The crime writer is very much nicer to meet than her books might lead one to expect. But in her writing there is sometimes a certain contempt for many of her characters.

Origin Pictures is working on a The Wire-style crime drama set in Manchester and an adaptation of a PD James novel as part of trio of paid developments for the BBC.

Names already confirmed include crime writers PD James and Ruth Rendell, who will appear together at Winchester Guildhall on Friday, June 1 for an event entitled Queens of Crime.

RT @BucksWriter: New on my blog: P.D. James talks to Ruth Rendell

Like deft, elegant, Golden Age-ish detective fiction? Like Pride and Prejudice? Then have I got news for you. On November 3, Faber is publishing Death Comes to Pemberley: a crime novel set in Jane Austen's universe by none other than PD James.

James has been publishing for fifty years. Her first novel, Cover Her Face, appeared in 1962. Her most recent work, the non-fiction book Talking About Detective Fiction, was published in 2009. Speaking recently to the BBC, James hinted that she was working on something new: 'I am still writing, but something very different; something shorter and something which I'm keeping very secret at the moment.' She later admitted that it did not feature her long-time detective, Adam Dalgliesh.

Fans of mystery and intrigue are invited to join Ruth Rendell and PD James for a Read for RNIB Literary Reception at one of London's hottest venues The Ivy, 6 October 2011. Money raised from ticket sales will help the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) provide reading services and equipment to blind and partially sighted people.

Best-selling crime novelist Ruth Rendell CBE will appear at an exclusive literary lunch at The Ivy in London to raise funds for leading sight loss charity RNIB. From her award-winning Inspector Wexford series to novels written under her pseudonym Barbara Vine, Baroness Rendell will be sharing some of the highlights from her brilliant career and discussing her next eagerly-awaited Inspector Wexford novel, The Vault, out next month.

6 October 2011, 2.00 - 4.30pm
The Ivy Restaurant, 1-5 West Street, London WC2H 9NQ
Tickets: £75 each
This is a unique opportunity to hear renowned authors Ruth Rendell and P D James talk about their lives in an intimate setting with a chance to ask them questions and purchase signed books.
All this is accompanied by canapés and a glass of bubbly in the restaurant's exclusive Private Dining Room, followed by tea and coffee. Please note that there are a limited number of places available.

P D James has just collected an award, aged 90, but ageism is still all too common in the literary world, says Arifa Akbar.

What better way to start my trip to this year's Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival than a chat with the grande dame of the genre, PD James? Particularly as the festival's bucolic Harrogate setting seems to have put her in a murderous mood. "This would be a wonderful setting for a murder," she enthuses as we admire the hotel gardens. "The contrast between the beauty, the peace, the tranquillity and the appalling crime, that would be very effective."

Sunday 25th September 2011 - 5:30pm

The top two British crime writers join forces to discuss crime writing, murder mysteries and psychological thrillers. Between them, they have written over 100 books and the names of their protagonists, such as Inspector Wexford, Adam Dalgleish and Cordelia Gray, are known world-wide. Many credit them for upgrading the entire genre of whodunit, shaping it more into a whydunit.

P D James will receive the second Theakston's Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award, with debut novelist William Ryan and bestseller Lee Child among those to make the shortlist for this year's Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.

The Westminster Society invites you to a literary evening with two successful and well know crime writers; PD James and Ruth Rendell. The evening's conversation will be chaired by a third writer; David Benedictus and there will be support from the Maurice Horhut Jazz Trio. Tickets cost £35 each and can be purchased by contacting the main office on 020 8968 7376.

5 September – BaronessRuth Rendell CBE: Bestselling mystery author, who also writes under the pseudonym Barbara Vine, has penned more than 60 novels and is best known for weaving tales about iconic character, “Chief Inspector Wexford.” She and her friend, fellow novelist P.D. James, have been credited with reshaping the mystery and detective genre of novels. Rendell will sail an Eastbound Transatlantic Crossing on Queen Mary 2.

Among the guests are: the Duchess of Devonshire, actors Larry Lamb and Elizabeth McGovern, comedians Sarah Millican and Hardeep Singh Kohli, authors PD James and Jeanette Winterson, and TV and radio favourites Sue Perkins, Giles Coren, Clare Balding, Richard Bacon and Sir Trevor McDonald.

THE queen of crime fiction has refuted claims that Salman Rushdie used her Suffolk holiday home as a hideout during the fatwa.

Crime writer PD James was today announced as the winner of the Nick Clarke Award 2010 for her interview with BBC Director General Mark Thompson.

Authors including Philip Pullman, Joanna Trollope, Sarah Waters and Jacqueline Wilson have signed a petition urging the government to maintain the current level of funding for Public Lending Right (PLR) in the upcoming spending review. President of the SoA P D James has now written to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt drawing attention to the petition and demanding a reasonable maintenance of funding.

On her 90th birthday, renowned crime author PD James talks to Sarah Crown about her best-loved character, detective Adam Dalgliesh, her science fiction book, The Children of Men, and why she's worried about starting a new book.

She’s a life peer, a best-selling crime novelist, and last year, the BBC’s scariest interrogator. As she approaches 90, PD James reflects on death, family − and the husband she couldn’t save.

ABOARD THE QUEEN MARY 2 — P.D. James, the reigning queen of the British detective novel, is in a festive mood, fitting for a legendary woman who's about to turn 90.

P.D James explains the enduring appeal of detective fiction.

The author PD James has criticised the BBC for treating its audience as though it has the attention span of a child.

Crammed with exciting firsts and special events, this year’s festival will play host to more well-known faces than ever before...

Misleading article. Much better to listen to the recording of the event embedded on the page.

PD James talks to Jake Kerridge about detective fiction, her new book, and the technical problems of murder...

AUTHOR PD James is leading a line-up of popular writers taking part in a special crime day in Oxford. The award-winning novelist will be joined at Oxford’s Bodleian Library by fellow crime writers Kate Summerscale, Val McDermid and Ruth Rendell on Friday, October 2.

The Bodleian Library is running a special one-day event to celebrate the launch of its book Talking About Detective Fiction by P D James. 'Crime Day' will take place on 2nd October, and will include talks from "a remarkable line-up of authors", such as Val McDermid, Ruth Rendell and Kate Summerscale

Reviewed by PD James

The Bodleian Library is publishing an inside look at detective fiction written by "queen" of the genre P D James.

PD James explains why she set The Lighthouse on an imaginary offshore island.

Crime queen PD James will accept the first Honorary Fellowship of the festival at a special dinner attended by the Duke of Kent.

BARONESS JAMES OF Holland Park, OBE, in her 89th year, appears as agreed on the stroke of noon. She stands slightly hunched - the stereotypical sweet little old lady, plucked from a folk tale - with hand on walking stick, apple-cheeked and silver-haired, her brown eyes greeting me with a warm, yet distinctly piercing, thin-lipped smile.

PD James, the nation's empress of extermination, monarch of murder and queen of crime will discuss with Kate Summerscale how far crime fiction mirrors the actuality of homicide and detection.

Two of the first 20 e-books launched by Faber last week are topping Waterstone's e-books sales chart, according to the publisher

40 minutes, color with PD James: Detectives in literature; Writing a detective story; The puzzle as attraction; Death as subject; Writing about madness.

WORDFEST, Cambridge's annual literary celebration, returns for the fifth time next week, and veteran crime writer P D James is set to be one of the weekend's highlights.

Roy Marsden plays Commander Adam Dalgliesh of London’s Metropolitan Police in P.D. James’ The Adam Dalgliesh Chronicles, ten acclaimed screen adaptations based on the novels of the award-winning British author.

Children of Men