Rating: 
Summary: James delves into the creepy--and succeeds
Review: "The Black Tower" is arguably the creepiest of P. D. James's works! In addition to having the highest number of murder victims, the novel has a claustrophobic setting--an isolated nursing home on the Dorset coast--that lends itself well to a level of suspense bordering on terror.H. R. F. Keating has cited "The Black Tower" as one of the 100 greatest mystery novels of all time. (James's "A Taste for Death" is also on the list.) Interestingly enough, although the element of mystery builds throughout "The Black Tower," its resolution is not as satisfying as in some other works by P. D. James. The reason may be that the motive for the multiple murders does not seem to be as well integrated into the heart of the novel when compared to "Shroud for a Nightingale" and "Original Sin," to name novels that both preceded and followed "The Black Tower." Still, the remarkable characters and, yes, the element of creepiness make "The Black Tower" a terrific read. The setting is atmospheric and plays a large role in generating the tension that pervades the novel. Bonus: Fans of both detective series in the P. D. James canon will be gratified by the teasing references to Cordelia Gray in this Dalgliesh novel.
Rating:
Summary: James delves into the creepy--and succeeds
Review: "The Black Tower" is arguably the creepiest of P. D. James's works! In addition to having the highest number of murder victims, the novel has a claustrophobic setting--an isolated nursing home on the Dorset coast--that lends itself well to a level of suspense bordering on terror. H. R. F. Keating has cited "The Black Tower" as one of the 100 greatest mystery novels of all time. (James's "A Taste for Death" is also on the list.) Interestingly enough, although the element of mystery builds throughout "The Black Tower," its resolution is not as satisfying as in some other works by P. D. James. The reason may be that the motive for the multiple murders does not seem to be as well integrated into the heart of the novel when compared to "Shroud for a Nightingale" and "Original Sin," to name novels that both preceded and followed "The Black Tower." Still, the remarkable characters and, yes, the element of creepiness make "The Black Tower" a terrific read. The setting is atmospheric and plays a large role in generating the tension that pervades the novel. Bonus: Fans of both detective series in the P. D. James canon will be gratified by the teasing references to Cordelia Gray in this Dalgliesh novel.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the Best
Review: Adam Dalgliesh, recovering from his illness, paid a dutiful visit to Father Badderly at Tonyton Village. He found himself to be an unwilling spectator to four deaths. In spite of his determination not to be involved, his detective instincts and skeptism were soon searching for the link and reasons behind the four seemingly straightforward deaths. I find this book to be one of P D James¡¦ best. The conclusion to the story was simply impressive. As in all her books, this book is best not to be read in a hurry, it is beautiful to digest it slowly. The beauty of it all is that it will make you hold your breathe even when you are turning the pages slowly, a most unusual feature for a thriller as exciting as this.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best
Review: Adam Dalgliesh, recovering from his illness, paid a dutiful visit to Father Badderly at Tonyton Village. He found himself to be an unwilling spectator to four deaths. In spite of his determination not to be involved, his detective instincts and skeptism were soon searching for the link and reasons behind the four seemingly straightforward deaths. I find this book to be one of P D James¡¦ best. The conclusion to the story was simply impressive. As in all her books, this book is best not to be read in a hurry, it is beautiful to digest it slowly. The beauty of it all is that it will make you hold your breathe even when you are turning the pages slowly, a most unusual feature for a thriller as exciting as this.
Rating:
Summary: Suspense maybe rather than mystery.
Review: Another James puzzler with twists in the telling as well as the tale. Like that of "Unsuitable Job for a Woman" this book's plot is not a simple and straightforward murder mystery. In fact, for a good portion of the book one wonders if in fact there is a mystery, let alone a murder, except that, this being a James' Dalgleish there must be. Dalgleish has been in hospital for suspected leukemia ~ thank goodness a misdiagnosis! ~ and, asked, plans to visit his father's old curate in Dorset during his convalescence. Father Michael Badderly is priest in residence at Toynton Grange, a small (and getting smaller) home for terminally ill patients. There are a number of varyingly sinister characters living in and around the Grange, and it is in the interplay of these people that the story unfolds. Suffice it to say that, by the end, Dalgleish's intuition is proven again, he rescinds his decision to leave the Force, and the evil ~ if not the foolish ~ are punished.
Rating:
Summary: Suspense maybe rather than mystery.
Review: Another James puzzler with twists in the telling as well as the tale. Like that of "Unsuitable Job for a Woman" this book's plot is not a simple and straightforward murder mystery. In fact, for a good portion of the book one wonders if in fact there is a mystery, let alone a murder, except that, this being a James' Dalgleish there must be. Dalgleish has been in hospital for suspected leukemia ~ thank goodness a misdiagnosis! ~ and, asked, plans to visit his father's old curate in Dorset during his convalescence. Father Michael Badderly is priest in residence at Toynton Grange, a small (and getting smaller) home for terminally ill patients. There are a number of varyingly sinister characters living in and around the Grange, and it is in the interplay of these people that the story unfolds. Suffice it to say that, by the end, Dalgleish's intuition is proven again, he rescinds his decision to leave the Force, and the evil ~ if not the foolish ~ are punished.
Rating: 
Summary: Unusual, interesting and kept my interest to the end.
Review: As a native Dorset resident, I found it authentic and compelling. It didn't keep me up at night.
Rating:
Summary: A mystery novel about mysterious murders in Dorset, England.
Review: Being the first of the P.D. James novels I have read, I was taken at once by the depth each character in this mystery. The psychological aspects of The Black Tower delve deeply into the human soul. The true culprit of the murders remains masterly hidden until the end, but it was disappointing to not be able to figure the mystery out myself. Throughout the novel, clues are dropped that point to almost every character and although some lead to dead ends, Commander Adam Dalgliesh traces them to the end. It was nice to have a conclusion that was both exciting and tied up all the loose ends. I give this book three stars because of the length of time it seemed to take to get to the conclusion.
Rating:
Summary: Good Solid Mystery
Review: Commander Adam Dalgliesh is recovering from a severe illness when he receives an invitation to visit his old friend and mentor Father Baddely. Deciding that a visit to the countryside might give him time to relax and give thought to perhaps giving up his career at Scotland Yard. But there is no rest, as there are a series of deaths at Troynton Grange, and with each death Dalgliesh is drawn inexorably back into his old life, solving murders.
'The Black Tower' is a little less in classical Agatha Christie style as 'The Skull Beneath The Skin', the other PD James novel I have read. The setting for 'The Black Tower' is in a local sanitorium for patients with long-term illness, which provides a suitable sense of dread and decay. James peoples it with several interesting characters. A fine effort.
Rating:
Summary: none more black
Review: Death-obsessed even by murder mystery standards, I don't think this novel was as cozy as I wanted. Nonetheless, it's morosely insightful stuff on its own terms. Hero Dalgliesh--which sounds like "dog leash" when I say it and is thus a nice name for a cop--is announced to be terminally ill but turns out not to be, then heads out to help a friend and finds his raison d'etre again, after getting past the lurking, morbid, allegorical Black Tower. I read this at a depressive point in my life, and I think the existentialist approach was probably good for me.--J. Ruch
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