Reading the Detectives discussion

Not long now until 2020, and our next challenge! As previously mentioned, we are planning to read the first 12 Inspector Adam Dalgliesh books by P.D. James.

I'm really looking forward to it - I have read some of them years ago, and also seen the TV adaptations, which I will enjoy revisiting too.

Who is tempted to join in?

The 12 books in the challenge will be:

1. Cover Her Face (1962)
2. A Mind to Murder (1963)
3. Unnatural Causes (1967)
4. Shroud for a Nightingale (1971)
5. The Black Tower (1975)
6. Death of an Expert Witness (1977)
7. A Taste for Death (1986)
8. Devices and Desires (1989)
9. Original Sin (1994)
10. A Certain Justice (1997)
11. Death in Holy Orders (2001)
12. The Murder Room (2003)

Thanks to Susan for drawing up the list. :)

P.S. There are 14 books altogether, so we may do the other 2 as buddy reads at the end.

I'll be joining in. Like you, I've read some of the books, seen all of the TV adaptions more than once, and enjoyed them immensely.

Have to confess, while I've enjoyed the two years of Marsh, I am quite looking forward to something a little different now.

I'll pass on that one, sorry to say. I always found them flat and plodding.

I bought the first five as a bundle a year or so ago and have read only the first of them. I probably won't re-read that one, but expect to be here for at least the next couple. I'm not certain I'll keep with the schedule for the others, though.

Will the target for discussion be the 1st or the 15th?

I have the same bundle as Elizabeth and haven't read any. I hope to read the entire series. The only Dalglish I've read before is #13 (The Lighthouse) .

I think I read all of these years ago, & also watched them on tv. I aim to start them again with the group. It’s interesting to see Judy’s list as I had forgotten how many years were covered by these books.

I have read the first one and book 11 so won't be rereading those but will join in with the others.
Elizabeth, the challenge books start on the 1st of the month.

Thanks, Jill.

I have some of the books, so will join in when I can. :)

Thanks, everyone - good to hear that several people are planning to join in.

Abigail wrote: "I'll pass on that one, sorry to say. I always found them flat and plodding."

Sorry to hear that, Abigail. We will still have lots of other reads too, though. :)

Like the Ngaio Marsh challenge, the P D James books will start at the first of the month, alongside our main read.

We will complete Marsh as buddy reads. Two years has been a long challenge, but, don't worry, we intend to read to the end.

Susan wrote: "We will complete Marsh as buddy reads. Two years has been a long challenge, but, ..."

Yes, indeed - I'm still enjoying the Marsh titles so will look forward to those too.

I definitely may, or attempt to. I read cover her face recently, and read A Taste for Death, Devices and Desires, and Children of Men several years ago. Children of men is a sci fi novel she wrote, and obviously doesn’t have Dalgliesh.

Some of her books I didn't warm to. One of my greatest second hand finds is a signed copy of Unnatural Causes (probably only £2)

I've read #7 & #10, but will re-read them along with all the others!

A few years ago I started reading/re-reading them. I believe I got stalled on A Taste for Death. Most of the earlier ones I think I listened to while driving. Probably mostly between Chicago and NC. Now that I'm in NC I don't listen so much in the car.

I think the first, Cover Her Face, isn't great - at least, as I recall. However, it introduces Dalglish and I liked the other ones I read more, although I have only read some. I think I got to number 7 previously.

I think I liked it.

I'll be joining the challenge, I have a few of these and my library has all of them so no problems getting hold of the books.

I'm looking forward to a new detective. Well done those of you who are still reading (and enjoying) Marsh, I tired of her style quite quickly so I think the best approach for me is to pick one up now and then.

Abigail wrote: "I'll pass on that one, sorry to say. I always found them flat and plodding."

Same here - I read them all years ago, and was really hooked, and enjoyed the dramatizations on TV, but I don’t know that I’ll be in the mood for Dalgliesh’s gloomy introspection! I have really enjoyed some of the Marsh mysteries and revisiting Poirot- and our polls have given me some great new-to-me GA authors I am enjoying.

Jan C wrote: "A few years ago I started reading/re-reading them. I believe I got stalled on A Taste for Death. Most of the earlier ones I think I listened to while driving. Probably mostly between Ch..."

Ah, how well I remember that loooong drive!

I will have a look at the first book, but not do the challenge.

I read the first book some time past and won't be re-reading. Maybe I'll remember enough to join in the discussion and maybe not.

Are these one a month, so that A Mind to Murder is in February?

They will be one a month, Elizabeth. I will be setting this up soon, although, as I recall, it won't open until the 1st January.

Susan wrote: "They will be one a month, Elizabeth. I will be setting this up soon, although, as I recall, it won't open until the 1st January."

Thanks Susan. I have a tab on my reading spreadsheet for group reads, so I'll make sure they get on it.

I have now set up the challenge, with a wonderfully atmospheric photograph. Hope you can all see it.

Yay! Just got them all added. I'd picked up the Kindle bundle of the first 6 some time back. And now I see my library has the next 6. So all set!

Good to hear, Elizabeth. I love P.D. James and am really looking forward to these. I have read the first few, but not all of them.

Since I read Cover Her Face a couple months ago, I may move on to the other books sooner, so I don’t get behind.

I'm ready to put Cordelia Grey behind me and try Dalgleish!

Good to hear, RC.

I read Cover Her Face a few years ago and passed it on to someone, so won't be buying it again. I will be joining in with the other books in the series though.

I just looked at my review of Cover Her Face. One of the things I have been remembering is sort of a negative, so I'm really glad I looked at it again. I mention how good are her characterizations and prose. Looking forward to this.

Good to hear, Elizabeth. I am looking forward to re-reading it too.

I’m in. Excited to start a new series for me!

I was planning on reading the first book and then deciding whether I'm in or not. But I came across the abovementioned collection with the first 5 books, so ... I think I'm in! It's a new series for me too.

Great to hear you are joining in, Barbara and Elizabeth. :)

The challenge is now open for anyone who wants to sign up - many thanks to Susan for setting this up.

https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/...

I will be reading any and all of the books I can get through my library - I enjoyed Cover Her Face and I have ordered A Mind to Murder.

I don't get the point of signing up for the challenge, however, what am I missing?

It is not necessary to sign up for the challenge, Jackie. You can read as many, or as little, of the challenge books as you like. We just have a yearly theme and have, so far, covered Dorothy L. Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey, Agatha Christie's Miss Marple, and Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Alleyn. Suggestions are welcome, as it is not always easy to find books/themes/authors which fit into approx 12 months!

Another plus to this group Jackie, is that the threads are never closed. That means you can always go back to any book we have read here and read what others thought, and there is usually someone will answer your post.

The first six Inspector Dalgliesh books are now 99p:

Cover Her Face
A Mind to Murder
Unnatural Causes
Shroud for a Nightingale
The Black Tower
Death of an Expert Witness

Perfect timing for anyone who wants to join the challenge.

The Black Tower has already gone back up in price to £4.68, but the others are still 99p if anyone wants to grab them!

There was no countdown as to when the price would change, so I assumed 24 hours.

Thanks again for posting them, Susan. I noticed some were still at the lower price so thought I'd post a reminder as it is such a good deal.

Definitely, and very timely!

Never mind about this question -- I just figured it out!


I need help! I've been reading the PD James books for the challenge and just now noticed that I could set the number of books I would complete. I've already finished the first 2, but the challenge count says I haven't finished any. I've not only finished them, but also rated them & reviewed them & left comments on them in the group. What am I supposed to do to get the books to count for the challenge?
Thanks for any help you can give.

Carol wrote: "Never mind about this question -- I just figured it out!


I need help! I've been reading the PD James books for the challenge and just now noticed that I could set the number of books I would com..."

Carol, You need to create a shelf for the challenge books and each time you complete a book add it to that shelf. I have named the shelf the same as the challenge is - 2020 p d james challenge - so once your completed books are added to that shelf the number read will be reflected on the challenge page.

Hope that's clear!