P. D. James was an astonishing author for several reasons. First in my mind is that she wrote literary mysteries, second, her output was over 20 books, and third, she managed to write while holding a full-time, high-level government job for a large portion of her career.

            Did I mention that she was the family breadwinner, had two children and a mentally disabled husband? This is where the rest of us whining about not having enough time to write should be humbled. 

            Adam Dalgliesh, the contemporary detective is also a poet, although he doesn’t spout verse while investigating. The pace of her novels is deliberate and cerebral like Dalgliesh himself, although there is gore for those who want it.