P.D. James’ novels are part of a classic British tradition crime authors. The Murder Room was published in 2003 when she was in her 80’s. It is her 12th book in the Inspector Dalgleish series and is set in London, specifically at the Dupayne Museum, a Gothic mansion dedicated to the Interwar Years. It was built by the now-deceased father of the Dupayne Family siblings. The lease is due for renewal but Neville Dupayne will not agree to keep the open and the siblings and the staff all have much to lose. His murder immediately opens the question of motivation, and a number of suspects have reasons to want the Museum to carry on.

The mystery develops slowly and the plot is detailed with well-developed characters, plot twists, descriptive language and historical/architectural background information. P.D. James always writes in a literate style with attention to language. Her books reflect Conservative, traditional values, and an England of the past, well-fitted to the Interwar years, her own developmental era.

Whenever we read a P.D. James novel, we know we are in the hands of a master. She never disappoints and this one is near the top of its genre. Recommended – 4.6 out of 5.0 stars4.6