P. D. James

P. D. James (Phyllis Dorothy James, Baroness James of Holland Park; 1920–2014) was a British crime novelist celebrated for her psychologically rich, meticulously plotted mysteries. She is best known for the Adam Dalgliesh series, beginning with *Cover Her Face* (1962), in which the poet-detective investigates crimes across modern Britain. James also wrote standalone novels, including *The Children of Men* (1992), a dystopian work later adapted for film. Beyond fiction, she served in public roles and was created a life peer in 1991. Her work is noted for its literary style, moral seriousness, and keen observation of institutions and social change.