JudithClark I too have been used to seeing Roy Marsden as Adam Dalgleish, but changes are not always bad. I watched it on PBS recently, so it was some years after it first appeared in the UK. It was one of those "I know that person" moments that often occur while watching British programs. More recently here we have watched Mr. Shaw in the Inspector George Gently series, and here he is looking much younger! The production dates explained that confusion.I have enjoyed the two programs very much. I hope there are more. My only problem is that "Death in Holy Orders" ran for three hours from 8-11 pm. I just can't stay awake that long! A friend in the UK explained that their version is cut up into shorter episodes, perhaps hourly. This is a PBS choice, and doesn't take away from the whole production.Such a nice change from continuous gun battles and car chases!

blanche-2 I was a little surprised when I turned on this Inspector Dalgleish and found out that he is now Martin Shaw and not Roy Marsden. Worse yet, after making the character of Dalgleish so popular, P.D. James apparently told someone she likes Shaw better. How's that for gratitude.At any rate, I was so distracted by the fact that it was a new Dalgleish that it was hard at first to concentrate on the film. And it's a good one. Dalgleish returns to a seminary where he spent happy days as a teenager to see if a suicide could have been murder. The seminary is in danger of being closed, and the archdeacon who is interested in its demise is on the premises, as is the detective who accused the archdeacon of killing his wife and as a result, lost his career. When the bodies start dropping around him, Dalgleish realizes the seminary has other problems besides possibly closing.This is a multilayered story with wonderful characterizations thanks to the script and cast, including the handsome Jesse Spencer, Alan Howard, Clive Wood, and Poirot's old partner in crime, Hastings, Hugh Fraser.As for Martin Shaw, I have no memory of the Dalgleish books and Dalgleish as he is written by James. Shaw gives a very subtle, underplayed performance of a gentle man in pain from loss and afraid to reach out again. He's very good, just took some getting used to.

Darccity This excellent murder mystery by the author P. D. James, finds James' sleuth, Commander Adam Dalgleish, trying to solve a multi-murder at a remote theological seminary, ST. Anselm's, on the east coast of England. Dalgleish is played in this film by the fine British actor Martin Shaw, who appeared in The Scarlet Pimpernel with Richard E. Grant several years ago. He is terrific. You can practically see the clues swirling about in his head as he tries to figure out who killed whom. Another major actor in this film is Robert Hardy as Father Martin, who most viewers will remember as Siegfried Farnon in the old British TV series, "All Creatures Great and Small." Hardy adds class, realism and style to any production (such as Sense and Sensibility) and this is no exception. He is the most natural of actors, creating totally believable characters. There are many smaller plot tidbits, such as the fact that St. Anselm's is about to go under for lack of funds. It has a number of artworks which the archdeacon wants to get his hands on, including an altar piece by Rogier van der Wyden.....all of these plots and clues make for a very entertaining film. Why was Treeves upset the day he died? Was his death a murder, suicide or simply an accident? What about the gardener Eric, who makes love to his sister? They definitely have something to hide. Who amongst the fathers or teachers is abusing young students, and why is Raphael, the head boy, so sure that the archdeacon killed his wife? What about Emma, the female teacher? Can she break into the shell Adam has built around himself to dull the pain of the death of his wife and child in childbirth? Can Adam trust Emma? Can Adam trust Father Martin, who seemed so happy to see him but who holds a valuable papyrus scroll in a secret place and will not give it up until his death? The fact that the cliffs periodically fall into the sea and have already gobbled up several villages medieval villages whose church bells, they say, can be heard ringing during the lonely nights creates a sinister feeling. Race against Dalgleish and see if you can spot the clues and solve the murders first! Happy sleuthing!

debbie-97 I have never been fan of murder mysteries, like Miss Maple and Inspector Morse.I usually lose interest half way through. I wanted to see this drama after buying the book by PD James and because i never got round to reading it. I decided to watch the drama.The acting was first class, especially Jesse Spencer character Raphael Arbuthnot. I had only ever seen him in Neighbours. His English accent was very convincing and his acting on whole was nothing short of superb.The drama is three hours long. It was showed over two nights in England. I set the recorder. It is a great piece of drama to watch, compelling viewing. I was never bored. They are so many various characters all at some point who will become suspects in Adam Dalglish investigation. He is the PD James creation. And like all detectives he draws the audience into the drama as he goes about solving the crime.I don't want to give any of the plot away. The drama is set in the East Anglian coast at a Theological College, where men train to become priest. Adam Dalgish is called to investigate, after the death of one of the students and after the boy's wealthy Father insist on knowing what happened to his son. No sooner Adam Dalgish arrives, there are more murders.If you like dramas set in the country with murder and mystery, then you should like this drama. It might not be to everyone's taste. If you prefer fast senseless violence, with no plot to follow then this won't be for you. But if you like intelligent writing and are willing to sit it out to the end, then this is for you. I enjoyed it and any Jesse Spencer fans, like myself, will enjoy it. As his character is central to the plot.