As much as I enjoy reading P.D. James and especially the Adam Dalgliesh series, I found myself slogginng through the book. I nearly put it down. The plot is uninteresting and I found it difficult to care about any of the priests, ordinands, staff or guests of St. Anselm's (with a few exceptions). If you are new to the Dalgliesh series, you would be better off reading "Cover Her Face" or "Devices and Desires."