New York Times Bestseller
When distinguished criminal lawyer Venetia Aldridge defends a young man for the brutal murder of his mothe... read full description
When distinguished criminal lawyer Venetia Aldridge defends a young man for the brutal murder of his mothe... read full description
reviews
Sep 13, 2007
Ruth
rated it: 
This book brings the reader into the mind of a psychopath AND those of several more "normal" people who are seriously, destructively obsessed. And it doesn't take us very far into the mind of Adam, Kate or their assistant (here it is Piers). Oh, & the presenting mystery is solved at the end but the murderer won't be brought to justice. Hence I'm not thrilled with this immense tome.
Its strength: beautiful descriptions of the city of London, a number of historic buildings (a More...
Its strength: beautiful descriptions of the city of London, a number of historic buildings (a More...
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Jan 04, 2012
Diane
rated it: 
When I pick up a P.D. James book, I know I'm in for a challenge. Her plot twists and characters require attention, which I'm happy to give since the return is so worthwhile. However, I'm not quite sure A Certain Justice was worth the time I spent reading it.
Venetia Aldridge, the victim of a murder that sets the book in motion, is totally unlikable--she's not even a good mother--so almost anyone could have wanted to kill her. She's surrounded by a bunch of unsavory characters, includin More...
Venetia Aldridge, the victim of a murder that sets the book in motion, is totally unlikable--she's not even a good mother--so almost anyone could have wanted to kill her. She's surrounded by a bunch of unsavory characters, includin More...
Jul 25, 2011
Alex
rated it: 
A pretty good Dalgliesh mystery slightly hampered by the fact that Dalgliesh doesn't show himself until about 141 pages in. James allows the audience to absorb the intensely detailed character sketches that became her trademark, utilising the page to reveal more than we thought we needed to know about any given specimen, weighting them so that none takes particular precedence over the others.
In the later stages of the book the investigation of a different facet of the main crime almost More...
In the later stages of the book the investigation of a different facet of the main crime almost More...
Sep 11, 2009
Barner
rated it:
My grandson, Graham, likes PD James so when I saw this hardcover book for only 25 cents, I purchased it. Last night I was reading from 3 - 4 in the morning. I was reading the novel as I went to sleep and woke later thinking of it, so read till I was done. I will happpily read more of her mysteries, partly because of the intrique, partly because of the English setting, and mostly because of the good story line. The language is formal, almost stilted at times, and that too becomes a plus as
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Oct 11, 2011
Joan
rated it:
I needed to unwind a bit in my reading. A Certain Justice was being read on Book Radio during my commute, but as my drive home doesn't always occur at the same time, I wanted to read the book to fill in the missing pieces - important especially in mystery books!
PD James is a reliable writer. Interesting and detailed with enough possible outcomes that it isn't clear to me, at least, how the plot will unfold. Perfect for when work is a bit too demanding and I've only a couple of spa More...
PD James is a reliable writer. Interesting and detailed with enough possible outcomes that it isn't clear to me, at least, how the plot will unfold. Perfect for when work is a bit too demanding and I've only a couple of spa More...
Dec 06, 2008
K
rated it:
Opens with a brilliant but chillingly aloof criminal defense lawyer getting a creepy young man acquitted for murdering his aunt. Not too long afterwards, the lawyer is found murdered in her office, her body garishly decorated. Adam Dalgliesh and his young team solve the case despite many dangers (I don't think I'm giving anything away by saying that).
Have I said already how much I love P.D. James? This was one of the most satisfying ones yet. I really enjoyed reading this pass More...
Have I said already how much I love P.D. James? This was one of the most satisfying ones yet. I really enjoyed reading this pass More...
Oct 17, 2009
Laine
rated it:
As befits a lady of letters, PD James presents another unblemished story to readers worldwide who hunger for her uncanny perceptions and dense wisdom. Bravo. Rarely am I embedded so deeply in the lives of imagined characters.
I must quote her:
"He could have been a good teacher, given the chance, but the small barbarians could smell out a natual victim in their juvenile jungle, and the Frog's life was a patiently borne hell of noisy insurrection and calculated cruelty." More...
I must quote her:
"He could have been a good teacher, given the chance, but the small barbarians could smell out a natual victim in their juvenile jungle, and the Frog's life was a patiently borne hell of noisy insurrection and calculated cruelty." More...
Feb 15, 2009
Kris
rated it:
This murder mystery grabs you on page one and keeps your attention for the rest of the book. It has an interesting plot because within the first three pages, you know who is going to get murdered, but the murder doesn't take place until page 100. P.D. James spends the first part of the book developing the characters and helping you understand what makes the victim the victim. It is fascinating to see how she develops her characters and uses them to keep you guessing until the very end.
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Jun 19, 2008
Kristine
rated it: 
I'll be honest, this book was okay. If I had to be in an airport, with no book, I would take it... However...
I have a friend who along with his books adds a recommended beverage to be enjoyed along side - this would have to be tea. Lots and lots of tea.
I have a friend who along with his books adds a recommended beverage to be enjoyed along side - this would have to be tea. Lots and lots of tea.
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Apr 22, 2011
Nina
rated it:
I really enjoyed it, as I have the other P.D. James books I've read. The multiple layers--the way that lives are intertwined--were most intriguing. I wasn't thrilled with the ending, however. The last twenty pages or so, I began to lose interest. It turned into a bit of a "thriller," and lost sight of the original mystery. (Although, I can see how some might say, the ending actually dove into the very heart of the mystery. And I suppose that is true in some ways. But it wasn't the
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Jul 26, 2009
Melissa
rated it:
jun 24: listening to this as an audio book. interesting so far. like the writing style.
jul 2: p.d. james has got me hooked. i'm a big elizabeth george fan, but i'll have to read more of these. lots of characters in this. nice buildup to the murder. now everyone's a suspect, but you know everyone can't have done it - it will be interesting seeing the team figure it out.
jul 26: hmmmmm.....not sure about the ending. i won't spoil it, but i guess i expected a neatly More...
jul 2: p.d. james has got me hooked. i'm a big elizabeth george fan, but i'll have to read more of these. lots of characters in this. nice buildup to the murder. now everyone's a suspect, but you know everyone can't have done it - it will be interesting seeing the team figure it out.
jul 26: hmmmmm.....not sure about the ending. i won't spoil it, but i guess i expected a neatly More...
Dec 02, 2008
Shirley
rated it:
I have long been a P.D.James fan.I had to pick up another one of her books after hearing her speak in Cambridge. She was so delightful, with astute observations and a basic deep kindness and understanding of human failings. This particular one was probably not my favorite, but it still rates very high. Her writing is intelligent and her words well chosen, her characters well developed, and Adam Dalgleish, the detective, is a complex, and appealing human being. Of course, the plot twists and tu
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May 15, 2011
Richard
rated it:
It is part of you style to find that nobody has a happy situation. Love is rare. Parents reject their children, nothing positive happens, competition is in every comment or reaction. James seems to delight in the mystery that Dalgliesh solves but cannot prove and so we get a partial justice. These are enjoyable reads and I suspect that this kind of dark, unhappy world is considered necessary for good mystery novels. Rankin seems to paint something of this in the Rebus stories. Cronwell has m
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Jan 29, 2012
Faith
rated it: 
I've long been a fan of PD James and especially Adam Dalgliesh and his assistants (Kate and Piers)and oh what joy to read another! These murder mysteries are quintessentially 'very English'. PD James' descriptive passages are wonderful. I found myself savouring her words, and dwelling long on the intricacies of the plot(s).
The novel opens with a somewhat chilling start whereby a distinguished barrister (Venetia Aldridge) QC gets her client off a particularly horrendous murder charge. The u More...
The novel opens with a somewhat chilling start whereby a distinguished barrister (Venetia Aldridge) QC gets her client off a particularly horrendous murder charge. The u More...
Jan 12, 2008
Donna
rated it:
Many years ago, I tried reading a P.D. James book and never finished it. At the time, I was probably too new to the mystery genre to know what to make of it. More importantly, perhaps, I was completely unfamiliar with the English culture and its esoteric language. (When I visited England for the first time in 2005, my son who lived there had to translate for me for the first several days.)
Thanks to my book club, I've finally finished a novel by this quintessentially English author, a More...
Thanks to my book club, I've finally finished a novel by this quintessentially English author, a More...
Jan 24, 2011
Carolyn F.
rated it:
Audiobook. I've also read and own the hardback.
It's been awhile since I've read the book, but it started coming back to me as I listened to the audiobook. Although surprisingly, I thought it was someone else who was the original murderer. I kept thinking it was the senior clerk. Michael Jayston does a fantastic job with the narration. He has a deep male voice but his women voices were really good. Much better than than Phil Gigante, who also has a deep male voice but made his w More...
It's been awhile since I've read the book, but it started coming back to me as I listened to the audiobook. Although surprisingly, I thought it was someone else who was the original murderer. I kept thinking it was the senior clerk. Michael Jayston does a fantastic job with the narration. He has a deep male voice but his women voices were really good. Much better than than Phil Gigante, who also has a deep male voice but made his w More...
Jul 29, 2008
Anne
rated it:
I love everything by P.D. James. For me, P.D. James is like eating chocolate and smoking crack at the same time. I haven't finished this one yet but of course it rules so far.
For the unitiated, P.D. James is an incredible British mystery writer, like Agatha Christie, but with characters and imagery and stuff. Sometimes the prose is so beautiful I have to stop and reread it a few times. The main character in most of her books is Adam Dalgliesh, a British policeman and poet. As you can im More...
For the unitiated, P.D. James is an incredible British mystery writer, like Agatha Christie, but with characters and imagery and stuff. Sometimes the prose is so beautiful I have to stop and reread it a few times. The main character in most of her books is Adam Dalgliesh, a British policeman and poet. As you can im More...
Mar 07, 2011
Charles
rated it:
I have read all of James' Dalgliesh mysteries. I certainly will miss him and his cohorts. James is now 91 years old and hasn't had a new release in two years. Will there be another Dalgliesh mystery? This tome like most of the others is an example of beautifully written crime fiction. Characters are drawn so completely that one feels they are long known friends. The mystery moves quickly to its solution and I was left completely satisfied with it and the whole reading experience.
Feb 20, 2010
Valerie
rated it:
I haven't read a good mystery in a while, and PD James is really about the best. I quit reading mysteries because they had gotten so graphic in their descriptions. James avoids most of that and focuses on the police work. It's well written, entertaining, intelligent writing but not too overly challenging--right about my level when I want to read a chapter before bed. She has a bunch using the same detective.
Feb 02, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
I've been alternating heavier non-fiction reading with PD James, it seems to be working out well. She's an interesting writer -- always clear and wonderfully understated, with occasional great turns of phrase. I think her major fault is that she has absolutely no ability to create different voices for her different characters. They all sound like her, even the murderers. (Which makes you wonder a bit.)
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May 21, 2010
Paul
rated it:
As usual with James, the writing is wonderful. There were several sentences that just stopped me in my tracks. And, as usual, it seems like the solution is more or less random from the reader's point of view; or to say it another way, you are not in possession of the facts soon enough to make it a challenge to figure it out. Maybe that isn't the point for her.
Oct 03, 2010
Michael
rated it:
Literate detective fiction, by the 80 year old author of Children of Men. Her hero, Adam Dalgliesh, is a published poet and sensitive soul, who like Fred Vargas' Adamsberg manages to see into the hearts of men. This book, unfortunately, is not one of her best in my opinion. The confluence of unlikely events and the lack of resolution make it unsatisfying.
Jul 02, 2010
Michelle
rated it:
Another addition to my "all murder mystery" summer reading selection. I figured who whodunit pretty early on, so the predictability was disappointing. Plus, I couldn't help but be a little impatient with the female characters, who were either bitches or victims. P.D. James is a stylish writer, though, so it wasn't a complete waste.
Dec 28, 2011
Laura
rated it:
Well-written, but hardly resembles a police procedural. The main crime is given only a small amount of attention and is only barely solved. The psychology of the characters is the true focus. If you approach it as a modern psychological group-cast sort of novel, you'll enjoy it more than if you're hankering for mystery.
Dec 22, 2008
Naomi
rated it:
listened to this book whilst performing a banal collating job, so it satisfied my expectations. I enjoyed PD James' descriptions of London and the buildings but generally speaking I have little or no insight into the hearts and minds of the various people populating the book - though there were times when I caught a glimpse of something interesting. I was promised a terrific light read and that is what I got.
Aug 04, 2010
Mady
rated it:
My first time buying books (for me) in the UK! It took me more than two months and it was pretty hard to resist temptation :) I only did it as it was for charity ;)
My friend I. recommended me this author. And I'm happy to have followed her suggestion! This is a detective story about the murder of a lawyer taking place in the Temple. Having recently visited this area from London, I could place the action quite well.
Every character in the book has been carefully built and a More...
My friend I. recommended me this author. And I'm happy to have followed her suggestion! This is a detective story about the murder of a lawyer taking place in the Temple. Having recently visited this area from London, I could place the action quite well.
Every character in the book has been carefully built and a More...
Aug 08, 2010
Bettie
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jun 13, 2010
Libby
rated it:
P.D. James' characters are real, three dimensional, and none is "good". Her books also show glimpses of the light of grace, but that light seems to both attract and make her suspicious. This wasn't my favorite James, but even when she's not at her best, she's good.
Dec 24, 2009
Phillip
rated it:
A little dreary. The unique perspective shift from the first few chapters being one characters point of view then that character becoming the subject of all other characters focus is a good one. Its a smart detective story but not PD James' best.
Apr 10, 2008
Anne
rated it:
I've become a big PD James fan since I arrived in the UK; her novels seem a good excuse to become better acquainted with my new home and to read engaging fluff. Even better, I've discovered her books are always well-written, engaging, and even a little thought provoking, many starring her well-known character Commander Dalgliesh, a police chief / poet.
But A Certain Justice eclipsed the four others I've read. The first chapter predicted the book's ending, of course in a way I never More...
But A Certain Justice eclipsed the four others I've read. The first chapter predicted the book's ending, of course in a way I never More...
