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The Black Tower

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The Black Tower

By: P. D. James
Narrated by: Daniel Weyman
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Summary

THE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE 'QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' (Guardian) WINNER OF THE CWA SILVER DAGGER 'A legend.' VAL MCDERMID 'P. D. James took the classic crime novel and turned up the dial.' MICK HERRON PERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS

There's something wrong about this place. Haven't you noticed?

Dalgliesh is recovering from a life-threatening illness when his elderly friend Father Baddeley reaches out for advice. By the time he can respond, Father Baddeley is dead. And his is not the first recent death at the Dorset home for the disabled where he worked.

Dalgliesh feels he must try to understand these deaths, even without official jurisdiction or support, but amid the growing suspicion of the residents, he can't be sure either of them was murder.

Until another body is found - and Dalgliesh suddenly finds himself in very grave danger.

'The writing is excellent, the pitch of final terror beautifully sustained.' Evening Standard 'A masterpiece.' Edmund Crispin, Sunday Times

©2014 Faber & Faber (P)2014 Faber & Faber Crime Detective Fiction Murder Mystery Police Procedural Traditional Detectives Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Suspense
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Critic reviews

"More expertise from P. D. James. The writing is excellent, the pitch of final terror beautifully sustained." (Evening Standard)

"She writes like an angel. Every character is clearly drawn. Her atmosphere is unerringly, chillingly convincing. And she manages all this without for a moment slowing down the drive and tension of an exciting mystery." (The Times)
All stars
Most relevant

What did you like most about The Black Tower?

The writing was excellent ( as usual) and it was a while before I began to guess whodunnit! Dalgliesh is terrific.

What did you like best about this story?

Edge of seat thriller. Loved it.

What does Daniel Weyman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He has a lovely voice and captures the characters so well.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Keeps you enthralled with lots of action.

Any additional comments?

Always have enjoyed P D James books. She is a wonderful writer. Good on audio.

Another winner from PD James

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This book is set in peculiar stage when AD has received a second chance of his life after a false diagnosis, but somehow he seems to have lost his enthusiasm for work. The story is not a very gripping one and I find all the characters rather unlikable, no one particularly interesting or worth exploring, nor is there any discussion that concerns as deeply the complexity of human nature as in some of her other books (e.g. A Taste for Death, or A Shroud for Nightingale) Despite this the narrator is all the same terrific. His performance for the final scene, the crucial fight between AD and the murderer, is simply splendid. Love his voice, Bravo! And it’s a huge relief that in the end AD has finally found hope and is once again ready for his new adventure.

Not her best work

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Excellent. This is the sort of book than unusually I might read again, not just for its complexity but for the brilliance of the language… mostly for the language

Extraordinary story told brilliantly

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I enjoyed the story but I think it a hour or two too long. Daniel knows how to tell a story

Good but.........

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PD James’ writing never disappoints me. It’s a joy to listen to the twists and turns on audible with an accomplished reader like Daniel Weyman

Always a twist

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