P.D. James always writes excellently, and this book is simply exceedingly well written. The prose is elegant, advanced, flowing and as always eminently readable.
Devices and Desires 
Slowly and meticulously P.D. James draws the reader into the story, and systematically she introduces the many characters that are relevant in this intriguing mystery. And our master detective, commander Adam Dalgliesh, remains for a long time a bystander on holiday at his late aunt’s cottage, while the local police are handling the case of “the Whistler” a mass murderer of young women in the community of Larksoken on the cost of Norfolk. When “the Whistler” claims his fifth victim, and Commander Dalgliesh is the one that finds the body of Hilary Robarts, he is drawn fully into the investigation.
The story in Devices and Desires is a dark one. Past events of a horrendous nature play a prominent part, and as the story progresses it becomes apparent that “the Whistler” is not the only murderer.
The mystery is elegantly solved, in a way that makes the seeming disparate pieces of James’ puzzle all fall into their places. Devices and Desires is a great mystery novel, but one of P.D. James darker ones – a book with much suffering and distress.
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