From the award-winning master of literary crime fiction, a classic work rich in tense drama and psychological insight.On the East Anglian seacoast, a small theological college hangs precariously on an eroding shoreline and an equally precarious future. When the body of a student is found buried in the sand, the boy’s influential father demands that Scotland Yard investigate. Enter Adam Dalgliesh, … Enter Adam Dalgliesh, a detective who loves poetry, a man who has known loss and discovery. The son of a parson, and having spent many happy boyhood summers at the school, Dalgliesh is the perfect candidate to look for the truth in this remote, rarified community of the faithful–and the frightened. And when one death leads to another, Dalgliesh finds himself steeped in a world of good and evil, of stifled passions and hidden pasts, where someone has cause not just to commit one crime but to begin an unholy order of murder. . . .
Praise for Death in Holy Orders
“Gracefully sculpted prose and [a] superbly executed mystery . . . Death in Holy Orders is among [James’s] most remarkable and accomplished Dalgliesh novels.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer
“An elegant work about hope, death, and the alternately redemptive and destructive nature of love.”—The Miami Herald
“Absorbing . . . [James’s] plotting and characterization [are] impeccable.”—Orlando Sentinel
“P. D. James is in top form.”—The Boston Globe
Open the exclusive dossier at the back of this book, featuring P. D. James’ essay on penning the perfect detective novel.
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What more can I say…P.D. James. Her Commander Dalgliesh is a thoughtful man of integrity. In this narrative, he returns to the seminary where he summered as a young boy to solve a murder. If you love British mysteries, read this one and enjoy the atmospheric windswept cliffs of East Anglia, a perfect moody setting for this crime.
I like anything by P.D. James
I am now a P. D. James fan. I will read more by this author who knows her way around crime and it’s characters.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
It’s PD James! The definitive English murder mystery writer. What’s not to love!
Interesting and hard to put dowm
An older series with twisted murder plots gives Agatha a run for her money. Not a romance, just good old fashened mystery.
good
Another good mystery by one of the great mystery writers.
It takes awhile to get into the story due to lots of details but the details really help you build a picture in your mind and add layers of depth to the story. Worthwhile putting the mental energy into this book!
PD James is great!
You can’t go wrong by picking a PD James mystery to get you through those miserable dog days of summer. Or any time you want to get immersed in an expertly rendered tale of intrigue.
P. D. James is always a good read. She creates and develops believelable characters and settings and manages to hold your interest throughout the book.
PD James is a wonderful storyteller.
Super read.
Love P.D. James. All I’m saying.
I always enjoy her books and this was no exception. I learned so much from her background descriptions and plot twists. The characters breath and grow.
A rather long-winded mystery, with some local information added to make it seem real. I found myself wishing it would end faster.
Re-read about 10 years after first reading. A little more dated now but still excellent writing.