P. D James

An anthology of six previously uncollected stories explores the memories, emotional machinations, rationalizations, dreams, and desires of people who get away with the perfect murder or who help keep information about a killing secret.

St Cedd's church fete had been held in the grounds of Martingale for generations. One year, Mrs Maxie's son sprang the news of his engagement on his mother. By morning, Sally Jupp, her new parlourmaid - unmarried mother and minor village scandal was dead. Investigating the murder, Detective Chief Inspector, Adam Dalgliesh is intrigued to find more than one fiancee among the suspects - such are the passions beneath the surface of English village life....

Cordelia Gray is a young, aspiring private detective learning the ropes from her mentor, disgraced ex-policeman Bernie Pryde. But when Pryde's sudden suicide leaves Cordelia the sole proprietor of his ramshackle agency, she is forced to continue her education on the job with only Mrs. Sparshott, the agency's longtime secretary and Cordelia's new assistant on her team. Sacrifice: A prominent scientist hires Cordelia to investigate why his son suddenly...

Attempts by Scotland Yard's Adam Dalgliesh to find a murderer are complicated when psychiatrists at the fashionable Steen Clinic decide to play detective.

London, 2027. Humanity has become infertile and no child has been born for 18 years. Science is at loss to explain the reason. Immigration is a crime and refugees are caged like animals. African and East European societies have collapsed and their dwindling populations are migrating toward England and other wealthy nations. Torn apart by nuclear fallout, rampant terrorism and political rebellion. In this climate of nationalistic violence, a London...