Day 1 - My Xmas Month Countdown - A Book and a Song

So here we go. It's early morning December 1st and since I'm up and about to relax with a few good books or maybe doze off again, here are my first two selections. Number 25 of my favorite books read in 2019 and Number 25 favorite song on my USB...

Book 25

P.D. James

Death in Holy Orders by P.D. James. James lived from 1920 - 2014 and wrote one of my favorite ongoing mystery series, that which featured Police Commander Adam Dalgleish. She wrote 14 books in this series and to-date I've read 4, not in any particular order and also one of her standalone novels.

Death in Holy Orders is the 11th book in the series.

"Death In Holy Orders is the 11th book in the Inspector Dalgliesh mystery series by P.D. James. It's the 4th I've read. The books are a joy to read, intelligent, thoughtful and excellent mysteries. Commander Adam Dalgliesh works for Scotland Yard, in charge of a prestigious murder team.

In this story, Dalgliesh is asked to go to a seminary near Norfolk to look into a previously closed death. A young ordinand had been found dead at the base of a cliff. The death is deemed to be death by accident. The young man's father wants Scotland Yard to investigate. Since Dalgliesh is about to go to the area on vacation so he agrees to look into the case. It also turns out that as a child, his father being a parson, that Dalgliesh spent time at St Anselms and it becomes somewhat a visit into his past.

The story starts in the past with the original discovery of the boy's body by Margaret Munroe, an elderly woman who works at St Anselms. This part of the story is told through the means of Margaret's diary. She ends it with a statement that the death concerns her and that it reminds her of something that occurred in her past. Margaret is discovered dead the day after this last entry.

So there are two deaths that Dalgliesh looks into, wondering if they are related? At the same time the Arch Bishop responsible for St Anselms is coming for a visit. He is most unlikeable and wants nothing more than to close the seminary. There are also other visitors to St Anselms and there are links between them all. Another death, this time a murder, brings all of Dalgliesh's team into the case; DI Piers Tarrant, DI Kate Miskin and DS Robbins.

Thus begins an interesting investigation as the team try to find clues to the murder and to see if the other deaths are in any way related. I love the way James presents the story, delving into the personalities, in a way that you feel you know them and presenting the investigation methodically and neatly. James has such a clear manner of presenting the story. I thought it would be too long but the pages turn quickly and the story holds your attention and keeps you moving along nicely. Don't expect much action, just a well-crafted, excellent mystery and just an excellent piece of fiction. (4 stars)"

Song 25

Post Malone

Post Malone - Circles

Austin Richard Post, AKA Post Malone, is an American rapper / song writer from Syracuse NY. His debut album, Stoney, came out in 2016. The song, Circles was released in 2019 from his Hollywood's Bleeding album and reached #1 on the US charts and #3 on the UK charts.

So there you go, Day 1 is posted. I hope you enjoy. I may do another post later today with my summary of November Reading. See you then.