I'm a big fan of P.D. James, but this isn't her best novel. Most of her mysteries follow a formula of sorts - the victim doesn't die til quite a ways into the book, and for most of the novel we are treated more to stories about the inner lives of the characters than to mystery solving. I don't mind that it's not so much a mystery because at least (unlike many mysteries) the characters are well fleshed out. This one felt a little rushed, as though she suddenly decided the story needed to be over. I'd recommend checking out a different mystery if you are just starting out with her novels.