I have given this book a 4 stars but think it is probably closer to a 3.5. I did like it but can't say I felt much affection for Dalgliesh. Maybe he will be someone who becomes more likable as we get to know him better. Set in a Psychiatric Clinic treating moneyed patients, a murder of the administrator takes place, placing all the staff there under suspicion. All of whom, it turns out did not like her, and feel no real sense of loss. Dalgliesh manages to whittle down the number of suspects, due to the usual type of motives, money,revenge and keeping her quiet. We do manage to get plenty of information about these suspects, so as to give us plenty of food for our own deliberations, which is something I appreciated, however at the end I was still struggling to make my mind up. Which to me was a good way for it to end, as I enjoyed the puzzle.

I liked this more than my first P.D. James. I'll be reading more from her. Yes, the storyline is generic, the sexism and mistreatment of psychiatric patients is rife, but that blackmail machine - pure gold.

You kids and your LSD. I'm surprised anyone survived the 1960s.

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This second installment of the Adam Dalgliesh series is a better murder-mystery story. The administrative officer at a Psychiatric Clinic is brutally murdered at the premises and the Superintendant Adam Dalglish is called upon to investigate her death. The investigation draws Dalgliesh to a web of lies, deceit, adultery, and blackmail and he must use his intelligence and experience to work against time to catch the murderer before he either strikes again or slips away.

This was a better story than the first in the series. The premise was interesting and the characters were more complicated. Dalgliesh doesn't quite attain the end to his satisfaction, but even this part failure had an attraction. The story had its share of clues and some deliberate red-herrings, but since Dalglish was set on first to find the motive, it was not very difficult to guess the criminal. I'm happy to be right there. However, the plot twist which was introduced at the end was unimpressive. The author must have wanted to increase the suspense and take the readers by surprise, but it destroyed the balance so carefully maintained up to that point.

I also had a bit of an issue with the presentation of the story as the interviews of each possible suspect were made one after the other in a quite tedious manner. Dalglish admits he being weary and so we readers were too. Then again that is how it is done in reality, but a bit of a fictional diversion wouldn't harm and would be most welcoming. Despite these flaws, I'm interested in this series and am looking forward to the next.

I didn't like this second in the series as much as the first. We get to know Dalgliesh a bit more, but I really bogged down in the initial investigation the night of the murder-interminably long and drawn out. The setting of a psychiatric clinic was ok, not my favorite type of place but it was unique. The last quarter of the book really became interesting and ended rather well. Looking forward to the next for this challenge.

I actually listened to the CD version, but it wasn't listed. As always, it took awhile to get into the book since the first part of any of Ms. James' books sets the stage for what happens. It takes a little while to remember the characters just like when one meets a group of people. But like all of Ms. James' mysteries that I've read, the story gathers momentum like a stone rolling downhill and becomes thoroughly involving. Also like all of her mysteries, there is irony and the effect of the story is not sacrificed to provide a happy ending.

There are few crime and mystery authors whose books I reread (for reasons obvious), and PD James and Agatha Christie have a prominent place among them. This was a reread for me, but seemed like a new story, as I read it a long time ago and had totally forgotten the circumstances leading to the murder. I quite enjoy PD James' style. I like reading about Dalgleish and team. The background for this mystery is a private psychiatry clinic, whose administrating officer is found dead in the records room. The suspects are naturally her co-workers as it was almost closing hours and all the patients present at that time had no access to her. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

The plot centres around a murder at a psychiatric clinic in London. First published in 1963, this is the second of the series featuring detective Adam Dalgleish and we learn a little more about what makes him tick in this book, including his fear of failure despite never having allowing a murderer to slip through his grasp.
I thought the first 70 pages dragged a little as Dalgleish interviews each of the suspects in turn but the pace picked up and the writing at the denouement was very good indeed. This is what raised it from a 3 to a 4 star review.

not nearly as enjoyable (imho) as "Cover Her Face," but still an okay read. I've noticed in these two that while Dalgliesh gets onto a certain clue that sends him right to the murderer, there really isn't much here about investigative technique or something that he does especially to solve the crime. Oh well.

brief summary, no spoilers
The scene of the crime is the Steen psychiatric clinic, and the victim is the administrative head of the place, a miss Bolam. She is killed in the records room with a chisel through her heart. Dalgliesh draws this case and he sets out to investigate. As usual, a fairly decent amount of red herrings and suspects with motives keeps the story interesting.

This book is a bit dated, obviously. Consider that electro-shock therapy was used here as well as the administration of lysergic acid (yup, good old LSD) to get people to "loosen up" and shed their inhibitions so that the doctors could get to the roots of their problems. Hmmm.

Not a bad read, and I would recommend it to people who read British mysteries or who have decided they want to read this series.

#2 Adam Dalgliesh series

En esta novela de detectives

Reread as audiobook.

so glad the cat didn’t die! long live tigger the best character