Now something serious is afoot in the old palace. Poison pen letters are circulating, rare illustrations are being lost, important proofs are being tampered with, and minor mischief abounds. Two of the press’ authors have died in less than twelve months. And when a recently fired senior editor’s murder is quickly followed by that of the new director who fired her, Adam Dalgliesh is called in with his Special Squad.
It soon becomes clear that there are plenty of motives and a multitude of suspects to consider in the case. Peverell Press is a scene full of rumors, betrayals, and intrigue. So there is much to keep the investigators busy – and to keep readers entertained.
P.D. James has written that, for her, “… one of the fascinations of detective fiction is the exploration of character under the revealing trauma of a murder enquiry.” In Original Sin, James very deftly explores a diversity of complex characters – the directors and those among the staff at Innocent House who are central to the plot, as well as several sharply delineated secondary characters – as they undergo the sagacious questioning of Dalgliesh and his team.
Original Sin is a wonderful, very entertaining and intelligent crime fiction drama about redress. Revenge, as we meet it in this book, is not at all sweet, nor does it relate much to “justice”. Written, as is always the case with books from the hand of P.D. James, in an impeccable and precise prose that is pure pleasure to read, this is a remarkable mystery. And, of course, Original Sin has a smart plot and is full of attention gripping detail as well. P.D. James is at her compelling best in this Adam Dalgliesh thriller. A must-read, if ever there was one!
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