From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

A Mind to Murder (Adam Dalgliesh, #2)

P.D. James

Start date: February 1, 2020

Finish date: February 29, 2020

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: The second book in our 2020 challenge to read the Inspector Dalgliesh mysteries.
[close] The second book in our 2020 challenge to read the Inspector Dalgliesh mysteries.

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Group Challenges

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
By Susan · 16 posts · 18 views

last updated Sep 12, 2025 08:12PM

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) - SPOILER Thread
By Susan · 13 posts · 22 views

last updated Sep 16, 2025 12:58PM

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What Members Thought

Jan 28, 2020 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: p-d-james, jill-s-sixth-year-challenge

I have given this book a 4 stars but think it is probably closer to a 3.5. I did like it but can't say I felt much affection for Dalgliesh. Maybe he will be someone who becomes more likable as we get to know him better. Set in a Psychiatric Clinic treating moneyed patients, a murder of the administrator takes place, placing all the staff there under suspicion. All of whom, it turns out did not like her, and feel no real sense of loss. Dalgliesh manages to whittle down the number of suspects, due ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Mar 09, 2020 eKaterina rated it it was ok

Shelves: crime-fiction, 20th-century-fiction, read-in-english

Although the ending was ok, overall it was the most boring mystery novel I've read in my life. ...more

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Jul 31, 2020 Serena rated it it was ok

Shelves: audio

This was a 3.5 star, pleasant cozy mystery until near the end, Dectective Dalgliesh said of the murderer (view spoiler) May be it was an acceptable thing to say when the book was written but it definitely ruined the book for me. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 14, 2014 AngryGreyCat rated it liked it

My first P.D. James read. I don't know if it is indicative of all the others. I like the sleuth Dalgliesh, interesting and logical character. I really don't know how I feel about the mystery. It seems like the misdirection (red herring plot) worked better than the actual resolution and the killer seemed rather obvious in any case. Interesting aspect was the accepted use of LSD in psychiatric care. The sleuth and his actual investigation was well written, but the secondary characters seemed flat ...more

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Jun 14, 2019 Lynnie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-1980s, crime, london, read-in-2022

A reread. A little more is revealed about Adam Dalgliesh. He is now a Superintendent (he was Chief Inspector in the first book Cover Her Face), his first volume of poems has been published, he lives in a flat in London and he fancies Deborah Riscoe, a character from Cover Her Face.

As to the murder mystery - another sad and unsavoury tale. I'm beginning to dislike James's descriptions of people's abodes - she is so snobby about having the right furniture, it has to be good and solid. Nobody seem ...more

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