The Murder Room : A Novel (Vintage)

Rating:
Summary: MORE THAN A MYSTERY NOVEL
Review: The writing of P.D. James is very fine and has a depth & maturity that few other mystery writers have. It is thoughtful and measured but highly suspenseful at the same time. It has that " interiorness" that sense of place that has always been a hallmark of good English writing. There are also subtle criticisms of modern English society ( and Western society as a whole) and its increasing lack of morality. This is novel that comes from the pen of a believer (refreshing in itself). The quality and depth of this latest James offering is in sharp contrast to the action oriented American mystery - even the very best American mystery writers don't hold a candle to the great English ladies of mystery - James. Rendell, Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Marjorie Allingham, Dorothy Sayers....

I loved this book and couln't put it down. I hope she has another one in the works.


Rating:
Summary: Good Book!
Review: This is an excellent addition to the Adam Dalgliesh series. When is the DVD due out?

Rating:
Summary: Okay...But Not Among the Best of James' Work
Review: Well, it's a P.D. James novel so it can't be all bad...but in the first few chapters I realized that there were too many similarities to "Original Sin", the saga of the publishing-house family murders. By halfway through the book, I realized that I was becoming bored with the excessive description and lack of original action and thought. By the end of the book, I had to admit that I really hadn't enjoyed it...too little plot or meaning, too reminiscent of earlier (and better) works, too little Adam Dalgliesh, and worst of all -- too much gratuitous subplot material that raised the eyebrows but contributed nothing significant to the story (the pseudo-pedophile Major, Ryan's gay identity, the sex club, etc.) Dare I say that it was actually bordering on shallow? Well, I have always loved P.D. James so I won't go that far, but I must say I was disappointed. At eighty-four, is it possible that Ms. James is starting to run out of fresh stories to tell? If so, please let Emma and Adam go in peace, living out their happy new lives in fiction heaven.