Death in Holy Orders
P.D. James Audio Book

When Dalgliesh is sent to re-examine the death of a young theology student, he sees it little more as a political exercise in pleasing a powerful parent. However, on returning to the scene of the crime, which was one of his boyhood haunts, the Inspector discovers that the Anglican college houses much more than students striving to learn their scriptures.

What seems to fascinate James, particularly in this audiobook for CD, is the mind of the killer. Yet it’s not just about someone is driven to commit murder, but also about how a particular mental makeup can inform the other decisions in life; those that we all have to deal with. Even the normally detached Dalgliesh feels the effects of the murderer’s taint; with the setting so full of childhood memories, Dalgliesh cannot help but weigh up what he once was, in comparison with the lonely and distant figure he has become. Narrated by Michael Jayston, we follow Dalgliesh on a journey of self-discovery and self-doubt, learning what it is that can produce a killer.

Jayston’s vocal abilities are given full-reign as he skilfully guides us through the twists and turns of James’ story. A veteran of films such as Zulu Dawn, TV shows such as Dr Who and a wide range of radio plays, Jayston’s voice inhabits the main character with ease and brings to life all the others that he encounters throughout his investigation. Death in Holy Orders is a thought-provoking audiobook for MP3 and one that no fan of crime fiction should be without.