P.D. James: Death in Holy Orders and The Murder Room

You'll be on the edge of your seat as Martin Shaw start as commander Adam Dalgliesh in two spellbinding cases based on the books by British mystery queen P.D. James. When murder and suicide rip apart a small religious college in Death in Holy Orders, the victim's powerful father pressures Scotland Yard to conduct a most unwelcome investigation. In The Murder Room, a killer attraction at London's Dypayne Museum vividly displays memorabilia from some of Britain's most gruesome real-life murders. After the museum's founder's heir dies in a suspicious fire, Commander Dalgliesh is called in to handle the highly sensitive investigation.

The Murder Room
There's a killer attraction at London's Dupayne Museum: a vivid display of memorabilia from some of Britain's most gruesome real-life murders. After the museum founder's heir dies in a suspicious fire, Commander Dalgliesh (Martin Shaw) is called in to handle the highly sensitive investigation. When circumstances of the death bear an unsettling similarity to one of the Murder Room's most notorious cases, the lethal mystery consumes the Commander's time...and perhaps his relationship with Emma (Samantha Bond, Die Another Day). Based on P.D. James' best-selling novel. DVD extras include a P.D. James interview plus cast and author bios.

Death in Holy Orders
Thou shalt be on the edge of your seat as Martin Shaw stars in this spellbinding case based on the book by British mystery queen, P.D. James. When murder and suicide rip apart a small religious college, the victim's powerful father pressures Scotland Yard to conduct a most unwelcome investigation. Detective Adam Dalgliesh, who once spent happy summers at the school, must use his personal education to solve the mystery.

The Murder Room

Written by P.D. James
Screenplay by Robert Jones
Directed by Diarmuid Lawrence
Produced by Richard Broke
Executive Produced by Rebecca Eaton, Suasan Hogg, Simon Lewis
Original Music by John Lunn
Cinematography by Simon Richards
Film Editing by Tim Marchant
Costume Design by Les Lansdowne

Death in Holy Orders

Written by P.D. James
Screenplay by Robert Jones
Directed by Jonny Campbell
Produced by Margaret Enefer
Executive Produced by Susan Hogg, Simon Lewis
Original Music by Julian Nott
Cinematography by Martin Fuhrer
Film Editing by Melanie Oliver
Costume Design by Les Lansdown

The Murder Room
"...a story spiced with murder, adultery and sibling rivalry."- Sun

"This adaptation of PD James's book was great - all spooky museums, secret sex clubs and copycat murders, and red herrings swimming all over the place. Martin Shaw was excellent as Commander Adam Dalgliesh, a man ‘with a fire exit where his heart's supposed to be'."- Guardian

"Much as I've been enjoying ITV1's Miss Marple, this was classier fare. That's partly because (whisper it softly) PD James is a far better writer than Agatha Christie. It's also because a three-hour film over two nights allows the script to develop the different plot strands that make a decent whodunnit, without any seeming like crude red herrings. " -Express

"A sumptuous feast for fans of P. D. James ... In a premier league cast (which includes Sian Phillips and Samantha Bond), Jack Shepherd steals the show." -The Times

"A gripping tale of greed and intrigue ... Recommended." -Observer

"It's perfect New Year's Day viewing: not too gory and with a stellar cast including Samantha Bond, Kerry Fox, Sian Phillips and Michael Maloney, plus Martin Shaw reprising his role as Commander Dalgliesh. And it's classic PD James - a family at war, a secret society for sexual favours that involves lords of the realm and a case that mimics the crimes from The Murder Room, a creepy exposition in the Dupayne family museum, set in an isolated area of Hampstead Heath."- Sunday Express

"Those made of strong stuff will enjoy the dense plotting (copycat murders, past transgressions), grim drama and Martin Shaw looking stern as Adam Dalgleish." -Sunday Times

"...excellent..."- Mail on Sunday

Death in Holy Orders
"...the BBC poured good acting like golden syrup over Death in Holy Orders and served it up in two generous helpings. It looked lovely, with great opalescent swathes of sea and sky..."- Guardian

"This is a classy production, with a cast to match ... and it will certainly keep you guessing." -Daily Mail

"Worth a winter showing - a quality judgment as well as a description of the sort of comfortably engrossing, manylayered thriller that enjoyably adds to the chills of a dark night and the certainty that we are safe from violence, mystery and death ... possibly."- Financial Times

"A brilliant and engrossing murder-mystery." -Sunday Express

"Distinguished drama ... beautifully shot, well-paced and with a great cast." -People

"PD James ... has made a terrible and compelling speciality in finding the devil in religious detail." -London Evening Standard

"...the narrative pull of PD James' labyrinthine plot is so strong that it really doesn't matter whether you are a Martin Shaw fan or not, or whether you preferred Roy Marsden's performance [as Dalgliesh] or not.You will still be itching to know whodunnit as the corpses pile up and the monks get their habits in a twist." -Liverpool Post

"Enjoyable ... a weird gothic whodunit." -Daily Express

"A satisfyingly complex plot ... Director Jonny Campbell perfectly captured the atmosphere of a self-absorbed and isolated outpost of the C of E, oblivious to the realities of the Church in the outside world." Daily Mail "A proudly conventional whodunit, complete with old-fashioned clues and a plausible list of suspects." -Daily Telegraph

"The story has everything you would expect from a complicated murder mystery..."- London Evening Standard

"Shaw has brought the detective right up to date, with cropped grey hair, the latest in fashion specs, and smart-butcasual dress code." -Daily Mail

"Martin Shaw ... lends his customary weight to the lead role."- Independent

"Robert Hardy gives a vibrant performance as Dalgleish's friend and childhood mentor Father Martin." -Liverpool Post

Baroness James admits to being thrilled that Martin Shaw has taken on the role of Adam Dalgliesh - not only because he's an intelligent actor, but because "one likes one's characters to be attractive."