James, P. D.

P. D. James, English crime writer, is the author of numerous detective novels, many of which were "New York Times "bestsellers. She spent thirty years in various departments of the British civil service, including the Police and Criminal Law Departments of the Home Office. She has served as a magistrate and as a governor of the BBC. In 2000 she celebrated her eightieth birthday and published her autobiography, "Time to Be in Earnest". The recipient of many prizes and honors, she was named Baroness James of Holland Park in 1991. She lives in London and Oxford.