Murder, She Wrote

The British mystery writer P. D. James is often called the heir to Agatha Christie, which does her a considerable disservice: James, a grandmother (and baroness) who's still going strong at 80, is leagues better as a writer than Christie ever was, and her plots, steeped in superbly observed detail and unblinking psychological realism, are far more complex and resonant. If you've never dipped into her poison inkwell before (or if you're looking to complete your collection), Scribner has reissued James' earliest books, published between 1962 and 1982, in appealing trade-paperback editions. Included are the first six Adam Dalgliesh novels, from Cover Her Face to Death of an Expert Witness (the plots, if not the pleasures of her writing, may be familiar to viewers of Mystery!), two Cordelia Gray stories (An Unsuitable Job for a Woman and The Skull Beneath the Skin), and the superb stand-alone Innocent Blood. Enjoy. (Scribner, $12)