Rating: 
Summary: Starts slow, but nice work at the end
Review: It took me forever to get into this book, but then I ended up reading the last 200 pages late into the night. I know, I know -- character development, right? But plot cannot be sacrificed for character development alone! The flyleaf promised murders, i.e. PLURAL, and I had to read quite a bit before this promise was fulfilled. And an intriguing love story that was tantalizingly begun at the beginning of the book was concluded at the end -- with no hint at this storyline in between. However, maybe it was thanks to all this studious development that I couldn't put the book down on that last evening. Nevertheless, great novels do no operate in fits and starts. A good read (finally), but the pacing definitely has problems.
Rating: 
Summary: James fans will not be disappointed
Review: If there is any criticism about P.D. James, it would have to be that she takes too long to write her books. There is usually a 2-3 year wait between books but when she releases one, it is something to be excited about. "The Murder Room" is no exception and while it is not as lofty as some of her earlier novels, it is a taut little thriller and a delightful read. The first 100 pages are devoted to introducing the murder scene (a musuem) and a host of suspects. After the first murder occurs, it is not long before other victims start piling up! In addition to James' extraordinary attention to characterization, her descriptons of architecture, gardens, furnishings, etc. is wonderful. She truly makes the reader feel as though they are in the setting. It is obvious that James got her idea of an important plot event from a highly publcized film that came out a few years ago but no matter, the book delivers and fans should be pleased with this one.
Rating:
Summary: P.D. James never disappoints...
Review: The latest installment in the Adam Dalgliesh series, "The Murder Room" is classic P.D. James. As some previous reviews have correctly pointed out, there is nothing new in this book. As a reader, the appeal of P.D. James is not the search for something new, but rather the confidence of a high quality, well written mystery."The Murder Room" is set in a privately held, small, family museum that focuses on the interware years of 1919-39. The title refers to one room in the museum that features infamous murders from this time period. As always, P.D. James fills the book with interesting and complex characters--two dysfunctional families, loyal caretakers, mis-guided youths, and of course, New Scotland Yard. Sex, intrigue, loyalty, and of course, money, create alliances between some characters while pitting others against one another. Although the reader knows the murderer is likely to be closely connected to the museum, P.D. James leaves the reader guessing until quite close to the end. The detailed character development, and the way the words lead the reader to envision the atmosphere of this country museum will keep you entranced until the end.
Rating:
Summary: PD James at her most average is still the BEST
Review: What a truly gifted writer. One of the greatest tragedies is what happened to England between the wars. The best and brightest of English society was killed in the criminally,stupidly engaged WWI...run by fools who used their young soldiers like cannon fodder. If you ever wonder why there are so many spinsters portrayed in Dorothy Sayer's novels, it is because the cream of English society was slaughtered in France...And those who survived came home gassed,ill,and often broken. This absurd war was to support the Honor and Preservation of ENGLAND and the English Way of Life.(caps are ironic) I think the bizarre murders that the Dupayne Museum portrays in the Murder Room are symptomatic of the ailing society that England became in the 20's and 30's. James is a social historian in this book...the murders are almost incidental. Of course we must briefly endure the romance between Ms. Perfectly Beautiful and Kindly Emma Lavenham and Dalgliesh. Emma ain't no Harriet Vane.(Sayer's glorious heroine to Peter Wimsey) Where is Cordelia Grey? I'd even accept Kate Miskin. Another reviewer described it like it a Cary Grant movie. Great call. I think PD James sobbed into her hankie when she viewed "An Affair to Remember". Emma is soppy...and way too perfect for words. I hope James kills her off. I'd pay to read that. This book, never-the-less is STILL worth the price of admission.
Rating: 
Summary: Strong compelling writing but bloodless characters/plot
Review: Police Commander Adam Dalgliesh visits a small museum whose major point of interest is a 'murder room' showing evidence from notorious murders that took place between the world wars. The Dupayne Museum, though, is in crisis. Unless the three trustees agree to renew the lease, the museum must be closed. And one of the three seems intent on refusing to go on. When Dalgliesh returns to the museum, it isn't because of the exibits. Instead, life seems to be imitating history and a new murder has duplicated one of those long-gone ones. Author P. D. James delves into her characters, giving us the details on the psychology and family history that led them to hold their current views and their current fears. Her descriptions of Tally Clutton, in particular, are fascinating and a joy to read. James's style makes MURDER ROOM a compelling read, but the story itself seems somewhat bloodless. James attempts to give Dalgliesh an emotional impact through a romantic involvement that is regularly complicated by the demands of his police work. But for me, Dalgliesh's 'love' seems uncompelling. Of the other police, Detective-Inspector Kate Miskin gets the most attention but she seems emotionally uninvolved with the case or with her life. If you're a fan of P. D. James's writing, you'll find MURDER ROOM to be a satisfying treat. Although I found the plot and characters to be somewhat light, the writing carries the reader forward and gives us an understanding of an England that P. D. James knows and, I think, loves.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, as always
Review: Knowing the author's age, and remembering the last, unsatisfying work of dear Agatha, I was worried that this novel would fail to please. No such worry. If it does fall short in any way, it is only in comparison to her finest work. It does get off to a slow start, with a multitude of characters introduced. I was tempted to take notes. Her prose is beautiful, as always. It's almost a waste that she spent her career writing mystery novels.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent read...
Review: I love her prose and how she builds up her story and characters. The ending was a bit of an anti-climax. One would have expected more. But as always, it was like good wine. P.D. James as always, never fails to please. She writes so well.
Rating:
Summary: Superb as always
Review: I've "discovered" PD James quite recently with "Death in the Holy Orders". "The Murder Room" is another excellent book based on the same proven recipe: the poet-turned-inspector Dagliesh with his less intellectual but decent team (one wonders why Elisabeth George abandonded the same proven recipe and got lost), an intriguing setting (in this case a fictional Belle Epoque Museum on Hapmstead Heath) and a well woven whodunnit. The fact that the structure of the story remains practically the same with previous books this does not make "The Murder Room" any less enjoyable. A well written book that is surprisingly modern and in line with current societal values. Most enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not her best.
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: A great read!
Review: A great read! I truly enjoyed reading this It's a rarity these days to find an author capable of such good storytelling. The story is well written and very engaging, and despite the fact that it lost some momentum in the middle, I found myself eagerly turning pages to find out what would happen next. All in all, though this is not quite a perfect novel, it comes close.
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