Pros: Excellent writing, characterization, interesting story
Cons: Wordy at times
The Bottom Line: A conditional recommendation: if you're a fan of P.D. James and the Dalgliesh series you'll like this. If you're new to the series you'll want to start somewhere else.
pgifford's Full Review: P. D. James - Death in Holy Orders
Once again I received something in the mail from a club because I didn't return the card in time. Usually I just send them back; this one I kept. I have a commute that varies from 30-75 minutes (traffic) and I had a business trip by car coming up so I thought I'd take a chance. A good mystery is always helpful on long car trips or to pass the time stuck in traffic.
This is the 11th book in the Dalgliesh series.
The story (some plot details revealed)
A young ordinand (future priest) is found smothered by a collapsed sandy bank at St. Anselm's, an Anglican college. The boy's father, an influential man, receives a letter intimating the death may have been foul play. Commander Adam Dalgliesh, a cerebral Scotland Yard detective, is dispatched to investigate. Dalgliesh spent summers at St. Anselm's as a youth and is familiar with the college and knows one of the old priests.
While investigating the death of the ordinand, the resident linen woman and part-time nurse dies. She was old and had a bad heart so her death is not unexpected. Subtle little clues hint her death might not have been natural, however.
The next death is clearly homicide. Archdeacon Crampton, bent on closing St. Anselm's, is found murdered in the church. Was he killed because of his desire to close the college? Was he killed by the convalescing police officer who investigated Crampton's wife's death years ago (a death he attributed to Crampton)?
The final death is of an old woman and sister of one of the priests, found at the bottom of the stairs to the wine cellar. Did she fall? The position of her body almost looks like she was pushed.
In addition to catching the murderer, Dalgliesh and his team must also determine motive. Was it a disgruntled priest or ordinand unhappy about the possibility of St. Anselm's closing? Was it someone who stood to gain if St. Anselm's, rich with priceless artifacts, did indeed close? Was it someone with a grudge against the Church?
The writing
P.D. James does justice to her craft as an author. This is not just a mystery story but borders on literature. Her descriptions are, well, descriptive, written with a flair for bringing the right turn of phrase to bear. Not only does the reader get a good mental picture of the grounds and facilities but also a feel for life at the college.
Her characterizations are well done; the major characters all have depth to them and the reader gets a sense of motivations behind the characters' actions. When the book was over I felt the mystery was just a vehicle to get to know the characters better, rather than the other way around.
My thoughts
Overall I enjoyed the book and did not feel lost, coming in at the end of the series as I did. The book is a bit slow and felt longer than its 400 or so pages. It's not a boring book; the story is a good one and the suspects are plentiful. It's not action-packed, no car chases, no gun fights, very little violence. It's more thoughtful, which feels appropriate for the setting of a remote theological college. In addition to the above mentioned possible motives for murder, there are other things going on at St. Anselm's including a secret marriage and a half-brother/half-sister relationship that may go beyond familial.
The audiobook is on 10 cassettes and runs about 15 hours. The narrator, Charles Keating, does an excellent job. He speaks clearly and evenly. His voice never drops out and you don't have to reach for the volume control because he is too loud. (Contrast this with the terrible "The Patient" by Michael Palmer, which combined a poor narrator with a weak story). His characterizations are unique and identifiable, and his English accent brings atmosphere to the story.
Keating's reading (which is definitely not rushed) and the overall slow pace of the book make this a poor choice to listen to while driving if you're sleepy! That's not a criticism; it's just a mellow well-written story. Not edge of the seat stuff, but certainly enjoyable and well executed.
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