The Lighthouse (James novel)

The Lighthouse is a 2005 detective novel by English writer P. D. James, the thirteenth book in the Adam Dalgliesh mystery series.

The Lighthouse

Cover of the first edition
Author	P. D. James
Language	English
Series	Adam Dalgliesh #13
Genre	Crime, Mystery
Publisher	Faber & Faber
Publication date	22 November 2005
Publication place	United Kingdom
Media type	Print (Hardcover, Paperback)
Pages	352 pp (hardcover)
ISBN	0-307-26291-X
OCLC	60697223
Dewey Decimal	823/.914 22
LC Class	PR6060.A467 L54 2005
Preceded by	The Murder Room
Followed by	The Private Patient

Plot

Adam Dalgliesh is brought in to investigate the mysterious death of a famous writer on a remote and inaccessible island off the Cornish coast.

Combe Island is a discreet retreat operated by a private trust, where the rich and powerful find peace and quiet. Famed novelist Nathan Oliver, who was born on the island and thus is allowed to visit as he wishes, arrives with his daughter, Miranda and his copy-editor, Dennis Tremlett, who, unbeknownst to Oliver, are having an affair. When he discovers them, Oliver reacts with fury and orders them to leave the island the next day. Oliver is discovered hanging from the island's historic lighthouse. Dalgliesh and his team arrive to investigate.

Surfacing from a fever, Dalgleish has a vision that helps him fit the pieces of the puzzle together. Dalgliesh recovers from his illness, and after the break of the investigation and quarantine, he and his lover Emma both overcome their fears about each other's seeming lack of commitment, and agree to marry.

Reception

In a 2005 book review for The New York Times, Janet Maslin called the book "too rooted in genre conventions to count originality as its strong suit. But it has deviousness to burn, and it also offers other enticements", and wrote "[It] is a better book than its predecessor, 'The Murder Room.' Its format and intent are more appealing and clear. And it is a sturdy installment in a well-honed series, which is a concept that even its characters understand."^[1] Kirkus Reviews wrote: "Although the story is briefer than James’s recent double-deckers (The Murder Room, 2003, etc.), readers will still revel in her matchless fullness of characterization."^[2]

References

1. Maslin, Janet (1 December 2005). "A Rich Menu of Murder, Garnished With a Small Sprig of Shame". New York Times. New York. Retrieved 28 February 2017.
2. "The Lighthouse". Kirkus Reviews. 1 December 2005.