Tundraco's Daily Living Guide to Book Reviews

Talking About Detective Fiction By P. D. James Knopf, 2009, 208 pages ISBN 10: 0307592820 ISBN 13: 978-0307592828

Reviewed by Israel Drazin - December 11, 2009

Imagine Copernicus explaining astronomy to you, or Einstein teaching you physics, or Moses clarifying difficult biblical passages that confused clergy and prompted discord and even wars. Imagine also that the expert could write clearly, interestingly and with wit, such as Sigmund Freud explaining the principles of psychology with examples from fascinating case studies.

This is what happens with P.D. James' marvelous book. James is the queen of modern detective fiction, certainly, without any doubt, one of the royal family.

James states that mystery novels are composed of several basic elements: a crime, usually murder; a small circle of suspects, each having a motive to commit the crime; opportunity; a detective; and a solution that is inserted into the novel with deceptive cunning, but with fairness. The last point means that readers will realize when they hear the detective's solution that the solution fits what was disclosed previously in the novel.

James describes the differences between detective stories, thrillers and horror tales. Each genre has its own elements and its own purposes. A reader who knows the elements and purposes can appreciate the tale better. Detective stories, she writes, do not, or at least should not, investigate a murder or another crime; nor should they dwell on the bizarre happenings; they should focus on the tragic fate of the people involved.

James describes the history of detective fiction and introduces her readers to over a dozen of the best writers, generally focusing on British women. She gives special attention to Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham and Ngaio Marsh. She discusses the strength and weaknesses of these stories, their history, psychology and sociology.

James is not reluctant to reveal her opinions on the authors she dislikes. She describes Agatha Christie disparagingly. She states that her style is neither original nor elegant and she is not a very good writer. Her characters are pasteboards. James writes cleverly: "Perhaps her greatest strength was that she never overstepped the limits of her talent."

Scholars, she reveals, differ as to who wrote the first detective story. Some say it was Caleb Williams in 1784. Some insist it was Edgar Allan Poe who invented the genre in 1841 with The Murder in Rue Morgue. Others vote for Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone in 1860. James prefers the latter. She tells the fascinating true story that prompted The Moonstone.

James identifies the first great detective as the iconic Sherlock Holmes who Conan Doyle introduced in 1887 in A Study in Scarlet. Doyle was so enthralled and naïve that he sold his rights to this masterpiece for twenty five pounds.

James awards second place to G. K. Chesterton who began his Father Brown series in 1911. The tales were so delightful that few readers realized that they were never told the priest's first name.

James' book addresses many interesting questions. Why do some critics disparage some or all detective stories? What about these books attracts readers? Can people read detective stories more than once with pleasure? Do Protestants enjoy the books more than Catholics? How do readers experience relief of tensions? Why do many people like to read these tension filled novels in bed before sleeping? How do today's detective stories differ from those written in the past?

Those readers who enjoy deductive fiction will enjoy James' perceptive descriptions of it written with the same verve that she employs in her dramas.

Dr. Israel Drazin is the author of fifteen books, including a series of five volumes on the Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible and a series of four books on the twelfth century philosopher Moses Maimonides, the latest being Maimonides: Reason Above All, published by Gefen Publishing House, www.israelbooks.com.