The Skull beneath the Skin Audiobook

" I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. P.D. James is an excellent writer, but because she is so intent on details, this book is a slow read. She has an extensive vocabulary and uses words not usually used in everyday language. I enjoyed the book, but I especially enjoyed the last fifty pages when things played out. I also liked her detective but found her rather tentative in places. Much of this book reminded me of Ten Little Indians or And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, which detracted from the originality of the plot. I recommend this book unless details are not your forte, then it might be difficult to get into. "

" Still a good mystery but a bit bogged down by its length. Disappointing that it seems to be the second and final book of the series for the Cordelia Gray character. She was an interesting heroine. "

" It has been awhile since I read P.D.James and I had forgotten how much depth there is in her characters. The mystery almost seems secondary, that said, this is a classic locked room, castle on a small island mystery with few likable personalities and a story that feels dated even beyond its 1978 setting. Not a bad listen 452 pages 3 stars, 13 hours. "

" This was the first of the Cordelia Gray series I've read by PD James (even though it's the second in the series). I didn't like it nearly as well as Inspector Daglish. "

" If I could I'd give this one a 2 1/2. It was just a little too weird. House party on island with limited amount of suspects, all of whom had a good motive for doing in the victim. The first Cordelia Gray book was much better. "

" It wasn't her best, and I was slightly dissatisfied w/the outcome, but I don't think there's a way to give it 3 1/2 stars, and it was better than a 3, as all of her books are. "

" Did not see the ending on this one coming ! I love that ! "

" Credo di averlo dimenticato mezz'ora dopo averlo finito. Decisamente lo stile di quest'autrice non mi piace e credo che questa sia stata la mia prima ed ultima esperienza con lei. "

" Such rich character development. Beautiful descriptive writing. And a good mystery, too. "

" This read like an early, inexperienced P. D. James. It was contrived, in my opinion. Not my fav but good. I bought it at a resale shop in London on the way to see "London Road." "

" A good read, no matter how many times you come back to it! PDJ is a skilled writer. "

" Love Cordelia Grey and P D James. Very interesting and intriguing book with well-rounded characters. PD James writes so well and entertainingly. Highly recommended for mystery lovers. "

" second Cordelia Gray book. Better than the first. "

" Why is it so hard to find a good American detective series? This author is British, and will make you feel SMART. I love P.D. James mysteries. I've read them all, so take this review as representative of an entire body of work. "

" 1st P.D James novel that I read. This novel got me hooked on the author. The plot twist in the later part where the killer was revealed, really came unexpected. One of my favorite books! "

" the second and last one in this series, it wasn't very good "

" Although this book has all the elements of a mystery that I would really like, it failed to engage my interest. I don't know whether it was Cordelia or something else but I had to force myself to finish it. "

" James writes like Agatha Christie joined forces with Wes Craven--AND she's an 80-something British Dame. She's really the only conventional mystery writer I like, and I've read most of her books. This is my favorite. I don't think I've ever read any other mystery twice, but I did this one. "

" I wavered between giving this 2 or 3 stars. It wasn't bad, though the characters were each a completely different type and didn't seem to have much reason for being together. The pace slowed down a lot near the end, and the ending was somewhat anti-climatic. "

" I loved it. P.D. James is my favorite mystery writer by far. I always get about 100 pages from the end and I just can't stop reading. She makes you feel like you're figuring out who done it, by slowly revealing one character's motive. But then it is another character who did it. "

" Not the book you want to be reading when trying not to think about death; otherwise very good. Poor Cordelia doesn't seem to have much luck with cases, does she? Still, despite it all an upbeat ending -- I suppose its lucky she doesn't have to worry about prosecuting. "

" A bit too gothic for my tastes. "

" Cordelia Gray's inherited detective agency is mostly finding stray pets until she is hired as bodyguard to a waning actress on a trip to a private island. It's obvious what's going to happen ... "

" Cordelia Gray's inherited detective agency is mostly finding stray pets until she is hired as bodyguard to a waning actress on a trip to a private island. It's obvious what's going to happen ... "

" I really wanted to like this book. I'm a fan of James' Adam Dalgleish series and had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately I didn't like either the protagonist or the murder victim and that makes it impossible for me to give the book more than two stars. "

" I really wanted to like this book. I'm a fan of James' Adam Dalgleish series and had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately I didn't like either the protagonist or the murder victim and that makes it impossible for me to give the book more than two stars. "

" Credo di averlo dimenticato mezz'ora dopo averlo finito. Decisamente lo stile di quest'autrice non mi piace e credo che questa sia stata la mia prima ed ultima esperienza con lei. "

" Credo di averlo dimenticato mezz'ora dopo averlo finito. Decisamente lo stile di quest'autrice non mi piace e credo che questa sia stata la mia prima ed ultima esperienza con lei. "

" This was the first of the Cordelia Gray series I've read by PD James (even though it's the second in the series). I didn't like it nearly as well as Inspector Daglish. "

" This was the first of the Cordelia Gray series I've read by PD James (even though it's the second in the series). I didn't like it nearly as well as Inspector Daglish. "

" Just finished this today. I had to grab the second Cordelia Gray novel after loving the first one. Cannot say enough about PD James. She's the bomb. "

" Just finished this today. I had to grab the second Cordelia Gray novel after loving the first one. Cannot say enough about PD James. She's the bomb. "

" A more complex mystery than the earlier Cordelia Gray novel, but I liked the story of the other one better. "

" A more complex mystery than the earlier Cordelia Gray novel, but I liked the story of the other one better. "

" didnt love the vulnerable cordelia grey, loved the settings though and the way the characters contrasted from one another. "

" didnt love the vulnerable cordelia grey, loved the settings though and the way the characters contrasted from one another. "

" intelligent mystery, flawed characters. She's terrific. "

" intelligent mystery, flawed characters. She's terrific. "

" Did not see the ending on this one coming ! I love that ! "

" Did not see the ending on this one coming ! I love that ! "

" Nicely plotted with an especially detailed portrait of the victim. I've read another book or two by P.D. James. I like her style. "

" Nicely plotted with an especially detailed portrait of the victim. I've read another book or two by P.D. James. I like her style. "