P. D. James

THE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE ‘QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME’ (Guardian) ‘A legend.’ VAL MCDERMID‘P. D. James took the classic crime novel and turned up the dial.’ MICK HERRON‘She has never written better.’ SUNDAY TELEGRAPHPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________I don’t think I’m being fanciful – there is something strange about this death.When the body of a theology student is found on a desolate stretch of coast in East Anglia, his wealthy father demands that Scotland Yard re-examine the verdict of accidental death. Commander Adam Dalgliesh reluctantly agrees to visit the young man''s theological college, St Anselm''s – a place he visited as a boy. He expects no more than a nostalgic return to old haunts and a straightforward examination of the evidence. Instead, he finds himself embroiled in intrigue, secrets and mystery as the college is torn apart by a sacrilegious and horrifying murder . . .__________________________________________________________________________________‘Vivid, dark, very believable.’ 5* reader review‘Classic James . . . beautifully done.’ The Times‘P. D. James is unbeatable . . . a gripping, mesmerizing, no-holds-barred whodunit!’ 5* reader review**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 reviewPRAISE FOR P. D. JAMES:‘P. D. James is the creme de la creme of crime writers. Her books are shrewd puzzles, full of wit and depth.’ IAN RANKIN‘Nobody can put the reader in the eye of the storm quite like P. D. James.’ SUNDAY EXPRESS‘One of the literary greats. Her sense of place was exquisite, characterisation and plotting unrivalled.’ MARI HANNAH‘James manages a depth and intelligence that few in her trade can match.’ THE TIMES‘There are very few thriller writers who can compete with P. D. James at her best.’ SPECTATOR‘The queen of English crime.’ GUARDIAN

THE MULTIMILLION-COPY BESTSELLING ADAM DALGLIESH SERIES FROM THE ‘QUEEN OF ENGLISH CRIME’ (Guardian) ‘A legend.’ VAL MCDERMID‘Effortlessly entertaining.’ THE TIMES‘P. D. James took the classic crime novel and turned up the dial.’ MICK HERRONPERFECT FOR FANS OF VAL MCDERMID, RUTH RENDELL AND ELLY GRIFFITHS__________________________________________________________________________________Dalgliesh’s team are never called in to a commonplace murder.When the notorious investigative journalist, Rhoda Gradwyn, books into a private clinic in Dorset for the removal of a disfiguring scar, she has every chance of a successful operation and the beginning of a new life – but she won’t leave Cheverell Manor alive.After her murder, and with the future of the clinic at risk, Dalgliesh and his team are shown every courtesy – but the case raises far more complicated problems than merely the question of innocence or guilt . . .__________________________________________________________________________________‘P. D. James at the very top of her game . . . what we have here is a good old-fashioned country house murder.’ 5* reader review‘Compelling read! I picked this up on holiday and was immediately hooked. A classic crime novel.’ 5* reader review‘Ranks among the masterpieces of British crime writing.’ SPECTATOR**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 reviewPRAISE FOR P. D. JAMES:‘P. D. James is the creme de la creme of crime writers. Her books are shrewd puzzles, full of wit and depth.’ IAN RANKIN‘Nobody can put the reader in the eye of the storm quite like P. D. James.’ SUNDAY EXPRESS‘One of the literary greats. Her sense of place was exquisite, characterisation and plotting unrivalled.’ MARI HANNAH‘James manages a depth and intelligence that few in her trade can match.’ THE TIMES‘There are very few thriller writers who can compete with P. D. James at her best.’ SPECTATOR‘The queen of English crime.’ GUARDIAN

Adam Dalgliesh főfelügyelőt kellemes irodalmi partiról hívják a tetthelyre, és egy női holttestet talál, akinek vésőt döftek a szívébe. A Steen Pszichiátriai Klinika állítólag London egyik legjobb hírű intézménye. A nő a klinikán dolgozott. Úgy tűnik, a látszat csal, de a Steen klinika kemény diónak bizonyul. Dalgliesh a páciensekkel és a személyzettel találja szemben magát, miközben küzd, hogy leleplezze a hidegvérű gyilkost, aki hamarosan talán újra lesújt. Adam Dalgliesht, a Scotland Yard főfelügyelőjét a kiadónknál megjelent Takard el az arcát! című regényből már ismerheti az olvasó. A Gyilkos szándék P. D. James sorrendben második krimije, amelyben a főfelügyelő nyomoz. P. D. James (1920–2014) az angol krimi klasszikusa, akit olvasók tízmilliói zártak a szívükbe. Évtizedeken át a rendőrség munkatársa volt, és tapasztalatait felhasználta regényeiben. Az USA-tól Olaszországon és Skandinávián át számos országban elnyert díjakat. Hét brit egyetem tüntette ki tiszteletbeli fokozattal, és 1983-ban a királynő lovaggá ütötte. „Igazi ínycsiklandozó krimi.” – Chicago Daily News „A szakma legrafináltabb, mesteri művelője.” – Washington Post „A leginkább vérfagyasztó szerzők egyike.” – Observer

Detektivka Pachuť smrti vyšla v roce 1986, proto v ní nenajdeme výdobytky moderních technologií, jako jsou mobilní telefony, počítače či nejnovější poznatky forenzních věd, a postupy kriminalistů nám mohou připadat poněkud naivní. Jsou ovšem věci, které se v čase nemění. Lidské vášně, touhy, sobecká přání i ochota prosadit je za jakoukoli cenu zůstávají motivací strašných činů bez ohledu na dobu. P. D. Jamesová nás v této knize zavádí do vysoké politiky. Jako doživotní členka Sněmovny lordů znala toto prostředí dobře. Proč se úspěšný ministr a možný kandidát na premiéra ze dne na den vzdá politické kariéry? Je něco pravdy na bulvárních klepech o záhadných úmrtích dvou mladých žen, které se vyskytovaly v jeho blízkosti? A kdo by měl prospěch z jeho pádu a smrti? Nevěrná manželka a její milenec, či příživnický švagr? Dcera a její levicová buňka? Podivná hospodyně jeho neméně podivínské matky? Političtí spolupracovníci, či rivalové? Anebo je vše jinak? Tuto spleť otázek musí rozmotat detektiv Dalgliesh spolu se svou novou podřízenou Kate. Vyšetřování je vede z chudé paddingtonské farnosti až do nejvyšších kruhů. Je třeba našlapovat opatrně, protože média číhají na každou chybu. A nejen média. Člověk, který už nejméně jednou zabil, se nebude rozpakovat udeřit podruhé. A v nebezpečí se mohou ocitnout sami vyšetřovatelé...

The acknowledged 'Queen of Crime', P. D. James, was a past master of the short story, weaving together motifs of the Golden Age of crime-writing with deep psychological insight to create gripping, suspenseful tales. The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories contained four of these perfectly formed stories, and this companion volume contains a further six, published here together for the first time. As the six murderous tales unfold, the dark motive of revenge is revealed at the heart of each. Bullying schoolmasters receive their comeuppance, unhappy marriages and childhoods are avenged, a murder in the small hours of Christmas Day puts an end to the vicious new lord of the manor, and, from the safety of his nursing home, an octogenarian exerts exquisite retribution. The punishments inflicted on the guilty are fittingly severe, but here they are meted out by the unseen forces of natural justice rather than the institutions of the law. Once again, P. D. James shows her expert control of the short-story form, conjuring motives and scenarios with complete conviction, and each with a satisfying twist in the tail.