THE PERFECT INTRODUCTION TO THE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE 'QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME' (Guardian)

'Neat and startling . . . P. D. James is simply a wonderful writer.' New York Times

'A totally absorbing book that is beautifully written. The plot as always hooks you in and P. D. James's command of language is beguiling. One of those books you want to keep forever.' 5* reader review

'Excellent: a genuine page-turner.' 5* reader review

PERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS
__________________________________________________________________________________

Adam Dalgliesh has never failed to solve a case - yet.

A piercing scream shatters the evening calm, bringing Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh hurrying to the Steen Psychiatric Clinic, where he discovers the body of a woman sprawled on the basement floor, a chisel through her heart.

The building was locked, and no-one has been able to enter or leave since the murder, so it seems to Dalgliesh that the killer must be one of the shocked group waiting to meet him. But he quickly discovers an intricate web of lies and grudges among both patients and staff which threatens to derail the investigation.

And as Dalgliesh works to uncover the truth, the murderer is preparing to strike again . . .
__________________________________________________________________________________

'Another belter from P. D. James. With stunning prose and the brilliant character of Dalgliesh at the helm, it's another winner.' 5* reader review

'A great whodunnit and I also love the social history as this was written/published circa 1963. Defo recommend.' 5* reader review

'Highly recommended.' Daily Telegraph

**Now a major Channel 5 series**
__________________________________________________________________________________

READERS LOVE THE ADAM DALGLEISH SERIES:

'Adam Dalgleish is one of the best characters in modern detective fiction.' 5* reader review

'If you are not already an Adam Dalgliesh fan, I urge you to become one . . . James can describe a scene or delineate a character with precision and depth, like no other writer I have read . . . I usually stay up all night to read a P. D. James novel once I start one.' 5* reader review

'I would never give less than 5 stars to any P. D. James book. She is one of a kind, always constant, always wonderful writing, always great characters, and always a good mystery that you cannot put down.' 5* reader review

'P. D. James writes mysteries for ordinary people. Her characters are relatable and her hero is dynamic. But don't expect cell phones or computers. Her stories are strictly old school, which is what I love about them.' 5* reader review

'Crime writing at its very best!' 5* reader review

PRAISE FOR P. D. JAMES:

'A legend.' VAL MCDERMID

'Masterful.' MICK HERRON

'James manages a depth and intelligence that few in her trade can match.' THE TIMES

'One of the literary greats. Her sense of place was exquisite, characterisation and plotting unrivalled.' MARI HANNAH

'There are very few thriller writers who can compete with P. D. James at her best.' SPECTATOR

'P. D. James [was] simply a wonderful writer.' NEW YORK TIMES

'The queen of English crime.' GUARDIAN

The perfect introduction to the multimillion-copy bestselling Adam Dalgliesh series from the 'Queen of English crime' (Guardian) - perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Ruth Rendell and Elly Griffiths

About the Author

P. D. James was a bestselling and internationally acclaimed crime writer. She was the creator of Adam Dalgliesh and Cordelia Gray, and their long and successful series of mysteries. Her works include Cover Her Face (1962), An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (1972), Innocent Blood (1980), Children of Men (1992), and the Jane Austen-inspired Death Comes to Pemberley (2011).

James was born in Oxford in 1920. She won awards for crime writing in Britain, America, Italy and Scandinavia, including the Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Award. She received honorary degrees from seven British universities, was awarded an OBE in 1983 and created a life peer in 1991. In 1997 she was elected President of the Society of Authors, and stood down from this role in 2013.

Book Information
ISBN 9780571350780
Author P. D. James
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Faber & Faber
Publisher Faber & Faber
Weight(grams) 233g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 130mm * 18mm