Helpful Score: 4
At first, I didn't think I would get too attached to the heroine, a young woman struggling to establish herself as lone P.I., but she was a very empathetic character by the middle of the book. The writing style is not at all florid, it could almost be called concise, but she does such a great job at picking what details she does elaborate, and describing psycological turmoil.
Helpful Score: 2
Not a Commander Dalgleish, but still a fascinating mystery. NOT a cozy-but not too graphic.
Helpful Score: 2
This is a great book by the best mystery writer around, in my humble opinion. Great character development and plot.
Helpful Score: 2
PD James writes Very British Mysteries as dense, layered and gorgeous as an English garden. Not easy to start, but then very hard to put down.
Shannon H. (Shann) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 336 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
the queen of crime P.D. james.. a good read
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Helpful Score: 1
At first, I thought this wasn't one of P.D. James' best. There seemed to be something lacking in the plot. But then the last chapter wrapped it all up quite well, and I was satisfied. EXCEPT....
Once the case was wrapped up, with evil exposed and all the loose ends tied, there was still ANOTHER whole chapter. And it was this chapter which made the book another shining example of P.D. James' marvelous talent as a mystery writer.
Once the case was wrapped up, with evil exposed and all the loose ends tied, there was still ANOTHER whole chapter. And it was this chapter which made the book another shining example of P.D. James' marvelous talent as a mystery writer.
Helpful Score: 1
Great fun!
Kathryn S. (springtime) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a fast-moving, entertaining mystery in the tradition of P. D. James.
Grayce P. (yorkfield) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 41 more book reviews
Features a female detective, but not like the ones in the current genre. P.D. James excels as usual.
R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 1450 more book reviews
Originally published ion 1972, the key character of the novel is Cordelia Gray, an unassuming woman detective who would fade into the background if you didn't know her. Quiet, she seems like she might be a product of the 1940s but she has inherited a detective agency where she's worked briefly. Her partner, discovering he had cancer, committed suicide and left the agency to her. After the funeral, she takes on her first solo Case. The aristocratic father of Mark Callender, a handsome young man, who supposedly hung himself but his father thinks it may be murder. A prominent scientist who didn't communicate much with his son, he wants to find out why his son might have hanged himself. She moves into the small cottage where Callender died.
Clues lead Gray on a twisting route where she discovers secrets and sins best left uncovered, especially by a sensitive goung woman. Finding that nice people sometimes do nasty things, she soon understands that she, too, is in danger of losing her life. Nevertheless, Gray questions friends of the deceased and attends events with them before she uncovers who murdered Mark Callender and why.
Clues lead Gray on a twisting route where she discovers secrets and sins best left uncovered, especially by a sensitive goung woman. Finding that nice people sometimes do nasty things, she soon understands that she, too, is in danger of losing her life. Nevertheless, Gray questions friends of the deceased and attends events with them before she uncovers who murdered Mark Callender and why.
R E K. (bigstone) - , reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 1450 more book reviews
Originally published ion 1972, the key character of the novel is Cordelia Gray, an unassuming woman detective who would fade into the background if you didn't know her. Quiet, she seems like she might be a product of the 1940s but she has inherited a detective agency where she's worked briefly. Her partner, discovering he had cancer, committed suicide and left the agency to her. After the funeral, she takes on her first solo case. The aristocratic father of Mark Callender, a handsome young man, who supposedly hung himself but his father thinks it may be murder. A prominent scientist who didn't communicate much with his son, he wants to find out why his son might have hanged himself. She moves into the small cottage where Callender died and begins her investigation.
Clues lead Gray on a twisting route where she discovers secrets and sins best left uncovered, especially by a sensitive goung woman. Finding that nice people sometimes do nasty things, she soon understands that she, too, is in danger of losing her life. Nevertheless, Gray questions friends of the deceased and attends events with them before she uncovers who murdered Mark Callender and why.
Clues lead Gray on a twisting route where she discovers secrets and sins best left uncovered, especially by a sensitive goung woman. Finding that nice people sometimes do nasty things, she soon understands that she, too, is in danger of losing her life. Nevertheless, Gray questions friends of the deceased and attends events with them before she uncovers who murdered Mark Callender and why.
ANDRE' E. J. (Expeditious) - , reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 504 more book reviews
Today's world is a funny place to look back at how the world was in this book.
This was the first P D James I ever read, when I was a teenager. It was a great introduction, and I was always sad there weren't more novels with thi sleuth.
G B. (Turtle) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 17 more book reviews
I enjoyed the retro voyage in this vintage PDJames with fun old fashioned sleuthing.
Rachel H. (professorturtle) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 11 more book reviews
Delightful puzzler. I hadn't read P.D. James before, and I'll be looking for more now.
Very interesting as P.D. James always is.
Shayna Z. (SirFransis) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 21 more book reviews
Intersting.
Rosemary F. (roro) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 48 more book reviews
young man found hanged with lipstick on his mouth and a picture of a nude woman beside him. officially suicide but father suspected murder.Hired a fledgling PI to look into it and after a very twisted path of truths abd half truths comes to a unsuspected conclusion/ I enjoy it very much.
Judy D. (bactitech) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 29 more book reviews
I thought I had read all of hers. This one was a Cordelia Gray mystery. I thought it excellent and found it hard to put down.
Eleni P. (justleni) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 127 more book reviews
A mystery.
Although the reviews are favorable, I did not find the book that engaging. Perhaps it is the genre... It was all mystery no action and I didn't feel the suspense but I here that many people like this author. Good luck.
Although the reviews are favorable, I did not find the book that engaging. Perhaps it is the genre... It was all mystery no action and I didn't feel the suspense but I here that many people like this author. Good luck.
Kieran M. (napper) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 32 more book reviews
Great mystery!
DENISE D. (DECIEDEE) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 28 more book reviews
AGATHA CHRISTIE'S CROWN PRINCESS, P.D. JAMES
Fledgling detective Cornelia Gray investigates . The official verdict is suicide, but aristocratic father suspects MURDER!
Fledgling detective Cornelia Gray investigates . The official verdict is suicide, but aristocratic father suspects MURDER!
Linda M. (fancyladylinda) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 12 more book reviews
It leads you down the wondering path and then surprises you with an appropriate ending to the crime.
One of PDJ's earlier works.
Sherry C. (sherryinmo) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 192 more book reviews
From back of book:
Handsome Mark Callender did not die the way a well-brought-up young gentleman should. He was found hanging by his neck, a lipstick stain on his mouth and a picture of a nude girl nearby. The official verdict was suicide, but his aristocratic father suspected murder, and hired a fledgling detective Cordelia Gray to investigate. As this determined young lady followed a twisting trail of guilty secrets and shameful sins, she soon reached the conclusion that the nicest people do the nastiest things -- in a case that proved at every shocking turn to be....."An Unsuitable Job for a Woman."
Handsome Mark Callender did not die the way a well-brought-up young gentleman should. He was found hanging by his neck, a lipstick stain on his mouth and a picture of a nude girl nearby. The official verdict was suicide, but his aristocratic father suspected murder, and hired a fledgling detective Cordelia Gray to investigate. As this determined young lady followed a twisting trail of guilty secrets and shameful sins, she soon reached the conclusion that the nicest people do the nastiest things -- in a case that proved at every shocking turn to be....."An Unsuitable Job for a Woman."
Sherry C. (sherryinmo) reviewed An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (Cordelia Gray, Bk 1) on + 192 more book reviews
From back of book:
Handsome Mark Callender did not die the way a well-brought-up young gentleman should. He is found hanging by his neck, a lipstick stain on his mouth and a picture of a nude girl nearby. The official verdict is suicide, but his aristocratic father suspects murder, and he hires fledgling detective Cordelia Gray to investigate. As this determined young lady follows a twisting trail of guilty secrets and shameful sins, she soon reaches the conclusion that the nicest people can do the nastiest things--in a case that proves at every shocking turn to be An Unsuitable Job For a Woman.
Handsome Mark Callender did not die the way a well-brought-up young gentleman should. He is found hanging by his neck, a lipstick stain on his mouth and a picture of a nude girl nearby. The official verdict is suicide, but his aristocratic father suspects murder, and he hires fledgling detective Cordelia Gray to investigate. As this determined young lady follows a twisting trail of guilty secrets and shameful sins, she soon reaches the conclusion that the nicest people can do the nastiest things--in a case that proves at every shocking turn to be An Unsuitable Job For a Woman.
