Beginning with Cover Her Face in 1962 and continuing at a steady pace to her most recent book in the series The Private Patient P. D. James has created a thoroughly professional detective and interesting human being in the person of Adam Dalgliesh.

Many of the books in this series have also been made into TV series with at least 2 different actors playing the role of Dalgliesh over the years.

Which book is your favorite? Do you think The Private Patient is the last? Do you like the books or TV series better?

PD James and Adam Dagliesh have been favorites of mine for years. I'm a reader and usually like the written version of almost any book. So, while I have enjoyed the TV series, I definitely like the books best. Difficult to say which book is my fav, Black Tower, Taste For Death, and Death of an Expert Witness have been stand outs for me.

I read these, and loved them, many many years ago. I re-discovered PD James when I worked at a language school here in Rome. Most of my colleagues were English.

I definitely want to re-read these as I don't remember them at all. Haven't seen the TV series.

P.D James and this series is a favourite of my Mum's and she loves murder mysteries.

I think I have seen a couple of the TV episodes but I can't remember much about them actually.

I've never seen the TV series, but loved the books many years ago. I haven't read any of them in awhile, but they were all terrific. I can't remember the title of my favorite, but it had something to do with some kind of religious symbol of some sort made out of wood? That was key to the mystery. It may not have been religious either. This is going back over 20 years.....I love her stuff tho. I thought the oldest stuff was the best.

I just checked Netflix and it looks like they have a good selection of the older ones with Roy Marsden as Dalgliesh and the newer ones with Martin Shaw.

I think I saw the Martin Shaw ones. Well, I saw one of them anyway. I can't remember what they're about now - are they set in the past?

The books were contemporary when they were written so the earlier ones are set in the 60s and 70s but James kept the time fairly current as she continued to write the series.

I hope Private Patient isn't her last, but she is almost 90, and PP did have an air of finality about it, or at least seemed to be written with the awareness that she might not get to write another one. Loose ends were tied up, so to speak.

I just finished The Lighthouse and really liked it. I'm reading them out of order, having seen many of the early ones as TV episodes only, with either Roy Marsden or Martin Shaw. The Marsden ones have a musty feel (and the watery faded colors that come with old age). I guess they were made in the 80s. I'm more impressed with James's books than I am with the TV productions (not so with Elizabeth George).

Hi Lobstergirl, I agree with you that James's books are better than the TV versions although I do think Martin Shaw has done a better job of portraying Dalgliesh and therefore improving the production.

I also do prefer the TV productions of Elizabeth George's books - perhaps we should start a thread on Ins. Lynley and DC Havers?

Donna wrote: "I also do prefer the TV productions of Elizabeth George's books - perhaps we should start a thread on Ins. Lynley and DC Havers?"

And George's horrendous dialogue written for black characters and lower class characters. Why are her black characters so awkward? Her attempts at social commentary are leaden and disastrous. What Came Before He Shot Her was just a big tranny mess. The best thing about George's books (maybe the only good thing) is Lynley and Havers.

Also: why is she so sex obsessed?

I've only read the first book of the Lynley series but my mum says her last two haven't been so good, which is a shame. Case of author's head becoming too big for her shoulders?

What did you think of the first one Fiona?

I thought it was good! I enjoyed it - it was my first foray into crime actually and I enjoyed it though I wasn't carried away. Trouble is I have seen the TV series first, but I only really have a clear memory of the first one so reading her others won't be so bad.

Hmm, do we have a thread on Lynley yet?

I joined this group because I just finished THE MURDER ROOM and really wanted to be able to talk about it with someone.

I've been reading PD James for a very long time. Not quite as long as she has been writing, but certainly for decades. I read a lot of stuff that isn't deep and literary, and enjoy those books, but I love her novels because they are deep and literary.

I think I've been reading her since the early 80s, when I first got into adult mystery novels.

She's a very good writer.

I only read one of the pD James books or max two...but I have seen many of the tv serie. I seem to like the books less than the tv serie, don't know why. Maybe I started with a less good story in the serie. Will try others anyway because i know I like the stories.

I enjoyed The Private Patient a lot. I think I have read almost all of the Adam Dalgliesh books, although I think I may have missed the one right before Private Patient, anyone know what that is? I love the old TV Series with Roy Marsden. I think he made an excellent Dalgliesh, and would normally picture him while reading the books. The new guy did nothing for me, as I was so used to Roy. PBS is the one who always shows them where I live.

Hi Vanessa, The Lighthouse was the book right before The Private Patient. I really enjoyed it.

Thanks Donna,

I definitely missed that one. I've added it to my list. I guess I better check the list of her novels to see if I have missed any others. Thanks again.

I really enjoyed The Private Patient, too. PD James has definitely not lost her touch - I hope she keeps on writing till she's 100! Her books are the only mysteries that I buy in hardback as soon as they come out.