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2.0 out of 5 stars
Overwrought and tiring novel, Oct 18 2001
By A Customer
Let me preface this review by saying that I have never read any of P.D. James' work, other than this novel. The novel starts off well with the introduction of the Whistler, as he kills another victim. However, as the novel progresses on, the emphasis shifts away from the Whistler himself and onto the other characters of the novel--that is one of the main weaknesses of the novel. There are too many characters in this novel! James takes time introducing these characters, slowing down the pace of the novel and, ultimately, draining it of any energy at all. It is hard to figure out where the novel is actually headed. She would have been better served cutting out a few of the characters and streamlining the plot. I had a hard time figuring out who the protagonist in this novel was--Adam or Inspector Ricketts? I suppose that Adam was supposed to be it, but at times in the novel, he disappears for long periods of time. The ending is confusing and disappointing; one major scene in the novel seems to come out of left field and without provocation (it was mentioned in one of the previous reviews).
Too bad, I found the premise of the novel interesting.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
One of her best, Aug 6 2001
P.D. James is not simply a "whodunit?" type of writer, she adds so much cynicism and insight that her books have so much depth as a result. Adam Dalgleish is visiting his late aunt's windmill and cottage and is drawn into a murder spree revolving around the East Anglian seaside. The nuclear power plant dominates the scene, and casts a gloomy shadow over the setting of the novel. James is as incisive as ever, studying the motivations of all the suspects involved, but also peering disturbingly into their personal lives and all the inner demons which haunt many of them. Certainly there are many red herrings in this book, it adds to the enjoyment, and the ending was unexpected (which is something I always expect from P.D. James!) James is unsentimental in her portrayals; the misguided Hilary Robarts, the secret between the Mair siblings, Meg's escaping from the political correctness of her previous life, Blaney's wretched existence with four children, the somewhat pathetic anti-nuclear pamphleteer, and so on. The minor characters, from some of the early victims of the Whistler, to the Sgt. Oliphant of the local police who would be a scary fellow to be interrogated by, come to life in these pages and again add much depth to this novel. If one is starting out with P.D. James, this book is a great place to start. It's where I did, and I've read them all since I was captivated this first time.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Sub-plots a little distracting, but more Jamesian excellence, Mar 2 2001
A different sort of mystery (and how often one can write that for a James!) in that the murderer one thinks is going to be the main problem suddenly isn't, and the real solution to the major crime is hidden in layers that are opened only by the omniscient author to the reader; none of her characters, not even Dalgliesh, knows all that we do by the end of the book. Dalgliesh is not actually the investigating officer in any of the mysteries here; truth be told he's more of a suspect ~ certainly a witness ~ in the major crime. Visiting his aunt's cottage, his since her death, in Norfolk, he becomes imbroiled in a mystery that could be part of the repetoire of a serial killer he has a slight interest in. The characters range around the headland which contains his cottage and mill, a nuclear power station, and several other habitations. Everyone has something to hide, including Dalgliesh and the investigating officer Rickards; some are more successful at concealment. The only thing i disliked about the plot was the sudden intrusion of MI5 in the last pages. Its appearance has something of the nature of a deus ex machina, and i am not too sure that the precense of the two men adds anything other than a mild explanation; nothing necessary, in other words. It reminds me of another James where the end comes only in the written confession of the murderer; there, as i recall, i did not object so strongly. The flurry of "fake" endings leads one to wonder if perhaps James doesn't write herself into a corner, concetrating so hard on the characters and their actions, that she loses track of the plot and cannot find a way out? The blessing is that those characters really do carry her books; i am not overly upset over a minor plot flaw.
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