From Publishers Weekly

James ( A Taste for Death ) sets her 11th novel on Larksoken, a remote windswept headland in Norfolk, where the presence of a huge nuclear energy plant serves as a metaphor for the power of the past to rule over her characters. Commander Adam Dalgliesh of New Scotland Yard, in Larsoken to settle an estate left him at the death of a relative, is drawn into the investigation of a serial killer, the Whistler. Dalgliesh's neighbors include the power station's director, Alex Mair; his elegant sister Alice, a cookbook author; acting administrator--and Alex's former lover--Hilary Robarts; and anti-nuclear activist Neil Pascoe. The next signature killing , of the widely disliked Robarts, turns out to have occurred hours after a young man who firmly establishes his identity as the Whistler commits suicide. The question of who murdered Robarts, then, centers around motive. This intricate, layered mystery may be read as parable: we can escape the consequences of our choices, political and personal, no more than we can shed our private histories. This is dark James, plotted with a slight unevenness but utterly faithful to her deeply and sympathetically plumbed characters. 175,000 first printing; BOMC and QPB main selections.

Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

While the serial killer known as the Whistler goes about his grisly business in the area around the Larksoken Nuclear Power Station, Commander Adam Dalgliesh comes to Norfolk to settle his aunt's estate. Slowly, through masses of dialog and ruminations by most of the characters, the complex plot unfolds into the usual Jamesian tangle of human relationships and subplots. The story takes shape as James unwraps each nuance of personality, each intricate piece of the puzzle. Though not as fast paced as Shroud for a Nightingale (LJ 1/1/72) nor as finely plotted as A Taste for Death ( LJ 10/1/86), this latest novel demonstrates just how well James commands the English language and illustrates her considerable ability to craft and write a novel. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/89; BOMC and Quality Paperback Book Club main selections.

- Jo Ann Vicarel, Cleveland Heights-University Heights P.L., Ohio

Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

P．D．詹姆斯是英國當代最著名的推理小說女作傢，被尊稱為“推理小說第一夫人”。齣生於1920年的P．D．詹姆斯自1950年開始寫作，至今筆耕不輟。她已齣版近20部作品，她的大部分作品均被拍成電視劇或電影。 P．D.詹姆斯的作品曾經多次獲得英美推理小說奬。1987年榮獲有“諾貝爾推理文學奬”之稱的英國推理小說傢協會“鑽石匕首奬”終身成就奬，並受英國皇室勛封為女伯爵，1999年榮獲美國推理小說傢協會大師奬，也曾獲愛倫坡奬。P.D.詹姆斯現任英國作傢協會主席。