Reading the Detectives discussion
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Unnatural Causes
Archive: PD James Challenge
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March 2020: Unnatural Causes (1967) by P.D. James
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I've started but am not very far in as yet. I'm enjoying the setting. The fictional "Monksmere" is clearly based on the real Minsmere, where the RSPB has a famous bird reserve close to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast - I know the area well and it is a fascinating place.
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I picked it up from the library yesterday and will be starting this weekend.
I'll also be making a start this weekend - thanks, Judy, for that background information which would otherwise have passed me by.
Judy wrote: "The fictional "Monksmere" is clearly based on the real Minsmere, where the RSPB has a famous bird reserve close to Dunwich on the Suffolk coast - I know the area well and it is a fascinating place."I thought of you while reading this. Not everyone gets to read books set in their own familiar locale.
I finished this yesterday morning. My favorite so far.
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That's true! Thanks, Elizabeth.
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I'll be starting tomorrow evening, after work. I'm really looking forward to it having found the first two books left me wanting to know Dalgliesh better.
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I will start this in the next few days. It’s interesting to know more about the setting - I have visited that part of Suffolk, thought it was beautiful.
Judy wrote: "I've read around 75% now and have no idea about the culprit - so I think I will be in for some surprises. Looking forward to finishing and going over to the spoiler thread!"That's interesting Judy, I've been pretty sure I know the culprit from about 30 pages in, but not sure on why (or how) they did it yet. Maybe I will be wrong and James has tricked me!
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Hm, I'm struggling a little with this one after enjoying the previous two. All the characters feel so artificial (apart from Aunt Jane) and it's difficult to remember who the male writers are. It's nice to get a much deeper insight into Dalgleish, and quite amusing that he's a bit like the classic amateur detective facing up to the formal investigator.
Roman Clodia wrote: "It's nice to get a much deeper insight into Dalgleish, and quite amusing that he's a bit like the classic amateur detective facing up to the formal investigator."Why do you think this?
Well, as Dalgleish says himself, he's not part of the official investigation team, and isn't on the hook, as it were, for a result. But he is privy to police information *and* has a way in to all the suspects socially. This set-up reminds me of Poirot, Miss Marple, Peter Wimsey et al.
Ah, yes, in that sense, you are correct. (Not that I think Poirot is an amateur, as that is his business.)
Yes, that's true about Poirot - perhaps in his case it's more about being not-the-police as people chat to him in ways they wouldn't talk to the official police investigators.
Roman Clodia wrote: "Yes, that's true about Poirot - perhaps in his case it's more about being not-the-police as people chat to him in ways they wouldn't talk to the official police investigators."Not-the-police is such a good description!
I didn’t like this one as much as the first two. I too found the different male writiers confusing. I found the resolution quite contrived. I quite enjoyed Dalgleish and the other detective’s mutual dislike and I thought what he deserved regarding Deborah.
comment moved to spoiler thread
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Please can we move discussion of the resolution of the romance over to the spoiler thread? It is one of the things that the author keeps us guessing about. I will head over there now to comment on this aspect.
GAH, I forgot this book! I will start soon, maybe this weekend. I hope to catch up!
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Have just started this. Nice to get to know Dalgleish when he's off duty. Judy - thank you for pointing out the location, have never been but have seen it on springwatch, so have much more of an idea of the scenery in my head now.
I’m reading this now but am disappointed. I agree with those who have commented about the male writers. I don’t really like the characters in this. I think the best aspect of this book, so far, is the way the location is described.
Yes, I agree with others here that the characters were a difficult lot to get along with. I even found it difficult to bond with Dalgleish in this one. And I agree, Trisha, the description of the location was very well done, as was the description of the ending. James made it very easy to build a visual picture.
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Shroud for a Nightingale was the first James I read, and it was that one that got me interested in her.
For some reason I didn't recall ever having seen Unnatural Causes as an episode in the TV series, but looking on YouTube it seems it was. I will try and make the time to watch it in the near future and see if my memory refreshes and/or whether it was as forgettable as the book.
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I do think it is a step up and more, in style, like her later books.
A Taste for Death was the first one I read, although I had seen the miniseries beforehand. I do think she was one that didn’t start off with one of her best books, although that’s probably a good thing, as it means she didn’t start off too strong and go downhill like some writers, or filmmakers, painters, and musicians for that matter. I think of the ones I’ve read so far, her weakest are Cover Her Face and Unnatural Causes, although I thought they were good regardless. The others I’ve read (that the group hasn’t yet) are Shroud for a Nightingale (the next book), A Taste for Death, Devices and Desires, and Children of Men.
The group obviously won’t be reading Children of Men, as it falls way outside the scope of the group - it’s non-Dalgliesh, and non-mystery. It’s sci fi, although very PD James-ish.
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The book is different. Both were great.
The book is one of those I would recommend as “a sci fi book for people who don’t read sci fi.” As I said, it’s still very much a PD James novel.
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Yeah. I do, however, think it was good that she didn’t do to many “different” books. Otherwise, some of the standalone books might have been weak ones. From all appearances, she was a very consistent writer.
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I enjoyed more than the previous books, but still, not as much as other mysteries. I was very muddled as to who was who, but liked it towards the final third. I'm not a huge fan of Dalgleish, either as a man or a detective--certainly one of the weaker aspects of these books thus far.
Only a few chapters in but I'm liking this third book so much better. The writing is quite beautiful actually! Dalgleish seems to be fleshed out more too.
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Reading the Detectives
Books mentioned in this topic
Shroud for a Nightingale (other topics)Shroud for a Nightingale (other topics)
Shroud for a Nightingale (other topics)
Unnatural Causes (other topics)
Unsure of whether or not to propose to Deborah Riscoe, Dalgliesh heads off for a well-earned rest at his Aunt Jane's cottage, on Monksmere Head. Near a bird reserve, the area is populated by writers and, when one turns up murdered and mutilated, Dalgliesh becomes involved in the investigation, alongside the wonderfully named D I Reckless.
Please do not post spoilers in this thread. Thank you.