From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Skull Beneath The Skin (Cordelia Gray, #2)

P.D. James

Start date: September 13, 2019

Finish date: October 7, 2019

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: We previously read the first Cordelia Gray book - now we are reading the second one.
[close] We previously read the first Cordelia Gray book - now we are reading the second one.

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Buddy reads

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What Members Thought

Sep 16, 2019 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is the second of only two Cordelia Gray novels – the first being, “An Unsuitable Job for a Woman,” published ten years previously, in 1972. When we catch up with Cordelia again, she is still running her detective agency, although most of her work consists of trailing cheating spouses, or tracing lost cats. She has inherited a little money, so now has a comfortable, river-side flat, which is a definite improvement.

A sudden job opportunity, though, offers something a little more interesting. ...more

35 likes · Like · see review

Jan 19, 2013 Leslie rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: mysteries, british

Although this book has all the elements of a mystery that I would really like, it failed to engage my interest. I don't know whether it was Cordelia or something else but I had to force myself to finish it. ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Sep 03, 2019 Jill rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: jill-s-fifth-year-challenge-plan, p-d-james

I didn't like this book as much as the first Cordelia Gray one and I can't say I was overly keen on that one. Cordelia's detective agency is mainly used to recover lost pets, but the husband of a famous stage actress employs her as a bodyguard, which seemed rather far-fetched to me. Cordelia is then sent to a hard to reach island off the Dorset coast , where the actress will appear. The Gothic style isle has a small number of the actress's relations and servant.People, who it seems may be respon ...more

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Dec 06, 2022 Serena rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio

The first 2/3 of the book was absorbing. I would have given this 4 stars until I read the ending chapters. All through the book, clues were dropped for why a range of characters bore grudges against Clarissa, but they really served to misdirect the reader. At the end, crimes were committed due to reasons that weren’t even hinted at. The ending was just too convenient and rushed.

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