Sharp copy of the author's first novel, and the first to feature her recurring character detective Adam Dalgliesh. It tends to feel more like the former since the detective is mostly absent and the family members seem central. James expanded beyond the mystery genre in The Children of Men (1992; film 2006), which explores a dystopian world in which the human race has become infertile. D. James novel with all its gravitas and psychological nuances held under the thin and busy surface of this book’s plot, trying mightily to escape.

Inspector Dalglish is a non-entity so far and the many and various characters introduced up to know are somewhat confusing. Maxie, the matriarch of the family, was found to be the murderer, it was like nobody gave a damn about Sally Jupp being murdered . Cover her face is a satisfying mystery, it possesses a great deal of intrigue, boasts a very good cast, and provides an interesting snapshot of life at the time, thoughts and attitudes. They could be a nuisance if they decided to shield those who had gained their loyalty but this was an overt danger which could be anticipated.

Dalgliesh conducts his investigation in great detail, somewhat like peeling back the layers of an onion, until I nodded off. Maybe the other books were better or maybe I have just outgrown my interest in mysteries, at least the British variety with tea cups, jam jars, jumble sales and small gossipy villages. D.James' elegant lexicon and observations of character and mannerism kept me completely engaged for the duration.

The Kindle version has very bad formatting, too ("that" turns into "mat", for example); no one bothered to proofread it.I enjoyed this for what it is, enough to read on in the series, but it doesn't have the same pleasurable lightness of touch and self-deprecating wit as Christie: 3. A fine US first edition, first printing hardback - in a fine unclipped dustjacket fitted with a removable clear mylar sleeve - All my books are always securely packed with plenty of bubblewrap in professional boxes and promptly dispatched (within 2-3 days) - SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR DIRECTLY ONTO THE TITLE PAGE + ALSO INCLUDES A SIGNED PUBLICITY PHOTO - Pictures available upon request. Describes a book or dust jacket that does show some signs of wear on either the binding, dust jacket or pages.

The edition of "War and Peace" I read had a nice, thick bookmark with all the main characters and their various names printed on that bookmark, front and back. The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor of St Paul's Cathedral and a friend of Baroness James, said 'Her creative genius put her alongside the great authors of detective fiction, not least Dorothy L. She received honorary degrees from seven British universities, was awarded an OBE in 1983 and created a life peer in 1991. With a first impression of just 300, each copy is finished with printed endpapers, head and tail bands and a ribbon marker. Also present at the meal are Stephen's former romantic interest, Catherine Bowers; Alice Liddell, warden of St Mary's Refuge; and Dr Epps, the family doctor.There's a similar confusion about the son of the house: he's referred to as a 'boy' and various people splutter about him being in no financial position to take on a wife with baby - only it turns out he's a London surgeon which, surely, speaks to age and a lucrative salary even in the 1960s? The town hall, which looked as if it had been designed by a committee of morons in an excess of alcohol and civic pride, stood in isolated splendor bounded by two bombed sites where rebuilding had only just begun. From 1949 to 1968 she worked in the National Health Service and subsequently in the Home Office, first in the Police Department and later in the Criminal Policy Department.

In addition, the author opens the novel with what is either a great red herring or a big clue to the solution itself: "Exactly 3 months before the killing at Martingale, Mrs. Her formal education, however, ended at age 16 because of lack of funds, and she was thereafter self-educated. The family matriarch Eleanor is nursing her dying husband who is prescribed sleep medication for his restlessness.What about varying things slightly - eg “whilst he sipped his tea, Z wondered if it could possibly be . From Nobel Laureates Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter to theatre greats Tom Stoppard and Alan Bennett to rising stars Polly Stenham and Florian Zeller, Faber Drama presents the very best theatre has to offer.