About the Author

P. D. James is the author of fourteen previous books, nine of which have been filmed and broadcast on television. She spent thirty years in various sections of the British Civil Service, including the Police and Criminal Law Departments of the Home Office. She has served as a magistrate and as a governor of the BBC. P. D. James is the recipient of many prizes and honors, and in 1991 was created Baroness James of Holland Park.

Reviews

"A magnificent novel. . . . Incomparably perfect." --USA Today

"A glorious plum pudding of a whodunit." --NPR, Fresh Air

"The queen of mystery has taken on the queen of literature, [and] the combination sings. . . . [James'] elegance and sly wit are in top form." --The Plain Dealer "The greatest pleasure of this novel is its unforced, effortless, effective voice... Not infrequently . . . one succumbs to the impression that it is Austen herself at the keyboard." --The New York Times Book Review

"[James] is the greatest living writer of British crime fiction, and probably that genre's most talented practitioner ever." --The New York Times "A novel of manners par excellence." --The Boston Globe "A major treat for any fan of Jane Austen . . . [and] a solidly entertaining period mystery." --The Washington Post "A novel of dark intrigue. . . . [which] Ms. James presents with informed assurance and in fine period detail." --The Wall Street Journal "If you appreciate mysteries as well as the Mighty Jane, this pleasant entertainment will do nicely. . . . It is a universe of dark meanings [and] hidden relationships." --Los Angeles Times

"James rises well above the ever-growing pack of Austen-inspired authors, not only for her intimate familiarity with Austen's work, but for her faultless replication of time, place and, most notably, Austen's trademark writing style." --Newark Star-Ledger "With well-laid clues, James weaves a credible tale with a satisfying conclusion. . . . She stamps this enticing blend of two authors' minds with her formidable intelligence and the generosity of spirit that has marked all her work." --Richmond Times Dispatch "Dazzling . . . Meticulously plotted . . . In my view Death Comes to Pemberley is as good as anything P.D. James has written and that is very high praise indeed... Long may she continue to delight and surprise us." --Simon Brett, Sunday Express "Brimming with astute appreciation, inventiveness and narrative zest, Death Comes to Pemberley is an elegantly gauged homage to Austen and an exhilarating tribute to the inexhaustible vitality of James's imagination." --The Sunday Times (London)

"James takes Pride and Prejudice to places it never dreamed of, and does so with a charm that will beguile even the most demanding Janeite." --London Evening Standard "The final working-out shows all James's customary ingenuity. . . . The stylistic pastiche is remarkably accomplished." --Kirkus Reviews "A pleasing and agreeable sequel... Historical mystery buffs and Jane Austen fans alike will welcome this homage... Attentive readers will eagerly seek out clues to the delightfully complex mystery, which involves many hidden motives and dark secrets." --Publishers Weekly "Satisfying. . . . [James is] an impeccable stylist and a psychological ins-and-outs maven." --The Huffington Post

A magnificent novel. . . . Incomparably perfect. USA Today

A glorious plum pudding of a whodunit. NPR, Fresh Air

The queen of mystery has taken on the queen of literature, [and] the combination sings. . . . [James ] elegance and sly wit are in top form. The Plain Dealer
The greatest pleasure of this novel is its unforced, effortless, effective voice Not infrequently . . . one succumbs to the impression that it is Austen herself at the keyboard. The New York Times Book Review

[James] is the greatest living writer of British crime fiction, and probably that genre s most talented practitioner ever. The New York Times
A novel of manners par excellence. The Boston Globe
A major treat for any fan of Jane Austen . . . [and] a solidly entertaining period mystery. The Washington Post
A novel of dark intrigue. . . . [which] Ms. James presents with informed assurance and in fine period detail. The Wall Street Journal
If you appreciate mysteries as well as the Mighty Jane, this pleasant entertainment will do nicely. . . . It is a universe of dark meanings [and] hidden relationships. Los Angeles Times

James rises well above the ever-growing pack of Austen-inspired authors, not only for her intimate familiarity with Austen s work, but for her faultless replication of time, place and, most notably, Austen s trademark writing style. Newark Star-Ledger
With well-laid clues, James weaves a credible tale with a satisfying conclusion. . . . She stamps this enticing blend of two authors minds with her formidable intelligence and the generosity of spirit that has marked all her work. Richmond Times Dispatch
Dazzling . . . Meticulously plotted . . . In my view Death Comes to Pemberley is as good as anything P.D. James has written and that is very high praise indeed Long may she continue to delight and surprise us. Simon Brett, Sunday Express
Brimming with astute appreciation, inventiveness and narrative zest, Death Comes to Pemberley is an elegantly gauged homage to Austen and an exhilarating tribute to the inexhaustible vitality of James s imagination. The Sunday Times (London)

James takes Pride and Prejudice to places it never dreamed of, and does so with a charm that will beguile even the most demanding Janeite. London Evening Standard
The final working-out shows all James s customary ingenuity. . . . The stylistic pastiche is remarkably accomplished. Kirkus Reviews
A pleasing and agreeable sequel Historical mystery buffs and Jane Austen fans alike will welcome this homage Attentive readers will eagerly seek out clues to the delightfully complex mystery, which involves many hidden motives and dark secrets. Publishers Weekly
Satisfying. . . . [James is] an impeccable stylist and a psychological ins-and-outs maven. The Huffington Post"

A magnificent novel. . . . Incomparably perfect. "USA Today
"
A glorious plum pudding of a whodunit. NPR, "Fresh Air
"
The queen of mystery has taken on the queen of literature, [and] the combination sings. . . . [James ] elegance and sly wit are in top form. "The Plain Dealer"
The greatest pleasure of this novel is its unforced, effortless, effective voice Not infrequently . . . one succumbs to the impression that it is Austen herself at the keyboard. "The New York Times Book Review
"
[James] is the greatest living writer of British crime fiction, and probably that genre s most talented practitioner ever. "The New York Times"
A novel of manners par excellence. "The Boston Globe"
A major treat for any fan of Jane Austen . . . [and] a solidly entertaining period mystery. "The Washington Post"
A novel of dark intrigue. . . . [which] Ms. James presents with informed assurance and in fine period detail. "The Wall Street Journal"
If you appreciate mysteries as well as the Mighty Jane, this pleasant entertainment will do nicely. . . . It is a universe of dark meanings [and] hidden relationships. "Los Angeles Times
"
James rises well above the ever-growing pack of Austen-inspired authors, not only for her intimate familiarity with Austen s work, but for her faultless replication of time, place and, most notably, Austen s trademark writing style. "Newark Star-Ledger"
With well-laid clues, James weaves a credible tale with a satisfying conclusion. . . . She stamps this enticing blend of two authors minds with her formidable intelligence and the generosity of spirit that has marked all her work. "Richmond Times Dispatch"
Dazzling . . . Meticulously plotted . . . In my view "Death Comes to Pemberley" is as good as anything P.D. James has written and that is very high praise indeed Long may she continue to delight and surprise us. Simon Brett, "Sunday Express"
Brimming with astute appreciation, inventiveness and narrative zest, "Death Comes to Pemberley" is an elegantly gauged homage to Austen and an exhilarating tribute to the inexhaustible vitality of James s imagination. "The" "Sunday Times" (London)
""
James takes "Pride and Prejudice" to places it never dreamed of, and does so with a charm that will beguile even the most demanding Janeite. "London Evening Standard"
The final working-out shows all James s customary ingenuity. . . . The stylistic pastiche is remarkably accomplished. "Kirkus Reviews"
A pleasing and agreeable sequel Historical mystery buffs and Jane Austen fans alike will welcome this homage Attentive readers will eagerly seek out clues to the delightfully complex mystery, which involves many hidden motives and dark secrets. "Publishers Weekly"
Satisfying. . . . [James is] an impeccable stylist and a psychological ins-and-outs maven. "The Huffington Post""

Historical mystery buffs and Jane Austen fans alike will welcome this homage to the author of Pride and Prejudice from MWA Grand Master James, best known for her Adam Dalgliesh detective series (The Private Patient, etc.). In the autumn of 1803, six years after the events that closed Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth Darcy, the happily married mistress of Pemberley House, is preparing for Lady Anne's annual ball, "regarded by the county as the most important social event of the year." Alas, the evening before the ball, Elizabeth's sister Lydia, who married the feckless Wickham, bursts into the house to announce that Captain Denny, a militia officer, has shot her husband dead in the woodland on the estate. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam, who purists may note behaves inconsistently with Austen's original, head out in a chaise to investigate. Attentive readers will eagerly seek out clues to the delightfully complex mystery, which involves many hidden motives and dark secrets, not least of them in the august Darcy family. In contrast to Pride and Prejudice, where emotion is typically conveyed through indirect speech, characters are much more open about their feelings, giving a contemporary ring to James's pleasing and agreeable sequel. 300,000 first printing. Agent: Carol Heaton, Greene & Heaton Ltd. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

"A magnificent novel. . . . Incomparably perfect." --USA Today

"A glorious plum pudding of a whodunit." --NPR, Fresh Air

"The queen of mystery has taken on the queen of literature, [and] the combination sings. . . . [James'] elegance and sly wit are in top form." --The Plain Dealer

"The greatest pleasure of this novel is its unforced, effortless, effective voice... Not infrequently . . . one succumbs to the impression that it is Austen herself at the keyboard." --The New York Times Book Review

"[James] is the greatest living writer of British crime fiction, and probably that genre's most talented practitioner ever." --The New York Times "A novel of manners par excellence." --The Boston Globe "A major treat for any fan of Jane Austen . . . [and] a solidly entertaining period mystery." --The Washington Post "A novel of dark intrigue. . . . [which] Ms. James presents with informed assurance and in fine period detail." --The Wall Street Journal "If you appreciate mysteries as well as the Mighty Jane, this pleasant entertainment will do nicely. . . . It is a universe of dark meanings [and] hidden relationships." --Los Angeles Times

"James rises well above the ever-growing pack of Austen-inspired authors, not only for her intimate familiarity with Austen's work, but for her faultless replication of time, place and, most notably, Austen's trademark writing style." --Newark Star-Ledger "With well-laid clues, James weaves a credible tale with a satisfying conclusion. . . . She stamps this enticing blend of two authors' minds with her formidable intelligence and the generosity of spirit that has marked all her work." --Richmond Times Dispatch "Dazzling . . . Meticulously plotted . . . In my view Death Comes to Pemberley is as good as anything P.D. James has written and that is very high praise indeed... Long may she continue to delight and surprise us." --Simon Brett, Sunday Express "Brimming with astute appreciation, inventiveness and narrative zest, Death Comes to Pemberley is an elegantly gauged homage to Austen and an exhilarating tribute to the inexhaustible vitality of James's imagination." --The Sunday Times (London)

"James takes Pride and Prejudice to places it never dreamed of, and does so with a charm that will beguile even the most demanding Janeite." --London Evening Standard "The final working-out shows all James's customary ingenuity. . . . The stylistic pastiche is remarkably accomplished." --Kirkus Reviews "A pleasing and agreeable sequel... Historical mystery buffs and Jane Austen fans alike will welcome this homage... Attentive readers will eagerly seek out clues to the delightfully complex mystery, which involves many hidden motives and dark secrets." --Publishers Weekly "Satisfying. . . . [James is] an impeccable stylist and a psychological ins-and-outs maven." --The Huffington Post
A magnificent novel. . . . Incomparably perfect. USA Today

A glorious plum pudding of a whodunit. NPR, Fresh Air

The queen of mystery has taken on the queen of literature, [and] the combination sings. . . . [James ] elegance and sly wit are in top form. The Plain Dealer
The greatest pleasure of this novel is its unforced, effortless, effective voice Not infrequently . . . one succumbs to the impression that it is Austen herself at the keyboard. The New York Times Book Review

[James] is the greatest living writer of British crime fiction, and probably that genre s most talented practitioner ever. The New York Times
A novel of manners par excellence. The Boston Globe
A major treat for any fan of Jane Austen . . . [and] a solidly entertaining period mystery. The Washington Post
A novel of dark intrigue. . . . [which] Ms. James presents with informed assurance and in fine period detail. The Wall Street Journal
If you appreciate mysteries as well as the Mighty Jane, this pleasant entertainment will do nicely. . . . It is a universe of dark meanings [and] hidden relationships. Los Angeles Times

James rises well above the ever-growing pack of Austen-inspired authors, not only for her intimate familiarity with Austen s work, but for her faultless replication of time, place and, most notably, Austen s trademark writing style. Newark Star-Ledger
With well-laid clues, James weaves a credible tale with a satisfying conclusion. . . . She stamps this enticing blend of two authors minds with her formidable intelligence and the generosity of spirit that has marked all her work. Richmond Times Dispatch
Dazzling . . . Meticulously plotted . . . In my view Death Comes to Pemberley is as good as anything P.D. James has written and that is very high praise indeed Long may she continue to delight and surprise us. Simon Brett, Sunday Express
Brimming with astute appreciation, inventiveness and narrative zest, Death Comes to Pemberley is an elegantly gauged homage to Austen and an exhilarating tribute to the inexhaustible vitality of James s imagination. The Sunday Times (London)

James takes Pride and Prejudice to places it never dreamed of, and does so with a charm that will beguile even the most demanding Janeite. London Evening Standard
The final working-out shows all James s customary ingenuity. . . . The stylistic pastiche is remarkably accomplished. Kirkus Reviews
A pleasing and agreeable sequel Historical mystery buffs and Jane Austen fans alike will welcome this homage Attentive readers will eagerly seek out clues to the delightfully complex mystery, which involves many hidden motives and dark secrets. Publishers Weekly
Satisfying. . . . [James is] an impeccable stylist and a psychological ins-and-outs maven. The Huffington Post"
A magnificent novel. . . . Incomparably perfect. "USA Today
"
A glorious plum pudding of a whodunit. NPR, "Fresh Air
"
The queen of mystery has taken on the queen of literature, [and] the combination sings. . . . [James ] elegance and sly wit are in top form. "The Plain Dealer"
The greatest pleasure of this novel is its unforced, effortless, effective voice Not infrequently . . . one succumbs to the impression that it is Austen herself at the keyboard. "The New York Times Book Review
"
[James] is the greatest living writer of British crime fiction, and probably that genre s most talented practitioner ever. "The New York Times"
A novel of manners par excellence. "The Boston Globe"
A major treat for any fan of Jane Austen . . . [and] a solidly entertaining period mystery. "The Washington Post"
A novel of dark intrigue. . . . [which] Ms. James presents with informed assurance and in fine period detail. "The Wall Street Journal"
If you appreciate mysteries as well as the Mighty Jane, this pleasant entertainment will do nicely. . . . It is a universe of dark meanings [and] hidden relationships. "Los Angeles Times
"
James rises well above the ever-growing pack of Austen-inspired authors, not only for her intimate familiarity with Austen s work, but for her faultless replication of time, place and, most notably, Austen s trademark writing style. "Newark Star-Ledger"
With well-laid clues, James weaves a credible tale with a satisfying conclusion. . . . She stamps this enticing blend of two authors minds with her formidable intelligence and the generosity of spirit that has marked all her work. "Richmond Times Dispatch"
Dazzling . . . Meticulously plotted . . . In my view "Death Comes to Pemberley" is as good as anything P.D. James has written and that is very high praise indeed Long may she continue to delight and surprise us. Simon Brett, "Sunday Express"
Brimming with astute appreciation, inventiveness and narrative zest, "Death Comes to Pemberley" is an elegantly gauged homage to Austen and an exhilarating tribute to the inexhaustible vitality of James s imagination. "The" "Sunday Times" (London)
""
James takes "Pride and Prejudice" to places it never dreamed of, and does so with a charm that will beguile even the most demanding Janeite. "London Evening Standard"
The final working-out shows all James s customary ingenuity. . . . The stylistic pastiche is remarkably accomplished. "Kirkus Reviews"
A pleasing and agreeable sequel Historical mystery buffs and Jane Austen fans alike will welcome this homage Attentive readers will eagerly seek out clues to the delightfully complex mystery, which involves many hidden motives and dark secrets. "Publishers Weekly"
Satisfying. . . . [James is] an impeccable stylist and a psychological ins-and-outs maven. "The Huffington Post""