Cover Her Face

by P.D. James
Cover Her Face cover
Good Books rating 4.25
Crime, Mystery, Thriller/Suspense
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  • ID: 8895
  • Added: 2025-12-22
  • Updated: 2025-12-22
  • ISBN: 9780743219570
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2001-05-01
  • Reviews: 3

Headstrong and beautiful, Sally Jupp's life is cut short in a locked room, her death sparking a web of intrigue and suspicion. The novel's intricate plot and atmospheric setting immediately established P. D. James as a master of suspense, with her coolly brilliant detective Adam Dalgliesh navigating a labyrinth of motives and alibis. /n/n Cover Her Face is a classic whodunit, blending psychological depth with a compelling narrative, showcasing James's keen understanding of human nature and her ability to craft a mystery that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

Reviews
The Cozy Owlet · The Cozy Owlet · 2024-01-16
compelling 4.25

The novel is described as a Very English Mystery with modern elements. The reviewer appreciates the intricate plot and well-crafted characters.

The Cozy Owlet describes Cover Her Face as a Very English Mystery with modern elements. They appreciate the intricate plot and well-crafted characters, making it a compelling read. The reviewer highlights the atmospheric setting and the way James builds suspense throughout the novel. They find the characters to be well-developed and the plot to be engaging, making it a standout in the mystery genre.

Quick quotes

    From the very start of Cover Her Face, two things are clear: 1) this is a Very English Mystery; and 2) it is a Very Modern One.

    The characters are well-drawn and the plot is ingeniously constructed.

    The atmospheric setting and the way James builds suspense throughout the novel.

Loulou Reads · Loulou · 2021-07-03
accomplished 4.50

The debut novel is praised for its deft writing and avoidance of common mystery pitfalls. The reviewer finds it accomplished and well-crafted.

Loulou from Loulou Reads finds Cover Her Face to be a very accomplished debut novel. They appreciate the deft writing and how James avoids common mistakes in mystery writing. The reviewer highlights the well-crafted plot and the engaging characters, making it a standout in the genre. They particularly enjoy the way James builds suspense and keeps the reader guessing.

Quick quotes

    For a debut novel, I thought this was very accomplished.

    The writing is deft, and James steers clear of the mistake lots of mystery writers make.

    The characters are well-drawn and the plot is ingeniously constructed.

Patrick Treardon · Patrick Treardon · 2018-01-16
engaging 4.00

The novel is reminiscent of Agatha Christie's style, with a hothouse atmosphere and intricate plot. The characters are well-developed, adding depth to the mystery.

Patrick Treardon highlights the novel's similarity to Agatha Christie's works, noting the hothouse quality and intricate plot. The characters are well-developed, adding depth to the mystery. The reviewer appreciates the classic mystery elements and the way James crafts her debut novel. They find the setting and character interactions particularly engaging, making it a compelling read for mystery lovers.

Quick quotes

    Cover Her Face is very much of the Christie genre.

    There is a hothouse quality to the novel, set as it is in a claustrophobic English village.

    James steers clear of the mistake lots of mystery writers make.

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