The celebrated detective writer PD James, who wrote more than 20 bestselling novels, has died aged 94.
She passed away "peacefully at her home in Oxford", according to her publisher, and is survived by her two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Often described as the queen of crime fiction, her best loved books include The Children of Men, The Murder Room and Death Comes to Pemberley, a pastiche of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. She sold millions of copies of her books worldwide and many were adapted for film and television.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Born Phyllis Dorothy James, she was elevated to the House of Lords in 1991 and took the title Baroness James of Holland Park.
David Cameron led the tributes, saying he was "saddened to hear of the death of PD James, one of the UK’s greatest crime writers, who thrilled and inspired generations of readers."
Fellow crime writer Ian Rankin also expressed his sadness at the news. "Every event I did with her was a joy," he said. "Sharp intellect, ready wit. She will be missed."
"I salute the great PD James for so many reasons," said Scottish crime writer Val McDermid. "Today, I've lost a friend as well as a teacher. There was nothing cosy about Phyllis."
James believed she was born to write and often said it was talent that could not be taught. "I am lucky to have written as many books as I have," she said. "It has been a joy."
She told the BBC the process had become more difficult as she grew older as it "takes longer for the inspiration to come". But she said "the thing about being a writer is that you need to write".
"While I am alive, I shall write. There will be a time to stop writing but that will probably be when I come to a stop, too."
-
Y.M.C.A. and four other songs that have escaped their meaningThe Explainer Some of pop's biggest hits have been misinterpreted by politicians and the public alike
-
Sport on TV guide: Christmas 2022 and New Year listingsSpeed Read Enjoy a feast of sporting action with football, darts, rugby union, racing, NFL and NBA
-
House of the Dragon: what to expect from the Game of Thrones prequelSpeed Read Ten-part series, set 200 years before GoT, will show the incestuous decline of Targaryen
-
One in 20 young Americans identify as trans or non-binarySpeed Read New research suggests that 44% of US adults know someone who is transgender
-
The Turner Prize 2022: a ‘vintage’ shortlist?Speed Read All four artists look towards ‘growth, revival and reinvention’ in their work
-
What’s on TV this Christmas? The best holiday televisionSpeed Read From films and documentaries to musicals for all the family
-
Coco vision: up close to Chanel opticalsSpeed Read Parisian luxury house adds opticals to digital offering
-
Abba returns: how the Swedish supergroup and their ‘Abba-tars’ are taking a chance on a reunionSpeed Read From next May, digital avatars of the foursome will be performing concerts in east London
