A Taste for DeathA Taste for Death
Score Classic
What it's about
In the vestry of a London church, two bodies are found with their throats cut: a government minister and a neighborhood vagrant. How did they come to die together? Commander Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard explores a sinister web of motives, involving a half-burned diary and a pregnant, malicious widow.
Why it's worth reading
It was an Edgar Award finalist. P. D. James is one of the great masters of the English mystery.
You'll love it if you liked
Devices and Desires
The Private Patient
The MoonstoneGood to know
It's long and richly detailed, more literary than most detective novels.
By the numbers
- Readers48 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller15 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #214 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #374 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #607 of the 762 classics we rank
- #2121 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Thought-provoking, Adventurous
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The Tainted CupExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is A Taste for Death worth reading?
Yes. It was an Edgar Award finalist. It ranks #2,121 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Taste for Death about?
In the vestry of a London church, two bodies are found with their throats cut: a government minister and a neighborhood vagrant. How did they come to die together? Commander Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard explores a sinister web of motives, involving a half-burned diary and a pregnant, malicious widow.
How long does it take to read A Taste for Death?
About 12 hours (480 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Taste for Death?
If you liked it, try Devices and Desires by P. D. James, The Private Patient by P. D. James or The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.