If I had watched this without having read the book, I'm sure I would have liked it more. But it pales in comparison to the book. As another reviewer mentioned, the film removes the whole premise of Dalgleish visiting his aunt on the Suffolk coast, taking some time off to sort out his feelings for Deborah Riscoe. Accordingly, it removes Dalgleish's Aunt Jane (an interesting character) and inserts Riscoe into the action. While I like the Riscoe character, she seems extraneous here.
The character that's the most different compared to the book is Sylvia Kedge. Here, she seems pathetic and pitiable. In the book, she's manipulative, calculating, and flat-out murderous, especially in the climactic scene with Dalgleish on the roof of Tanner's Cottage. One element that was removed in this adaptation is the tape recording dictated by Kedge in which she explains her reasons for the killing the Setons. This is one of my favorite parts of the novel: hearing Kedge speak, as it were, from beyond the grave. Very creepy.
All in all, this is worth watching but don't expect a faithful rendering of the book. Marsden is wonderful as always. I miss Inspector Massingham (John Vine)!
The character that's the most different compared to the book is Sylvia Kedge. Here, she seems pathetic and pitiable. In the book, she's manipulative, calculating, and flat-out murderous, especially in the climactic scene with Dalgleish on the roof of Tanner's Cottage. One element that was removed in this adaptation is the tape recording dictated by Kedge in which she explains her reasons for the killing the Setons. This is one of my favorite parts of the novel: hearing Kedge speak, as it were, from beyond the grave. Very creepy.
All in all, this is worth watching but don't expect a faithful rendering of the book. Marsden is wonderful as always. I miss Inspector Massingham (John Vine)!