P.D. James: A Mind to Murder (1995)

Commander Adam Dalgliesh (Roy Marsden) finds himself caught in a whirlwind of political intrigue, blackmail and deceit when he is called to investigate a savage killing at the Steen Clinic, a discreet psychiatric and drug abuse treatment center for the elite. He arrives at the scene under strict orders to conduct a quick investigation. As the pressure mounts to name the murderer, Dalgliesh senses a cover up among his superiors, hostility from the staff and a growing fear that the killer will strike again.

Roy Marsden Defined the Character

While the miniseries-length TV productions of the P.D. James Dalgliesh stories (e.g. "Death of an Expert Witness," "Shroud for a Nightingale") provided more time for plot and character development, this 101-minute adaptation of "A Mind to Murder" exhibits far better production values than many of the earlier entries. It's not the best in the series, but it's still great fun to watch for those who enjoy the British whodunnits. Roy Marsden defined the lead character, setting a high bar for the fine actor Martin Shaw, who took over the role in 2003's "Death in Holy Orders." Marsden's Dalgleish is a calm, thoughtful man who remains in control even while the bodies are dropping around him and the suspects grow weirder and weirder. He infuses the character with a quiet but tough decency. September 13, 2008

Terrible actor

I love British mysteries and detective stories. This story was OK except for the lead actor he is the dullest,corniest British actor I have ever seen. He ruined the movie by his presence. August 16, 2008

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