Death of an expert witness Book

It's unfortunate Commander Adam Dalgliesh doesn't have amusing personality quirks or foibles which would endear him to readers the way many of the most beloved fictional sleuths do. Well he does write poetry but unfortunately, that's not the sort of hobby most people can relate to, more's the pity. And even that unusual side of him wasn't especially relevant to Death of an Expert Witness.

This was my sixth P. D. James mystery about the illustrious and aloof commander who is a long time widower and still seems--in my opinion--to wear his grief almost as a persona. It wasn't bad but it wasn't as good as some I've read. It's most disappointing feature was it brought no development in the character of the mysterious Adam Dalgliesh. I'm beginning to think he's Ms. James' greatest mystery!

However, that said, her books are psychological challenges. They aren't your modern day graphic sexual thrillers. When you encounter a P. D. James mystery, expect to work. Unless you have a photographic memory, it's best to approach the first three chapters with paper and pen in hand. She introduces a plethora of characters, job titles and seeming minutia about each individual with a minimum of words. It's very easy to be lulled into thinking you have everything straight and finding you've overlooked something critical. I always do.

Reading up to section seven of Book 2 in Death of an Expert Witness, I recorded twenty primary characters--most of whom were suspects--not counting their immediate family members, who also played roles.

As usual, I didn't figure out whodunit. There are plenty of red herrings, well they seem to be so to me the reader, but seen from another perspective...

Will I read another? Oh yes!