Book Review: An Unsuitable Job for a Woman is the first of P.D. (Phyllis Dorothy) James' "Cordelia Gray" mysteries. Sadly, there were only two. For James fans her better known, but less interesting (don't trust me, I've only read his first book), detective, Chief Superintendent Dalgliesh makes a challenging cameo. Cordelia may be untried but she's no pushover, and is willing to take on both physical challenges and to test the limits of the law. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman is well plotted, compelling, and a cross between a cozy and a hard-boiled mystery (okay, maybe cozier than not, but still ...). The mystery is good, the writing excellent, continued reading was required. James is brilliant at throwing in some new twist, trick, or peril just when the reader begins to settle in comfortably. James also shares her wisdom and insight into people and life; the book is surprisingly and rewardingly philosophical. Rather than the cliche that we must understand the past to understand the present, James states that "we interpret the past through our knowledge of the present." Beyond that, I also saw a certain joy and freedom in James' writing, at finally being able to write from the perspective of her lead character as a woman. Reminded me a bit of Robert Galbraith's The Cuckoo's Calling. One quibble: Ms. Gray quickly deciphers a clue that I could not have solved in a year. Or ten. I very much relished An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. Now off to find Cordelia Gray's second (and final?) adventure, The Skull Beneath the Skin. [4★]
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