A Mind to Murder and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more

Vous voulez voir cette page en français ? Cliquez ici.

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Search inside this book
Start reading A Mind to Murder on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

A Mind to Murder (Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries, No. 2) [Paperback]

P. D. James (Author)
3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition --   CDN $8.99 --
Hardcover --   -- --
Paperback CDN $10.78   -- --
Paperback, 2001 --   -- --
Mass Market Paperback --   -- --
Audio, Cassette, Audiobook CDN $48.30   -- --
Unknown Binding --   -- --

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Product Details
Inside This Book (Learn More)
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

› Explore similar items

Customer Reviews

5 star
0
4 star
1
3 star
2
2 star
0
1 star
0
3.3 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
3.3 out of 5 stars
Most helpful customer reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Neat and tidy May 13 2002
By "justplainnancy"
Format:Paperback
I'm always on the lookout for books for my 92-year-old mother -- still a sharp woman, but less able to handle complexity than she once was -- and very much a lady, who objects to an excess of blood and/or vulgarity. The early P.D. James mysteries are perfect! They're very well-crafted, nicely written, but lacking the sprawl and complexity of her later works. This one, set in a psychiatric clinic, is a classic in the sense that a murder was done by one of a limited number of characters, whose movements and motives are key. There are a satisfying number of clues, including some red herrings, dispensed at regular intervals. The characters are nicely sketched. The routines -- and the politics -- of the psychiatric clinic make for an especially strong setting. The whole thing unfolds in just over 200 pages and reaches a satisfying, sufficiently logical conclusion. Originally written in the early 1960s, "A Mind for Murder" has a decidedly old-fasioned feel, but is fun to read nonetheless. And for those who love the later P.D. James books, taking another look at her early work makes it doubly fun. My mother liked the book; so do I.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
3.0 out of 5 stars A Little Too Plodding April 8 2012
By Debra Purdy Kong TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The murder of administrative officer, Enid Bolam, at the Steen Psychiatric Clinic, has staff on edge and, once again, Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh has to sort truth from lies and rumors. It's no easy task as there are plenty of suspects to go around, and good reasons to want Enid dead.

This is the fourth P.D. James mystery I've read this year. Things started off rocky with Cover Her Face, however, I really enjoyed The Black Tower and Shroud for a Nightingale. I was disappointed, though, with this book. As usual, James' narrative descriptions were deliciously vivid, but the 221 page book seemed to go on too long. The first ninety pages show Dalgleish interviewing suspect after suspect, few of whom were memorable enough to keep straight. The next twenty or thirty pages, show several of the prime suspects arriving home later that night and pondering what had happened. The different points of view and inner monologue provided background, red herrings and clues, but again it became tedious.

Quiet clue planting, shifts in POVs, detailed descriptions, and institutional settings, are certainly P.D. James trademarks. Unfortunately, they also highlight a distinct lack of action in this book. Even the capture of the killer was anti-climatic. It's kind of strange, P.D. James writes well, and, although I hate to say it (this is the great P.D. James, after all) A Mind to Murder just wasn't that interesting.
Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
3.0 out of 5 stars Better than average, but just a bit. Jun 7 2001
By "tmershats"
Format:Paperback
The administrative head of a psychiatric clinic is found murdered, with a chisel through her heart. The clues and suspects are all piled neatly together by the end of the second chapter, and Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh has to ferret out the true story.

This appears to be one of James's earliest mysteries, and as such, the "twist" ending doesn't fit as cleanly and seamlessly as possible. The ultimate identity of the culprit (and said his/her motive) seems tacked on and far less likely than almost all of the red herrings brought forth over the course of the story.

Most of James's later mysteries are far more interesting. "A Mind to Murder" starts in the standard genre format, and doesn't stray from it once, unlike "Innocent Blood," for example--a far less conventional but more satisfying James outing.

As a historical curiosity, this novel features the use of "lysergic acid therapy", the use of LSD in psychiatric counseling, popular in the early 60s, but out of fashion as the drug became part of the counterculture later that decade. And no, Dalgliesh doesn't go on an acid trip.

Was this review helpful to you?
Yes
No
Want to see more reviews on this item?
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

    Your Shopping Cart is empty.

    Give it purpose—fill it with books, DVDs, clothes, electronics, and more.

    If you already have an account, sign in.

    View Cart (0 items)

      Listmania!

      Create a Listmania! list

      Look for similar items by category

      Feedback

      Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?