This is the first time that I read a PD James book and only now I realised that James is a female! Do read her website which has an interesting FAQ section where she explains why she is into detective story.
Her detective cast is the usual Alan Dagleish who with his two other team members have to investigate a death on the Combe Island. It is amazing how the entire book is set on this isolated island where PD James has the skill to make me stay engaged, on my toes as to who could be the murderer. Definitely a good read with no fanfare that you typically find in a crime novel. This is serious detective work.