What do You think about A Certain Justice (2006)?
Finally I've come to a conclusion. Plotting has never been P. D. James' strength. It isn't bad but I've read books with better plots, better riddles. No, her strength has always been the writing. The same is with this book.The pace is definitely more than a little off. Two-thirds into the book, the plot is put on hold in favour of a sub- or beta-plot that goes almost to the end of the story. Therefore when the perpetrator of the main crime is revealed - on the last few pages of the book - it comes a bit as if out of nowhere. This is particularly jarring because we aren't even given the thought process of the detective that led him to that conclusion. And the fact that [CENSORED DUE TO SPOILERS] makes it even more annoying.That faults aside... the writing is superb as always. The characters, their thoughts, feelings, dreams, fears, quirks and vices are presented and described in a truly wonderful way. The crime itself is also intriguing with a nice solution, just the problem is that there is not much focus on it, not enough of the things I love in whodunnits: gathering of clues, interrogations, subtle reasoning leading to the inevitable conclusion. This book is just different, more realistic, slower, maybe even a bit melancholic - but enjoyable nevertheless.
—Filip
My grandson, Graham, likes PD James so when I saw this hardcover book for only 25 cents, I purchased it. Last night I was reading from 3 - 4 in the morning. I was reading the novel as I went to sleep and woke later thinking of it, so read till I was done. I will happpily read more of her mysteries, partly because of the intrique, partly because of the English setting, and mostly because of the good story line. The language is formal, almost stilted at times, and that too becomes a plus as it makes the English "feel" even more pronounced.The author does a wonderful job in the book's beginning of giving reasons many of the characters have for the murder of Venetia Aldridge, and it is fun to follow the detectives as they vacillate from one possible suspect to another. The Garry Ashe character is a demon, a horror, and leaves the reader fearful whenever he is in charge. Several interesting questions are raised: Why do attorneys take pride in defending a suspect, when knowing that he is guilty? How far should the clergy's rights go in keeping vital information to themselves? How responsible is one's childhood experience in making him tha adult he becomes? Why do some prosper even though they have miserable childhoods and tohers do not?So many of the characters seem to have more weak points thab positive ones.A good nightitme read!!!!!
—Barner
Opens with a brilliant but chillingly aloof criminal defense lawyer getting a creepy young man acquitted for murdering his aunt. Not too long afterwards, the lawyer is found murdered in her office, her body garishly decorated. Adam Dalgliesh and his young team solve the case despite many dangers (I don't think I'm giving anything away by saying that). Have I said already how much I love P.D. James? This was one of the most satisfying ones yet. I really enjoyed reading this passage in particular, so will copy here: "But suddenly he was struck by an imperative need to glimpse the sea. Crossing the main road, he drove on towards Lulworth Cove. At the breast of a hill he stopped the car at a gate and climbed over into a field of shorn turf where a few sheep ambled clumsily away at his coming. There was an outcrop of rocks and he sat with one at his back and gazed out over the panorama of hills, green fields and small coppices to the wide blue stretch of the Channel. He had brought a picnic of French bread, cheese and pate. Unscrewing the thermos of coffee, he hardly regretted the lack of wine. Nothing was needed to enhance his mood of utter contentment. He felt along his veins a tingling happiness, almost frightening in its physicality, that soul-possessing joy which is so seldom felt once youth has passed. After the meal he sat for ten minutes in absolute silence, then got up to go. He had had what he needed and was grateful" (260).
—K
