The Murder Room

An Adam Dalgliesh Mystery

By: P. D. James

Narrated by: Charles Keating

Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

The Dupayne, a small private museum in London devoted to the interwar years 1919 - 1939, is in turmoil. As its trustees argue over whether it should be closed, one of them is brutally and mysteriously murdered. Yet even as Commander Dalgliesh and his team proceed with their investigation, a second corpse is discovered. Someone in the Dupayne is prepared to kill and kill again. Still more sinister, the murders appear to echo the notorious crimes of the past featured in one of the museum’s galleries: the Murder Room. The case is fraught with danger and complications from the outset, but for Dalgliesh the complications are unexpectedly profound. His new relationship with Emma Lavenham—introduced in the last Dalgliesh novel, Death in Holy Orders—is at a critical stage. Now, as he moves closer and closer to a solution to the puzzle, he finds himself driven further and further from commitment to the woman he loves.

©2003 P.D. James (P)2003 Random House, Inc., Random House Audio, A Division Of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[A] superbly realized setting. … The plot unfolds at its Jamesian leisure; the rich, almost posh quality of its slow unveiling allows for sharp sketches of character and place…. [James] ought never to be confused with such practitioners of the murder-in-the-vicarage genre as Agatha Christie. She is subtler, more sophisticated, much more adept at creating character, and her social conservatism gives her a much darker view of human nature.”—Martin Levin, The Globe and Mail“[T]he premise is delicious.”—Telegraph (UK)

“James’s eye for architecture and nature is rare in most genres of the novel now, and this skill for physical description—along with her psychological acuity.”—The Guardian (UK)"]

“If crime fiction were classical music, P. D. James’s books would be filed under Grand Opera. In a sense, James is the last of the great Golden Age crime writers. She has an instinctive grasp of narrative: despite the leisurely prose, the shocks are beautifully handled. The plot purrs along like a well-designed and well-maintained engine. James writes with rare authority about the civil service, the police and the justice system. She also does an exceptionally good corpse—she never cheapens the physical appearance of death, but describes it with both respect and clinical attention to detail.”—The Independent (UK)

What else can I say...?

I thoroughly enjoyed the book but then I wasn't surprised as I think PD James' books are great. It was well read and in keeping with the book's atmosphere. If you like British whodunits then you'll love this one.

Another "good but with reservations"

I've never read a PD James book because they are so detailed -- to sit in once place and just read it doesn't work. But the audio I enjoy b/c I'm exercising or doing errands and it keeps me entertained. I can see, though, why some reviews are so negative. If I'm correct the murder doesn't happen until after four hours of listening to numerous biographical sketches of some depressing and not very likeable people. But once she gets to writing the actual detective story, i enjoyed it.

P.D. James - Word Artistry

No one can make words sound more comfortable than P.D. James. She does it once again in this especially wonderful murder mystery, introducing us to new characters as well as once again familiarizing us with the old pro - Adam Dalgliesh.

What makes this listen so enjoyable is the extraordinary competence of Charles Keating. As a reader, he is everything one would want, playing male and female characters with aplomb and expertise. He's incredibly wonderul with James' prose.

Just Wonderful

Any additional comments?

PD James needs no recommendation here - or anywhere else, either. But that reader, Charles Keating? He oughtta be a "Golden Voice" - a superlative performer!

A wonderful reading

P D James has become a little formulaic over the years, but what a wonderful formula. Dalgleish is a classic character, and in this book he shows just a little more of his personality. The book itself would only warrant a 3 or a 4, but combined with Charles Keating's wonderfully evocative voice and diction, it gets my 5. This is a book to live in for a while, London and the characters come alive, and you are with them. Keating is the voice of Dalgleish for me and many others from now on.

A RICH AND GLORIOUS MYSTERY

James gives us orginanal, well developes characters in a lushous setting. She unfoldes her plot with painstaking care. Every nuance adding to the beautiful picture she paints.
John Keating reads the book spledidly, giving voice to manyy accents. Hiis reading just tops it off perfectly.
Please give us more D.D. James

I could not have asked for a better audible!

I started my audible journey with P.D. James. I know this series and I was not disappointed with this book. it was suspenseful, the part where the figure was in the dark museum removing the iron bar for the third victim was too scary. And Charles Keating gave each character their own voice and personality. I felt as if others were reading with him. I am on the road to great reading with Audibles. And Charles Keating! I am looking for your narrations.

Very Satisfying

Another excellent entry in the Adam Dalgleish series, which actually adds increased depth to the Chief Inspector's personality. The story is inhabited by flesh and blood characters (brought to life by Charles Keating's elegant reading), and the plot is believable and well developed. I especially enjoyed the ending - the part after the murders are solved - because of the human side it shows of Adam Dalgleish. Bravo to Ms. James - please write us some more.

Another Excellent Book

I really enjoyed this title. P. D. James creates such excellent word pictures in setting scenes. Charles Keating does another excellent job. I hope Audible adds more James titles. I know there are more available in audio format.

Good, but not her best.

P.D. James is one of my very favorite authors, her stories are complicated and intelligent, but not burdened with lots of bad language or graphic descriptions of violence. I did think this book was weaker than her other books. I thought most of the characters were shallow and belligerent, the ones that weren't were hardly used. The narration was dull, I had difficulty telling the characters apart occasionally. The last chapter on the Commander's private life was oddly unsatisfying. I've always left the other books wanting more information on Dalgliesh's life outside of the office, but once I was given it, I was sorry I'd asked. It didn't seem to fit and it had the feel of a Cary Grant movie. Given the age of the author, I was left wondering if she wanted to tie up some loose ends with the Commander. If you are a fan already, you will like it, but overall, I was only *satisfied* with it.