newnomv2
2009-07-19 15:25:05 UTC
General rant, first. P.D. James is one of the most frustrating
authors. Her early books are so good, and she's a skillful writer. I
always like the beginnings of her books, where she sets up the
premise, suspects and locale. But midway through, I lose interest.
This book was the worst case yet. I felt like the author had lost
interest as well. Maybe the James pattern of isolated locale, small
circle of suspects is as stifling to her as it can be to her readers.
The only interesting character was the victim. I would rather have
read a book about her.
Most of the suspects were either cold and snobby or ciphers, barely
developed. Dalgliesh is as insufferable as ever. I rolled my eyes at
things like the discussion of what name to give the murderer, because
AD doesn't like using soubriquets like X. Miskin and Benton could, I
feel, be interesting in their own book. The interjection of Emma
Lavenham's friends was pointless. (Of course, I find the whole Emma
subplot to be pointless anyway.) Some plot developments seemed
surprisingly predictable, not to say hackneyed.
Having said all that, I'm embarrassed to say it, but I am actually
unclear about the end of this book. To my question:
Spoilers
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
In the meeting with the lawyer in the nursing home, it wasn't clear to
me whether the will really was forged. Dalgliesh certainly seemed to
think it was, and that (not revenge for the daughter's suicide) was
the primary motivation. But the lawyer was being so cagey and/or the
writing was oblique, so I wasn't quite sure what we were supposed to
think.
Thanks for any enlightenment.
authors. Her early books are so good, and she's a skillful writer. I
always like the beginnings of her books, where she sets up the
premise, suspects and locale. But midway through, I lose interest.
This book was the worst case yet. I felt like the author had lost
interest as well. Maybe the James pattern of isolated locale, small
circle of suspects is as stifling to her as it can be to her readers.
The only interesting character was the victim. I would rather have
read a book about her.
Most of the suspects were either cold and snobby or ciphers, barely
developed. Dalgliesh is as insufferable as ever. I rolled my eyes at
things like the discussion of what name to give the murderer, because
AD doesn't like using soubriquets like X. Miskin and Benton could, I
feel, be interesting in their own book. The interjection of Emma
Lavenham's friends was pointless. (Of course, I find the whole Emma
subplot to be pointless anyway.) Some plot developments seemed
surprisingly predictable, not to say hackneyed.
Having said all that, I'm embarrassed to say it, but I am actually
unclear about the end of this book. To my question:
Spoilers
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
In the meeting with the lawyer in the nursing home, it wasn't clear to
me whether the will really was forged. Dalgliesh certainly seemed to
think it was, and that (not revenge for the daughter's suicide) was
the primary motivation. But the lawyer was being so cagey and/or the
writing was oblique, so I wasn't quite sure what we were supposed to
think.
Thanks for any enlightenment.