- Home
- Mystery
- Crime
- P.D. James
- Devices and Desires
A psychopathic strangler of young women is at large in Norfolk, and getting nearer to Larksoken with every killing.When murder reaches the headland one moonlit night, Dalgliesh finds himself involved in a particularly horrible crime and in the tangled emotions and motives of the suspects.
P.D. James, OBE, has won many awards for crime writing in Britain, America, Italy and Scandinavia, including the Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Award and the National Arts Club Medal of Honor for Literature (USA). She received the Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers’ Association, and was created a Life Peer. In 1997 she was elected President of the Society of Authors.
Michael Jayston is a highly-regarded actor, having appeared in numerous films, among them 'Cromwell', 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream', 'Zulu Dawn' and 'Nicholas and Alexandra'. His many TV credits include 'The Royal', 'Doctors', 'Emmerdale', 'Murder in Suburbia' and 'Only Fools and Horses', while on stage he has been seen in 'Henry V' and 'Hamlet' for the RSC, as well as 'Private Lives' and 'The Rivals'.
PD James 11th novel sees Commander Adam Dalgliesh dealing with problems in the Nuclear Age. On inheriting a converted windmill from his deceased aunt, Dalgliesh makes for the remote headland of Larksoken. However, a psychopathic serial killer, the Norfolk Whistler, seems to be headed for the same place. When the Commander finds the body of the nearby nuclear power plant’s Acting Administrative Officer, a mystery unfolds, taking him in an unexpected direction.
PD James’ strength as a writer lies in the fact that she isn’t afraid to make her characters fallible. This is one of the few novels in which Dalgliesh doesn’t actually solve the crime but, instead, this gives him pause to re-evaluate his responsibilities as a detective. In fact, Dalgliesh almost plays second-fiddle to James’ riveting depiction of life set against the grim backdrop of a nuclear power plant and her exploration of the burgeoning threat of a psychotic killer. The lives she explores are masterfully intertwined, making this BBC Drama both gripping and thought-provoking.
Robin Ellis and Susannah Doyle head the BBC Drama cast, giving superb renditions of each and every character. This audiobook for CD makes the perfect addition to any fan’s collection.
Follow us on twitter 
