A Certain Justice (BBC Radio Collection: Crimes and Thrillers)

P. D. James

ISBN 10: 0563510617 ISBN 13: 9780563510611

Publisher: BBC Physical Audio, 2005

Synopsis

Philip Franks, Geraldine James, Michael Maloney and Kenneth Cranham star in the first Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of a bestselling P.D. James murder mystery for seven years. Venetia Aldridge QC is a distinguished criminal lawyer. When she secures the acquittal of a young man, Garry Ashe, from the charge of murdering his aunt, a series of bizarre events is set in train, starting with her own murder. Adam Dalgliesh, the poet and Scotland Yard commander, takes charge of the case. As he investigates, he finds that she had many enemies in both her professional and private life. Her married lover wanted to leave her, her daughter hated her and her fellow barristers were determined that she should not be the next Head of Chambers. Even the office cleaner had a grudge against her. But step by step, the suspects are narrowed down, and the cunning plot that lies behind Venetia's death is brought to light...This release includes a 30-minute 'Front Row Special' interview with P.D. James, who talks to Mark Lawson about her writing career and the inspiration for her work.

About this title

Review

Although A Certain Justice begins with news of a murder, the victim isn't set to die for another four weeks. Publicly respected but privately loathed, Venetia Aldridge has far more enemies than a brilliant London criminal lawyer should--and at least one of them is determined to do her in. Venetia plies her superior trade in courts that harbour "the illusion that the passions of men were susceptible to order and control," but her past and private life are exceedingly unruly. Her married lover is intent on giving her up; her daughter loathes her; her fellow barristers are determined that she not become the next head of chambers. Even the cleaning woman seems to have something on her. The outline alone of this complex novel would take pages (as would the eclectic inventory of players), but P. D. James makes us admire far more than her brilliantly developed plot. James in fact creates a crowded gallery of surprisingly decent suspects, along with one suitably vile creature--who happens to be Aldridge's last client. A superior murder mystery, A Certain Justice is also a gripping anatomy of wild justice. James's characters can be overcome by hate, but she is equally concerned with love's manifestations--human, divine, destructive, and healing.

Review

" "A Certain Justice" has all James' hallmarks: elegance of language, a stellar sense of place, exquisitely defined characters, and a skillfully rendered tale of moral justice." -The Globe and Mail " Immensely satisfying in both its intricate plot and complexity of characters.... An emotionally powerful puzzler [and a] page-turning journey ... along the darker, twisted byways of human intentions." --"Publishers Weekly" starred review " Meticulously-crafted, original, suspenseful ... ingenious ... A whacking great whodunit by the reigning queen of mystery.... A certain great read." --"The Calgary Sun "" Irresistible.... Yet another sterling example of how [P.D. James] has been able to elevate the traditional mystery to something approaching literary art." --"Winnipeg Free Press "" Gripping reading... With virtuoso ingenuity, James weaves a wonderfully intricate whodunit." --"The Times Literary Supplement "

About this edition

• Publisher: BBC Physical Audio
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0563510617
• ISBN 13: 9780563510611
• Binding: Audio CD