Warm This Holiday Season


We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best cozy mystery audiobooks to help brighten up your winter listening. Here you'll find contemporary and historical cozies, classic whodunits and ingenious heist stories. While varying in tone, plot, and setting, these picks all share an irresistible holiday atmosphere. You'll find snowstorms galore, bakeries full of tasty holiday treats, glittering get-togethers, and picturesque English villages decked out in their holiday finest.

What listeners say about A Taste for Death

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    4 out of 5 stars

A good story.

I always enjoy P. D. James. She brings out flaws in human nature we all have on some level in her characters,

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6 people found this helpful

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Excellent performance

We all know Pd James is the best but here we have the best with an outstanding performance and good sound editing. No repeating sentences as in so many Audible books

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4 people found this helpful

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another enjoyable mystery with colorful characters

Well delivered reading. AD has become a family friend of sorts. Wonderful character development plus amazing descriptive flare to set the scene or deliver emotions and suspense.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Full of twists and turns

I've been on a P D James kick and always enjoy the Dalgliesh books but this one seemed to have more characters, more plot twists and more dialogue than the ones I've previously enjoyed. It certainly kept mybinterest and the only thing that stopped me was my phone battery dying!!!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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PD James is top notch.

Overall a good read. PD James is a favorite. Think the narration is better if listened to at faster speed.

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  • Overall
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PD James at her best.

Page turner Murder mystery, but also penetrating the deeper, more mysterious levels of human existance. Masterly.

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One of the best

One of the best by James, herself one of the best mystery writers ever, including Tey, Stout, and Christie.

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ANOTHER ADAM DALGLESH COMPLIATED MYSTERY

What did you love best about A Taste for Death?

I like the way Adam Dalglesh sifts through each clue large and small and continues to interrogate uncooperative family members until a pattern emerges.

What did you like best about this story?

The way the small boy became a cornerstone of the story.

Which character – as performed by Penelope Dellaporta – was your favorite?

Adam Dalgelsh, the tortured poet, inspector and all around sad man was played brilliantly.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

FINDING GOD AND DEATH IN THE SAME PLACE.

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3 people found this helpful

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Great Reading!

Lengthy, but worth listening to. The reader have done an
excellent job, Miming the different characters Very realistically

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  • Overall
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Every Word Is Good

A Taste for Death was worth every minute, long though it was. It gripped the reader the entire story. Kate was a fine addition to the team. The cameo appearance of Millicent Gentle was exquisite, including Make-peace. Dalgliesh continues to enthrall. Listen with pleasure!

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