The Private Patient

De: P. D. James

Narrado por: Rosalyn Landor

Cheverell Manor is a lovely old house in deepest Dorset, now a private clinic belonging to the famous plastic surgeon George Chandler-Powell. When investigative journalist Rhoda Gradwyn arrived there one late autumn afternoon, scheduled to have a disfiguring and long-standing facial scar removed, she had every expectation of a successful operation and a pleasant week recuperating.

Two days later she was dead, the victim of murder. To Commander Adam Dalgliesh, who with his team is called in to investigate the case, the mystery at first seems absolute. Few things about it make sense. Yet as the detectives begin probing the lives and backgrounds of those connected with the dead woman the surgeon, members of the manor staff, close acquaintances suspects multiply all too rapidly. New confusions arise, including strange historical overtones of madness and a lynching 350 years in the past. Then there is a second murder, and Dalgliesh finds himself confronted by issues even more challenging than innocence or guilt.

P. D. James has gained an enviable reputation for creating detective stories of uncommon depth and intricacy, combined with the sort of humanity and perceptiveness found only in the finest novelists. The Private Patient ranks among her very best.

©2008 P.D. James (P)2008 Random House Audio

Great cozy mystery if you love PD James.

Would you listen to The Private Patient again? Why?

Yes - it's plot and characters are complex enough that a second or third listen could be enjoyed. PD James has a wonderful way with words and I always add to my dictionary when reading her.

Which character – as performed by Rosalyn Landor – was your favorite?

She was good with all the characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It is too long for that one sitting but makes you want to get back to it right away.

Any additional comments?

PD James is my absolute favourite mystery author and this read was great. I have tried to listen to Penelope Dellaportia's reads but they fall far short of the mark so it was pleasant to find a good reader attached to one of the Queen of Crime's books! Please make more!

Her last Dalgleish

a wonderful read. While I so enjoy listening to this book over and over again, I feel a sadness that there will be no more.

Great twists!

Always a good story. Great narration voices and plots twists that keep you engaged. Enjoy!

The wedding

I liked the story ; however, I was disappointed that the wedding was an after thought. I was expecting Adam to have some deep thoughts about the marriage and his job.

Very British

Great narration, interesting premise for a "closed room" murder mystery, but endlessly drawn out descriptions sucked any suspense out of the story.

Problem with narrator.

She's good with the female voices, but the male voices tend to sound similar, very precise and even stuffy (including Dalgleish). Wish Charles Keating was still reading James; I thought he did an excellent job with The Lighthouse.

Please turn off the shower!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Private Patient to be better than the print version?

I love P.D. James despite some irritating things that persist book after book. I don't really need to bear witness to every single shower her characters take -- I'd be happy to stipulate to their probable adequate personal hygiene. And she always must bounce in at least one character I'd be willing to kill myself.

Would you be willing to try another book from P. D. James? Why or why not?

Of course, I'll go on reading (or listening) as the good far outweighs the bad.At least "The Private Patient"'s annoying characters aren't as bad as that awful cleaning woman and her thuggy sidekick who nearly ruined the wonderful "Murder Room" whining about her cottage, or the truly creepy incestuous pair that almost spoilt the excellent "Death in Holy Orders".

What about Rosalyn Landor’s performance did you like?

I liked her voice, and she didn't ham it up. As for Dalgleish, I think she read him right -- pretentious, just a bit arrogant and dare I say boring.

Poor Narrator Nearly Ruins a Good Story

A review of this book from 2008 says, "She's good with the female voices, but the male voices tend to sound similar, very precise and even stuffy (including Dalgleish). Wish Charles Keating was still reading James; I thought he did an excellent job with The Lighthouse." I agree with this entirely. While I enjoyed the story very much, the narrator made all of the males sound angry. Charles Keating did a much better job. For a woman narrator, I would have preferred Davina Porter.

The music of her words

After getting past the narrator's inability to capture what I feel AD should sound like, this is another of the wonderful books by PD James that I enjoy listening to. The audio version allows me to listen to the symphony PD James composes with her words. Listening to the side descriptions that set up the plot is a joy. For some reason I miss this when I read the same material. Not many writers can capture me like this.

grim stuff...

starts to pick up once Dalgleish shows up, but an unfortunately flat, clinical atmosphere (not unlike the cover image)....