$12.99 with 32 percent savings
Print List Price: $19.00

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Random House LLC. Price set by seller.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

P. D. James
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

A Taste for Death (Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries Book 7) Kindle Edition

by P. D. James (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,312 ratings
See all formats and editions
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In this "treat for mystery lovers” (USA Today), the quiet Little Vestry of St. Matthew's Church becomes the blood-soaked scene of a double murder, and Scotland Yard Commander Adam Dalgliesh faces an intriguing conundrum. • Part of the bestselling mystery series that inspired Dalgliesh on Acorn TV

“A first-rate detective novel, but it goes beyond that fine achievement to another realm…. An intricate, compassionate novel.” —The Boston Globe

How did an upper-crust Minister come to lie, slit throat to slit throat, next to a neighborhood derelict of the lowest order? Challenged with the investigation of a crime that appears to have endless motives, Dalgliesh explores the sinister web spun around a half-burnt diary and a violet-eyed widow who is pregnant and full of malice—all the while hoping to fill the gap of logic that joined these two disparate men in bright red death....
Previous slide of product details
  1. Book 7 of 14
    Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries
  2. Print length
    625 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Vintage
  5. Publication date
    December 8, 2010
  6. File size
    1.0 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next slide of product details

Shop this series

See full series
This option includes 10 books. This option includes 14 books. See included books
Shop this series
There are 14 books in this series.
Bundle price: Kindle price
$35.97
Bundle price: Kindle price
$58.95
Bundle price: Kindle price
$118.90
Bundle price: Kindle price
$155.86
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

This option includes 3 books.

This option includes 5 books.

This option includes 10 books.

This option includes 14 books.

Something went wrong.
Please try again.
Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries Book 1 - Book 10
Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries Book 1 - Book 14
Bundle price: Kindle price
$35.97
Bundle price: Kindle price
$58.95
Bundle price: Kindle price
$118.90
Bundle price: Kindle price
$155.86
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

Customers also bought or read

Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous page
  1. The Black Tower: A Novel
    Kindle Edition
    $9.99
  3. Sleep No More: Six Murderous Tales
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99
  14. The Part-Time Job
    Kindle Edition
    $0.99
  16. We Solve Murders: A Novel
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99
  23. The Man in the Queue
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99
  25. The Stranger DiariesEditors' pick
    Kindle Edition
    $12.99
  26. Innocent Blood
    Kindle Edition
    $14.99
Next page
Loading...
Popular Highlights in this book
What are popular highlights?
Previous page
  1. What matters it what went before or after, Now with myself I will begin and end.
    Highlighted by 229 Kindle readers
  2. It’s a condition of faith that it gets lost from time to time, or at least mislaid.
    Highlighted by 142 Kindle readers
  3. Henry James, he remembered, had said of his approaching death, “So here it is at last, the distinguished thing!”
    Highlighted by 130 Kindle readers
Next page

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Superb…. A treat for mystery lovers, and a gift to all readers.” —USA Today

“Splendidly suspenseful.” —The Washington Post Book World

“A first-rate detective novel, but it goes beyond that fine achievement to another realm…. An intricate, compassionate novel.” —The Boston Globe

"Her best and most ambitious tale to date.... The reigning mistress of murder.... A craftsman with a poet's vision, she not only detects evil but attempts to uncover the more elusive--and enduring--enigmas of the human psyche that lead to it." —Time

"Rich, multifaceted.... Involving and genuinely moving.... So ambitious and thematically challenging that it has few peers in its genre. A Taste for Death provides all the entertaining elements of a more conventional murder mystery, but James continually delivers that something extra.... James at her best, at the zenith of her writing career." —Houston Chronicle

"Literary grace of a high order and the ability to give full dimensions to both character, relationships and environment.... She writes with precision and elegance." —Los Angeles Times

"Ms. James is simply a wonderful writer." —The New York Times Book Review

"Rings of authenticity ... compelling.... The ability to haunt has earned P. D. James the title of 'queen of crime.' Long may she reign." —Chicago Sun-Times

"James still delivers the pace and tensions of a mystery yarn better than any living writer." —People

"A pleasure to read.... One avidly turns the pages." —Cleveland Plain Dealer

"The best of James' ten novels.... She has blended a whodunit and a fully realized modern novel." —The New York Times Magazine

"Marvelous." —Newsweek

"One reads a P. D. James novel in something like the same spirit that one reads a novel by Zola, Balzac, Thackeray, or Dickens." —The Christian Science Monitor

From the Inside Flap

When the quiet Little Vestry of St. Matthew's Church becomes the blood-soaked scene of a double murder, Scotland Yard Commander Adam Dalgliesh faces an intriguing conundrum: How did an upper-crust Minister come to lie, slit throat to slit throat, next to a neighborhood derelict of the lowest order? Challenged with the investigation of a crime that appears to have endless motives, Dalgliesh explores the sinister web spun around a half-burnt diary and a violet-eyed widow who is pregnant and full of malice--all the while hoping to fill the gap of logic that joined these two disparate men in bright red death. . . .


From the Paperback edition.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004DEPI24
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; Reprint edition (December 8, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 8, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 625 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,312 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
P. D. James

P. D. James

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

P. D. James is the author of twenty previous books, most of which have been filmed and broadcast on television in the United States and other countries. She spent thirty years in various departments of the British Civil Service, including the Police and Criminal Law Departments of Great Britain's Home Office. She has served as a magistrate and as a governor of the BBC. In 2000 she celebrated her eightieth birthday and published her autobiography, Time to Be in Earnest. The recipient of many prizes and honors, she was created Baroness James of Holland Park in 1991 and was inducted into the International Crime Writing Hall of Fame in 2008. She lives in London and Oxford.

Photo credit Ulla Montan

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
3,312 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the story compelling and enjoyable with its plot twists. They describe the book as a wonderful read with interesting characters and strong descriptions. Readers praise the writing quality as excellent and talented. The book provides insightful and thought-provoking themes, such as mid-life crises. However, some find the writing tedious or tiresome at times. Opinions vary on the pacing, with some finding it fast-paced and others finding it slow.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
Story qualityReadabilityWriting qualityCharacter developmentInsightPacingLengthDifficulty to read
95 customers mention "Story quality"81 positive14 negative

Customers enjoy the story's compelling plot and engaging characters. They appreciate the author's skill in weaving a suspenseful tale that keeps them hooked until the end. Readers enjoy British detective stories, especially those written by PD James. The author handles the plot well and avoids explicit sexual content. Overall, readers find the book exciting and thrilling.

"...It's a great story, with wonderful insights into people, how they think, how they became the people they are and what they decide to do when..." Read more

"...The author also manages to keep multiple story threads open and believable--this is far more difficult a task than it sounds...." Read more

"...others while trying to get through this one, even though the story is pretty good." Read more

"The PBS tv series was really well done and highly acclaimed. I love reading mysteries and I've finally gotten around to reading PDJames' work...." Read more

69 customers mention "Readability"69 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability and prose. They find the story engaging with complex characters. The book is well-written and a good choice for mystery fans.

"...successful church led by a not very successful minister, this book abounds in great, complex characters who are always more than they appear to be..." Read more

"...Somewhat unusual plot...not predictable. Kept me reading but not page-turning exciting. I would recommend it for mystery lovers...." Read more

"...This was not just a good book, it was an amazing experience!" Read more

"...This one is better than one through six...." Read more

69 customers mention "Writing quality"51 positive18 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written, with an excellent standard of English language and idiom. The book is readable, with interesting characters and a consistent plot. Readers appreciate the correct architectural vocabulary and medical terminology. Overall, they describe the book as neatly crafted and enjoyable to read.

"...She really hits her stride with this one. Exquisitely written, the book is less about who done it and more about the complicated, messy and often..." Read more

"...he discusses architectural detail knowledgeably using correct architectural vocabulary, and he understands medical terminology that would go over..." Read more

"I always enjoy P D James's stories. I love her descriptive writing, whether she is describing a place or buildings or an area, you can see it in..." Read more

"...However, sometimes it is almost too much description, making this reader anxious to get back to the story. All in all, quality novel." Read more

67 customers mention "Character development"62 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters. They find the characters interesting, strong, and flawed. The author describes their appearances in detail. However, there is no personal drama between the main characters. The book is described as a thriller/mystery with British characters.

"...by a not very successful minister, this book abounds in great, complex characters who are always more than they appear to be on the surface...." Read more

"...This enriches my knowledge of the characters, but I don't care...." Read more

"...it pretty much begins and ends with good, interesting, and often flawed characters...." Read more

"...Well, not here! Although she describes characters’ appearance with detail, and she seems to have more of them in this novel than Balzac in his..." Read more

32 customers mention "Insight"32 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's insightful and thoughtful writing style. They find the book intelligent and thought-provoking, with logical explanations of mysteries. The literary language is described as sensitive and delightful. Readers mention that the series has an interesting central plot with multiple stories about each person connected to the murder victim.

"...It's a great story, with wonderful insights into people, how they think, how they became the people they are and what they decide to do when..." Read more

"...The author paints lengthy descriptions of settings, using adjectives that allow the reader to "see" the scene with clarity...." Read more

"...still have a few remaining works of Ms. James on my list, this book has a resonance that few authors manage to achieve...." Read more

"...This is so much more than the story, which is complex; every character is developed to a greater depth than in most other authors' work...." Read more

17 customers mention "Pacing"8 positive9 negative

Customers have different views on the pacing. Some find it interesting with detailed character descriptions and insightful literary language. Others find it depressing, boring, and an unpleasant read.

"...Somewhat unusual plot...not predictable. Kept me reading but not page-turning exciting. I would recommend it for mystery lovers...." Read more

"PD James characters and scenes are described sensitive and insightful literary language. Hence, it is a pleasure to read the text...." Read more

"...James’s hero, Adam Dalgliesh, is melancholy and aloof, and extremely unrealistic...." Read more

"I am loving it! Enjoy the minute depictions and descriptions of all the characters and their homes or environments...." Read more

11 customers mention "Length"5 positive6 negative

Customers have different views on the book's length. Some find it long with too much detail, while others find it too long for their taste. The book has over 700 pages and some feel it could have been shorter.

"...very well written...strong vocabulary, good sentence structure and length...." Read more

"...an overdose of trivia, which bogs down the story and occupies a large percent of its 480 pages...." Read more

"Very long with more than necessary detail." Read more

"...The prose was beautiful, and the story compelling. It ran a little long for my taste, however. Did it really need to be over 500 pages?" Read more

5 customers mention "Difficulty to read"0 positive5 negative

Customers find the book tedious and hard to get into at first. They also mention that the writing is too wordy and tiresome at times.

"Good read but not great. I found the writing to be too wordy and tiresome at times...." Read more

"This seemed hard to get into at first, as it is slower than many mysteries...." Read more

"...James' descriptive narrations could go on and on which became laborious...." Read more

"...I thought it was much too tedious." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Linda Cades
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's a great story, with wonderful insights into people
    Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I thought I had read all of PD James' work, but I had missed this one. It's a great story, with wonderful insights into people, how they think, how they became the people they are and what they decide to do when confronted with problems. From the aristocrat and the tramp murdered in the vestry of a run down, not very successful church led by a not very successful minister, this book abounds in great, complex characters who are always more than they appear to be on the surface. I was particularly interested in the portrayal of Kate Miskin, who may have appeared before in James' work but who plays a major role in this novel in not only solving the crime but in humanizing the people who do the difficult work of cleaning up after life's careless people as F. Scott Fitzgerald called them. The tension between Kate and her colleague Massingham, both trying to do demanding jobs and each believing the other has it easy when considering family obligations gives readers a sense of the fact that these detectives are people first dealing with their own problems while trying to figure out lives very different from theirs.
    14 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Maggie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good solid story
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Set in London; enjoy British stories. Somewhat unusual plot...not predictable. Kept me reading but not page-turning exciting. I would recommend it for mystery lovers. It is also very well written...strong vocabulary, good sentence structure and length. The author paints lengthy descriptions of settings, using adjectives that allow the reader to "see" the scene with clarity. However, sometimes it is almost too much description, making this reader anxious to get back to the story. All in all, quality novel.
    11 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • J. Brian Watkins
    5.0 out of 5 stars Life Is A Mystery Worth Solving
    Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    Here is one of the best mysteries I have had the pleasure to read. Though I still have a few remaining works of Ms. James on my list, this book has a resonance that few authors manage to achieve. The characters and the themes blend to create a work that is greater than the sum of its parts. At its heart, this is the story of a man who after achieving everything for which he has sought finds himself curiously unsatisfied with both life and the rewards of his efforts. Accordingly, solving the mystery not only means finding out who did the deed, but why our victim was distraught and unsatisfied despite tremendous achievements. Readers of this author will immediately recognize that her protagonist struggles with related issues and the pages of this book are devoted to the creation of several like-minded characters who each add their perspective to what is in reality an attempt to solve the mystery of life itself; where can one find true happiness and satisfaction?

    I believe that the special quality of this book is found in its characters; I should think that the mix is so broad that any reader can find at least one with whom to identify. It does no harm to the mystery to remark that though the victims could not be further apart in terms of social standing and achievement, the author teaches that we are all ultimately equals in death. The author also manages to keep multiple story threads open and believable--this is far more difficult a task than it sounds. Until I encountered P.D. James, I found mysteries to be much like old episodes of Star Trek--if the character who transports to the surface is not one of the regular cast you instantly know that the character has but moments to live. Likewise, too many mystery novelists betray the story early in the book or else they create characters that are incapable of stirring the emotions of the reader--flaws thankfully avoided by P.D. James.

    The best fiction encourages one to think about one's own life; it encourages and suggests how we may better ourselves and the world in which we live. This book leaves its reader a better person for having encountered the story; if not, it is not the reader who is without excuse.

    Highly Recommended.
    18 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Stephanie
    3.0 out of 5 stars writing style is not engaging
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I don't like the writing style. She spends a lot of time giving me details of the characters' lives. This enriches my knowledge of the characters, but I don't care. She doesn't make me care enough about the characters to want to learn about their personal lives. It has taken me a long time to finish this book. I've read others while trying to get through this one, even though the story is pretty good.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jili Power
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely great writing...
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The PBS tv series was really well done and highly acclaimed. I love reading mysteries and I've finally gotten around to reading PDJames' work. This is so much more than the story, which is complex; every character is developed to a greater depth than in most other authors' work. This was not just a good book, it was an amazing experience!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Peculiar Tastes
    Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    To enjoy Ms James' murder mysteries, you need to appreciate her own particular "things" - grotesque snobbery and extravagent violence.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Anonymous
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wondeful
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I had read some of P.D. James' books years ago and decided to revisit. She really hits her stride with this one. Exquisitely written, the book is less about who done it and more about the complicated, messy and often ambivalent bonds of love between human beings. If you like mysteries that convey something richer about the human experience, then you may love this book as much as I did.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Colin And Lisa Platt
    5.0 out of 5 stars PD James’ best novel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 15, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The author said that this was her best novel and I agree. It’s a huge book and took me a while to read (which is a good thing, I spend a lot on books). The plot is detailed and satisfying and the characters are well drawn. I loved it.
    Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars So human!
    Reviewed in India on November 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    After the last book I left a review saying I with there was a kind of epilogue at the end of her books so I could see what happened next. And there was one at the end of this one! P. D. James has a knack for writing real people. They are so real at times it's shocking. Her characters live truths that most people don't even acknowledge to themselves. Her plots are okay. They don't have the 'magic trick' I associate with Agatha Christie. I don't kick myself for missing obvious clues. Usually you find out who did it at the same time the detectives do as they uncover leads and ferret put the truth from obstinate witnesses. I may not re-read these books for the ingenuity of the plot but I know I'll probably read them again some day just for the pleasure of meeting these people again.
    Report
  • JC
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un excellent policier
    Reviewed in France on November 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Une remarquable construction: l’intrigue promène le lecteur sur de nombreuses scènes de manière non linéaire . De nombreux personnages, tous bien dessinés.
    Report
  • Carol W
    5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss reading this mystery!
    Reviewed in Canada on January 19, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Another great read from P.D. James. The circumstances of the murder causes confusion and the detectives have to do a "fine tooth" investigation in order to figure out the right conclusion.
    Report
  • aileen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading
    Reviewed in Australia on August 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this book very interesting and complex story . Kept my interest all the way through. Can't wait to read another one in the series inspector delish is a great read
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report