Original Sin

Rating:
Summary: A stylish whodunit from the master
Review: "Original Sin" rivals only "The Skull Beneath the Skin" as the most stylish of P. D. James's detective novels. The thematic elements are especially strong in "Original Sin"; various scenes in the book provide commentary into today's social stratification and the inescapable sins of history (to explain more would be an injustice to future readers of the book).

Of the members of Dalgliesh's Murder Squad, the latest addition, Daniel Aaron (replacing the arrogant Massingham), is especially fascinating. Aaron may be the first significant Jewish character in all of James's works, and he has much to say about what his religion means to him.

Another fascinating character is Mandy Price, the young temporary shorthand typist at Peverell Press. Much like Brenda Pridmore in "Death of an Expert Witness," Mandy is a resourceful, and perhaps more brash, young woman who figures prominently into the plot.

Rating:
Summary: Revenge or Justice?
Review: A practical joker is afoot at Innocent House, a Venetian-style palazzo on the Thames that houses England's oldest independent book publisher, Peverell Press. This engrossing crime drama effectively plays out against the self-contained setting of Innocent House. Poison pen letters are circulating, rare illustrations are being lost, important proofs are being tampered with, and minor mischiefs abound; added to the mix is the disconcerting fact that two of Peverell Press' authors and one editor have died in less than twelve months. Then, another death occurs, this one with bizarre overtones. Is it natural death, suicide, accident or murder? Is it the work of the malicious prankster,or perhaps one or more of the various people associated with Innocent House who harbor animus against the victim? Enter Commander Adam Dalgliesh and his Special Squad.

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 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.

Besides the splendid palazzo, James treats the reader to another strikingly effective mood-setter: the River Thames itself, arcane, enduring and somewhat sinister, the compelling secrets of its dark past forever threatening to surface before our eyes (and in one memorable scene, they do). Architectural descriptions and historical anecdotes weave seamlessly throughout the narrative, as another bonus.

Further, there is an interesting look at a small London publishing house as it evolves from the "preserve of gentlemen" (Henry Peverell and Jean-Philippe Etienne) to the present-day leadership of a 21st Century Machiavellian (Gerard Etienne).

P.D. James has expressed the view that rather than feel sympathy for the murderer, the reader should feel empathy and understanding. Here in 'Original Sin' she has provided such a murderer. It is the reader's ability to empathize that makes this murderer's motivations credible.

At its heart, 'Original Sin' is about redress. In this instance, we learn that revenge (which the killer calls "justice") is not sweet, that it sometimes requires multiple acts of murder, and that it may necessitate sacrificing the innocent. The lucky reader, however, gains this harsh lesson by way of the impeccable prose of this distinguished writer.

Rating:
Summary: A Homage? (beware spoilers)
Review: A publisher dies of carbon monoxide poisoning in a locked room at the firm's offices. The denouement of the mystery takes place on the Essex marshes and the word "lugubrious" is bandied around. A lost work by Margery Allingham combining Flowers for the Judge and Mystery Mile? Or a homage from one great dame of mystery to another? Apart from spotting the Allingham references, I mainly liked this book, especially the atmosphere and exposure of character types. Also Allingham-esque is the understated theme: Original Sin? "Innocent" House? Is that a snake in the Garden of Eden? And, as someone else pointed out, old sins have long shadows. I found the solution forced, though, and the ending melodramatic.

Rating:
Summary: Agatha is better!
Review: After having read 30 pages of "Original Sin" I felt a strong desire to stop. I had read "Death in Holy Orders" before (from beginning to end). However, the derogatory remarks made by the author about my favourite queen of crime, Agatha Christie, caused me to be sceptical. There is a Latin saying: "De mortuis nihil nisi bene". Mrs James ought to go by that saying.

While "Holy orders" are more or less OK (during the lecture, negative experiences tend to be just barely compensated by positive ones), "Original Sin" is definitely below the limit.

So, conclusion: Agatha is (much) better!

Rating:
Summary: Slow in spots - but better than the TV adaptation!
Review: As much as I like to picture Roy Marsden as Adam Dalgleish, I found I was irritated by the TV adaptation of this novel. I read _Original Sin_ and enjoyed it a lot - it's dense and has a lot of characters and sideplots. It does move slowly in spots, and there are places where you do want to say "get on with it, already". But the second half of the novel is quite gripping, and I found I was *not expecting* the ending! That said, I was really disappointed with the "Mystery" production of the novel. Characters were dropped, the storyline was considerably simplified. Even the ending (how the killer meets "justice") seems to have been "punched up" to be more spectacular for TV. I enjoy P.D. James. Not everyone does - it seems that many people find her novels plodding and self-absorbed. I like them because they are dense and full of complex characters. Judge for yourself whether you will like her novels or not. I wouldn't say it's the *! best* novel I've ever read - maybe not even the best P.D. James - but I did find it enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Literature / Shaky Plot
Review: Before I read Original Sin, a friend and devoted mystery lover referred to it as being somewhat tedious, and I am sorry to admit that I agree. This was one of James' novels in where the murder does not occur for the first 90 pages or so, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I found the wait intolerable, however, as the main characters did nothing but squabble, threaten, and fume to the point that I did not care what happened. The plot of Original Sin was a tad shaky, as well. While I enjoy references to WWII and what went on during that time (it should never be forgotten), it was SO far in the past that it was hard for me to fathom the murderer's hatred being sustained for that period of time. And while I'm quite sure Ms. James meant no disrespect to anyone, I was a little irked at the notion that a Jewish detective would put his job on the line just because of the murderer's tragic past with the Nazis. The downplaying of Dalgliesh is another point that I did not appreciate with this novel, but that has almost become the standard with James' more recent work. I do award Original Sin with 4 stars, however, due to Ms. James' beautifully drawn prose, as well her wonderful command of the english language. The plot was not too terribly stretched that one could overlook the shaky parts, and the writing, though over-long in some parts, is a clear example of mastery of the modern literary form.

Rating:
Summary: Great setting, disappointing denouement
Review: For once one of James's elaborate architectural fantasias seems both exciting and appropriate, and the mock-Venetian splendour of Innocent House adds a wonderful Gothic atmosphere to ORIGINAL SIN. Gerard Etienne is a superb murder victim--so utterly loathesome you come to wonder why anyone hasn't killed him long ago--and many of the suspects are wonderfully complex and even (in the case of Frances Peverell) wholly sympathetic--the latter instance must be a first for James.

But the novel's denouement is a real disappointment. The reason for Gerard's murder is pretty hokey, and doesn't seem to be very much "a piece" with the rest of the novel. And the resolution of the Daniel aaron subplot comes out of nowhere. James's next novel, A CERTAIN JUSTICE, has a far more satisfying plot and resolution.

Rating:
Summary: James books no argument with this thriller!
Review: For Superintendent Adam Dalgleish, there are just too many coincidences, too many "practical" jokes, too many deaths, and too many suspects. In P.D. James' "Original Sin," this quintessential investigator has his hands full. And James, herself, is at top form in this London thriller, all asea with several subplots at once. Intriguing they are, too. Someone is bumping off the partners of Peverell Press, a venerable publishing company now on shaky financial legs that rests on the banks of the Thames in a real ediface complex called Innocent House, an opulent Venetian-type of building that is at once a landmark as well as a nest of intrigue, murder, and mayhem, going back a couple of generations to its founder.

As one after another body is found, the pieces begin to come together, although not easily nor fast. Dalgleish and his two assistants, Kate Mishkin and Aaron Daniel, have their own personal concerns to sort out as well. James has created a host of

excellently developed characters, as she usually does, and the reader is caught up in the problems and affairs of them all. Finally to solve the case, Dalgleish and company have to look back for their answers, all the way back to World War II France. The climax comes powerfully in "Original Sin" and as usual James leaves her readers, not necessarily on a joyous note, but one that is pensive, sometimes even remorseful. But what a read. In literature, and especially with P.D. James,

there is justice after all! ([e-mail])

Rating:
Summary: Another triumph for Lady James
Review: I don't think there can ever be such a thing as a bad P. D. James mystery. Lady James is just too good a writer to have that happen.

"Original Sin" continues her series featuring the man I consider the world's most erudite policeman (the word "cop" just doesn't apply) - Commander Adam Dalgliesh of New Scotland Yard. This time the scene of the crime is, according to the novel, the oldest publishing house in Britain - Peverell Press.

In this entry in the series, enough red herrings are tossed out that I was thoroughly in the dark until the very end - and then I remembered the actual murderer's alibi in the first killing and wondered how I could have forgotten it.

Sadly, I cannot give this book five stars, but not because of Lady James' usual excellent writing. My review is of the audiobook from Recorded Books, and the narrator needs to improve on his craft. At times, in conversations between two or more characters, I couldn't tell which one was speaking - they sounded almost exactly alike. And other points in the narration were flat and toneless; I almost felt as though I were listening to "Original Sin" as told by Mr. Spock.

I'm willing to give this narrator another chance, but I'm seriously considering getting the actual book for my next P. D. James.

Rating:
Summary: Not her best work
Review: I've read all of P.D. James's mysteries and Original Sin is by far her weakest effort. It's slow and unimaginative compared to her previous works. The characters and the mystery itself aren't compelling and the only reason I kept reading was because I was sure Ms. James wouldn't do this to her readers. But she did! I hope new readers don't pick this up and think it's indicative of her work. If it's your first James, try "An Unsuitable Job For a Woman," a far superior work.