A More than Suitable Job for a Woman

PD James has left her mark on the detective genre for decades, and the introduction of Cordelia Gray is perhaps one of the bear things to come out the genre altogether. Cordelia is such a great character, it was impossible to not like her. She’s smart, fun, incredibly brave, and she knows her way around. It was quite fun having a character of the same age as the reader to go along the mystery with.

As to the mystery: the clues definitely do their work. I was able to work it out before the reveal. And that’s what the crime story ought to do: the clues are fairly laid and the reader ought to arrive at the solution before the end logically. In some stories I haven’t, but with PD James, I have most of the time.

This is the only time I have not sympathised with the killer in her books. Most of the time the killer is often more sympathetic than the victim, and this was not the case. Thought the victim, the more I learned about him, wasn’t entirely likeable either. But I feel that, had he more time to grow, he might have been better as a person.

This is a first rate mystery with intrigue, beautiful writing, tense plot, and a genuinely diamond quality yarn. It’s more a whydunnit than a whodunnit, but that’s what makes it all the more interesting.

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16 people found this helpful

Good start

Loved the way Dalgleish is brought in to this newer series. Looking forward to Book 2.

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3 people found this helpful

PD James fan!

great narration and always a good storyline . love the Auible app and good value 🙂

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Disappointed

Contrary to most of the other reviews, I found this book very disappointing. The story was adequate but no more and I found the references to Adam Dalgleish contrived and unnecessary. The narrator was average but didn't add anything to bring the story to life.

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3 people found this helpful

At times slow

Although I managed to get to the end I did fast forward some bits. It was a very slow story with very little excitement. I have already downloaded book 2 but I am not in any rush to listen to it.

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Brilliant

Brilliance
Edge of the seat listening
Absolutely hooked after the first paragraph knowing Dalgliesh was in the background

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Enjoyable plot lines

I didn't dislike anything. The voice was pleasant but not boring and the central character sympathetic but complex.

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Thoroughly enjoyed this book

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, on occasion you need to leave reality behind, but a good story.

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4 people found this helpful

An enjoyable listen

I love the Adam Dalgleish novels and wanted to try these. The first book in the short, 2 book series, was interesting but unchallenging. Cordelia is a good character, with an engaging back story. The real star of the show is the beautiful, descriptive writing. Very much enjoyed.

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Nice engaging crime novel

This well written crime thriller displays PD's strength with prose. I also think the narrator did a good job despite what some other reviews indicated. I do not think I have heard many audio books without some mispronunciation. There were maybe five or so, surely not a catastrophe. Her multiple voices were quite good. So, in all a pleasant way to occupy a few hours.

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1 person found this helpful