The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories

The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories by P. D. James Summary: Four previously uncollected stories from one of the great mystery writers of our time--swift, cunning murder mysteries (two of which feature the young Adam Dalgliesh) that together, to borrow the author's own word, add up to a delightful "entertainment." The newly appointed Sgt. Dalgliesh is drawn into a case that is "pure Agatha Christie." . . . A "pedantic, respectable, censorious" clerk's secret taste for pornography is only the first reason he finds for not coming forward as a witness to a murder . . . A best-selling crime novelist describes the crime she herself was involved in fifty years earlier . . . Dalgliesh's godfather implores him to reinvestigate a notorious murder that might ease the godfather's mind about an inheritance, but which will reveal a truth that even the supremely upstanding Adam Dalgliesh will keep to himself. Each of these stories is as playful as it is ingeniously plotted, the author's sly humor as evident as her hallmark narrative elegance and shrewd understanding of some of the most complex--not to say the most damning--aspects of human nature. A treat for P. D. James's legions of fans and anyone who enjoys the pleasures of a masterfully wrought whodunit. Reader’s comments: I have read at least one of these four stories before, but I enjoyed reading it again, along with the other stories. I am a fan of the short story, as it strips away some of the extraneous bits to focus on the main issue. I haven’t read much of P. D. James, and there is no need to have read other Adam Dalgliesh stories to enjoy these stories. Recommended for fans of P. D. James, short story readers, and mystery readers.   Request this item