Miss Beale did not inquire how she knew that the road was up. It was the sort of thing Miss Burrows invariably did know. The hearty voice went on: P. D. James, byname of Phyllis Dorothy James White, Baroness James of Holland Park, (born August 3, 1920, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England—died November 27, 2014, Oxford), British mystery novelist best known for her fictional detective Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard.

The hospital had always flourished. The local community was predominantly middle-class and prosperous, with a well-developed charitable sense and too few objects on which to indulge it. Just before the Second World War a well-equipped private patients' wing had been added. Both before and after the advent of the National Health Service it had attracted wealthy patients, and consequently eminent consultants, from London and further afield. Miss Beale reflected that it was all very well for Angela to talk about the prestige of a London teaching hospital, but the John Carpendar had its own reputation. A woman might well think there were worse jobs than being Matron of a developing district general hospital, well thought of by the community it served, agreeably placed and fortified by its own local traditions. My grandmother left this for my mother to read, and bored, I started it waiting for her in the car. Boredom, too, is the only reason I can give for my finishing it -- I was mesmerized by how entirely uninteresting it was, both the story and the literary style. I first came across PD James Inspector Adam Dalgliesh in the ITV shows they broadcast in the 1980s and 90s. Roy Marsden was regarded as rather poetic in the title role.

As Dalgliesh narrows down who might want to do away with Pearce, she finds out more about Fallon and why she was admitted to the school’s hospital wing, and just as he realizes that she may be connected in some fashion, tragedy strikes again. Photo: Christopher Barr/Acorn TV This is an intricately woven story of power and the power of forgiveness - or not, as the case may be. Involving medical - and personal - politics in the late 1960s and a bit of recent British history, the main focus is upon five increasingly interesting young women and their teachers, the nursing Sisters. Each Sister is very clearly presented and followed through the story, along with most of the students as well. James has a facility for showing us the workings of people's minds and their interactions with others. Here she uses that approach in a lot of detail but it never becomes quite slow - the information given is always pertinent, always at least "curious..." if not always immediately easy to understand where it falls within the plot.

At any rate, Dalgliesh has a mess to unmash - ever try to unmash mashed potatoes? That's what it's like for this man. Sorting through timelines, and a storm, and using creepy paths which connect the buildings which are part of the institute is sort of mind-numbing. I didn't want to give up on this book - I love me some PD James - but I was often frustrated and set it aside for an 'easier book.' This murder-mystery of the Adam Dalgleish series is the best story so far. James has taken quite a lift from her previous (disappointing) installment to this cleverly executed one. The writing is meticulous and the story exhibits both James's knowledge and intelligence.This new Dalgliesh series is rich, detailed, and demanding, an impeccable collaboration between lead writer Helen Edmundson ( An Inspector Calls), Stephen Greenhorn ( Doctor Who), and lead director Jill Robertson ( Trainspotting), who is joined by Andy and Ryan Tohill ( The Dig), and Lisa Clarke ( Sanditon). The accomplished cast is led by Bertie Carvel ( Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell). In other words, this team knows what it’s doing. But that would be attempted murder!" It was Diane Harper who spoke. She sounded incredulous. Maureen Burt laughed.