8/3/1920 P. D. James is born

August 3, 1920. P.D. James was born on this date in Oxford, England.  When her husband came back from World War II with mental issues she started working to support the family.  She started to write novels in the 1950s.  Her novels about police detective Adam Dalgliesh led her to fame and fortune.

Among her honors were the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America and a life peerage from that whole British government thing.

12/25/1960 The Innocents arrive in time for Christmas

December 25, 1960.  You might think it would be hard to find something mystery-related on Christmas day.  Not a big publishing date.  Ah, but tons of movies are released then.

The Innocents was an adaptation of Henry James' classic novella The Turn of the Screw, about a governess who becomes convinced her two young charges are being tormented by very nasty ghosts. Talk about a war on Christmas, huh?

Deborah Kerr starred.  The flick won the Edgar for best Mystery Motion Picture.

1/12/1970 Shroud for a Nightingale begins

January 12, 1970.  The action begins on this date in P.D. James' fourth novel about Adam Dalgleish.  Two women have been murdered in a nursing school called Nightingale House...  The New York Times called it "Mystery at its best."