From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Devices and Desires (Adam Dalgliesh, #8)

P.D. James

Start date: August 1, 2020

Finish date: August 31, 2020

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: Next in our Adam Dalgliesh challenge.
[close] Next in our Adam Dalgliesh challenge.

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Group Challenges

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By Susan · 17 posts · 19 views

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* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) - SPOILER Thread
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What Members Thought

Apr 28, 2020 John rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: p-d-james

A good 3.5 and very readable. However, the role Adam Dalgliesh is very weak. He has taken a holiday to sort out an inheritance he has received from his Aunt. He is left a house and windmill in Norfolk near a nuclear power station.

There is also a a serial killer called the Whistler murdering young women. Then another murder takes place near where Adam lives which appears to be anther victim of the Whistler. However, it could not be him and it comes down to several people at a dinner party which ...more

12 likes · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2017 Gillian Kevern rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: police-procedural, 1980s, detective

For a really long time, I accepted the point of view that mystery fiction was escapism that reinforced a pretty conservative perspective. No matter what crimes are committed, or why and how justified the murderer is, they end with a reaffirmation of the status quo, with a neat resolution and a return to life as normal. Considering that not only does P.D. James not follow this arbitrary pattern, but Gladys Mitchell before her did too (and I'm sure countless other authors I'm not familiar with yet ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Oct 24, 2015 AngryGreyCat rated it it was amazing

Last night I read this, Devices and Desires, which is book #8 in the series. I loved it! The plot was intricate and well done. All the characters, motives and alibis woven together in a way that kept you thinking about not just who the murder is, but also how all the other pieces were going to fit together in the end. I particularly liked the Mrs. Dennison’s story, it just resonated with me.

In this book, the author has developed a stong sense of place and this impacts the whole experience of rea ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 11, 2025 Tony Fitzpatrick rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Adam has inherited his Aunt's cottage on a headland in Norfolk, and takes a holiday to visit it and deal with the necessary. The headland is also home to a nuclear power station, and many of the locals are involved with it's administration, protest it's existence, or happily make money from the business generated by it's presence. In addition, Norfolk is currently plagued with the attentions of a serial killer who is murdering young women alone after dark. The corpse count is this book is huge, ...more

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Aug 06, 2020 Sandy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-classic, mystery-detective-grp, zjames-challenge-2020, rread-2020

I downgraded this book because it took forever to read without drawing me in: too much description combined with several subplots with lots of detail. However, the mystery was very good.

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