What do you think?
Rate this book
The Victim
Faber Stories, a landmark series of individual volumes, presents masters of the short story form at work in a range of genres and styles.
On the whole, it was easier than I had expected. Only once did I feel myself at risk. That was when the Inspector suddenly intervened. He said in a harsh "He married your wife, didn't he? Took her away from you some people might say. Nice piece of goods, too, by the look of her. Didn't you feel any grievance?"I had been expecting this question. I knew exactly what I would say.
The late, great P. D. James takes us inside the mind of a murderer.
On the whole, it was easier than I had expected. Only once did I feel myself at risk. That was when the Inspector suddenly intervened. He said in a harsh "He married your wife, didn't he? Took her away from you some people might say. Nice piece of goods, too, by the look of her. Didn't you feel any grievance?"I had been expecting this question. I knew exactly what I would say.
The late, great P. D. James takes us inside the mind of a murderer.
23 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 3, 2019
3 people are currently reading
684 people want to read
About the author
P.D. James
319 books3,246 followersP. D. James, byname of Phyllis Dorothy James White, Baroness James of Holland Park, (born August 3, 1920, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England—died November 27, 2014, Oxford), British mystery novelist best known for her fictional detective Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard.
The daughter of a middle-grade civil servant, James grew up in the university town of Cambridge. Her formal education, however, ended at age 16 because of lack of funds, and she was thereafter self-educated. In 1941 she married Ernest C.B. White, a medical student and future physician, who returned home from wartime service mentally deranged and spent much of the rest of his life in psychiatric hospitals. To support her family (which included two children), she took work in hospital administration and, after her husband’s death in 1964, became a civil servant in the criminal section of the Department of Home Affairs. Her first mystery novel, Cover Her Face (1962), introduced Dalgliesh and was followed by six more mysteries before she retired from government service in 1979 to devote full time to writing.
Dalgliesh, James’s master detective who rises from chief inspector in the first novel to chief superintendent and then to commander, is a serious, introspective person, moralistic yet realistic. The novels in which he appears are peopled by fully rounded characters, who are civilized, genteel, and motivated. The public resonance created by James’s singular characterization and deployment of classic mystery devices led to most of the novels featuring Dalgliesh being filmed for television. James, who earned the sobriquet “Queen of Crime,” penned 14 Dalgliesh novels, with the last, The Private Patient, appearing in 2008.
James also wrote An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (1972) and The Skull Beneath the Skin (1982), which centre on Cordelia Gray, a young private detective. The first of these novels was the basis for both a television movie and a short-lived series. James expanded beyond the mystery genre in The Children of Men (1992; film 2006), which explores a dystopian world in which the human race has become infertile. Her final work, Death Comes to Pemberley (2011)—a sequel to Pride and Prejudice (1813)—amplifies the class and relationship tensions between Jane Austen’s characters by situating them in the midst of a murder investigation. James’s nonfiction works include The Maul and the Pear Tree (1971), a telling of the Ratcliffe Highway murders of 1811 written with historian T.A. Critchley, and the insightful Talking About Detective Fiction (2009). Her memoir, Time to Be in Earnest, was published in 2000. She was made OBE in 1983 and was named a life peer in 1991.
The daughter of a middle-grade civil servant, James grew up in the university town of Cambridge. Her formal education, however, ended at age 16 because of lack of funds, and she was thereafter self-educated. In 1941 she married Ernest C.B. White, a medical student and future physician, who returned home from wartime service mentally deranged and spent much of the rest of his life in psychiatric hospitals. To support her family (which included two children), she took work in hospital administration and, after her husband’s death in 1964, became a civil servant in the criminal section of the Department of Home Affairs. Her first mystery novel, Cover Her Face (1962), introduced Dalgliesh and was followed by six more mysteries before she retired from government service in 1979 to devote full time to writing.
Dalgliesh, James’s master detective who rises from chief inspector in the first novel to chief superintendent and then to commander, is a serious, introspective person, moralistic yet realistic. The novels in which he appears are peopled by fully rounded characters, who are civilized, genteel, and motivated. The public resonance created by James’s singular characterization and deployment of classic mystery devices led to most of the novels featuring Dalgliesh being filmed for television. James, who earned the sobriquet “Queen of Crime,” penned 14 Dalgliesh novels, with the last, The Private Patient, appearing in 2008.
James also wrote An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (1972) and The Skull Beneath the Skin (1982), which centre on Cordelia Gray, a young private detective. The first of these novels was the basis for both a television movie and a short-lived series. James expanded beyond the mystery genre in The Children of Men (1992; film 2006), which explores a dystopian world in which the human race has become infertile. Her final work, Death Comes to Pemberley (2011)—a sequel to Pride and Prejudice (1813)—amplifies the class and relationship tensions between Jane Austen’s characters by situating them in the midst of a murder investigation. James’s nonfiction works include The Maul and the Pear Tree (1971), a telling of the Ratcliffe Highway murders of 1811 written with historian T.A. Critchley, and the insightful Talking About Detective Fiction (2009). Her memoir, Time to Be in Earnest, was published in 2000. She was made OBE in 1983 and was named a life peer in 1991.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 10, 2019
It's been a long time since I read P.D. James, the Dalgliesh books and of course the brilliant and dark Children of Men. This is a great short read, dark and sinister. The story is told by an assistant librarian who unexpectedly (because of his rather bland and boring existence) marries the young and beautiful Elsie Bowman, who he is madly in love with. Not soon after, she falls for a rich sharky business man and divorces the librarian to marry the business man. Full of hatred towards the two of them, the assistant librarian plots to kill the business man.... P.D. James is a great writer who also knows how to do a short story of a dark and brooding atmosphere. Enjoyed this quick read! Second Faber story for me, I like this series of various short stories and writers.
February 22, 2019
In PD James’ The Victim, the first husband of a celebrity relates how he got away with killing her second husband after she dumped him to begin her climb up the ladder of wealth and power.
And I’m not sure what the point of the story was? It’s exactly what it says on the tin: a deranged chap kills his ex-wife’s new husband out of jealousy/spite and gets away with it. Because the story and the narrator’s motivations are so straightforward, there’s no depth to the tale, let alone any tension as we already know the outcome and he doesn’t seem to encounter a real obstacle at any point.
The story isn’t very interesting, the characters are flat and unremarkable, the ending is anticlimactic, and there are no layers to any of it. I think James may have been trying to make the celebrity wife into a Lady Macbeth-type but it’s not at all convincing.
Her writing is high quality but PD James’ storytelling hasn’t made me want to read any more of her work. The Victim is a dull treatment of a potentially compelling premise.
And I’m not sure what the point of the story was? It’s exactly what it says on the tin: a deranged chap kills his ex-wife’s new husband out of jealousy/spite and gets away with it. Because the story and the narrator’s motivations are so straightforward, there’s no depth to the tale, let alone any tension as we already know the outcome and he doesn’t seem to encounter a real obstacle at any point.
The story isn’t very interesting, the characters are flat and unremarkable, the ending is anticlimactic, and there are no layers to any of it. I think James may have been trying to make the celebrity wife into a Lady Macbeth-type but it’s not at all convincing.
Her writing is high quality but PD James’ storytelling hasn’t made me want to read any more of her work. The Victim is a dull treatment of a potentially compelling premise.
January 31, 2021
I liked this short story by P.D. James. So much so that I will order the book of short stories from whence this story came come from my local library. 😊
I live under a rock and so never was aware of P.D. James and what she wrote.
In this story we are told early on that an assistant librarian, the protagonist and who is the narrator of the story, intends to murder his ex-wife’s husband for taking his wife away from him. We also know the ex-wife’s husband met a violent death. Does the violent death have anything do with the assistant librarian? With the ex-wife? I shan’t tell. 🙃
P.D. (Phyllis Dorothy) James wrote this in 1973 as part of a crime anthology, Winter Crimes 5 (editor: Virginia Whitaker), Knopf). It has most recently been published by Faber and Faber in her short story collection Sleep No More. This short story was published in honor of Faber’s 90th anniversary.
Reviews:
• https://storgy.com/2019/04/13/book-re...
• https://professionalmoron.com/2020/10...
I live under a rock and so never was aware of P.D. James and what she wrote.
In this story we are told early on that an assistant librarian, the protagonist and who is the narrator of the story, intends to murder his ex-wife’s husband for taking his wife away from him. We also know the ex-wife’s husband met a violent death. Does the violent death have anything do with the assistant librarian? With the ex-wife? I shan’t tell. 🙃
P.D. (Phyllis Dorothy) James wrote this in 1973 as part of a crime anthology, Winter Crimes 5 (editor: Virginia Whitaker), Knopf). It has most recently been published by Faber and Faber in her short story collection Sleep No More. This short story was published in honor of Faber’s 90th anniversary.
Reviews:
• https://storgy.com/2019/04/13/book-re...
• https://professionalmoron.com/2020/10...
July 9, 2022
Entertaining, short read. Felt like a short story printed in the newspapers in the old days.
And I love the book cover!
And I love the book cover!
January 3, 2019
I’ve not read any P. D. James before, but I think now that I’ve dipped my toes in I’m going to pick up another. A really enjoyable and absorbing short read.
November 8, 2021
Another of the Faber 90 short stories (would have been shorter without the help from the cats) this time from the pen of PD James. I think for me this is a great little story - (and yes I know it was a different author) which reminds me of the original "tales of the unexpected" where you go through an entire story only to have a shocking reveal at the end which throws the entire tale in to disarray.
The Faber at 90 series is a great series of small books (the majority are under 100 pages) all with a punch. In this case the tale of a crime which has gone so undetected that its perpetrator seems implausible - but with all these things reality can be rather different.
I have to admit that my experience of PD James is rather limited which is made all the more evident with the range and variety of works she produced - highlighted by yes another book introduction. I have to admit that you can learn a lot about an author and their body of work from such things and it is worth taking the time to read them. For me this means yet another author to explore and learn more about.
The Faber at 90 series is a great series of small books (the majority are under 100 pages) all with a punch. In this case the tale of a crime which has gone so undetected that its perpetrator seems implausible - but with all these things reality can be rather different.
I have to admit that my experience of PD James is rather limited which is made all the more evident with the range and variety of works she produced - highlighted by yes another book introduction. I have to admit that you can learn a lot about an author and their body of work from such things and it is worth taking the time to read them. For me this means yet another author to explore and learn more about.
August 26, 2020
This is a short story into the mind of a murderer. Mild mannered librarian out for revenge, but will he be successful?
September 28, 2019
As I started reading this slim Faber Stories volume, I realised I had already read the story as part of a full collection by James. I was more than happy to revisit it, however. It offers strangely serene yet disquieting insight into the mind of a killer, who spends more than a year methodically plotting the perfect murder of his ex-wife’s new lover. This in itself makes for a compelling enough narrative, but it also poses interesting questions about power and obsession: If your very existence is sustained by the need for revenge, will exacting it ever be enough to feel satisfied? Per James’ signature style, there’s also a small yet clever twist at the end, which adds another perspective to the story and forces us to reconsider who the true victim is. A great little read.
April 24, 2020
One short reading. As my first reading of P.D. James, it goes rather soothing. I like the style of writing, soothing description of a psycho's mind, however, it is too predictable, and even the mind of the psycho is so predictable, which is a bit of a disappointment. The ending is really the highlight, I like when "he" kept asking himself "who he is", a person who doesn't know who he/she is will have difficulties in focusing.
Who is the victim then?
Who is the victim then?
November 11, 2020
This felt like an attempt at a Norma Jean-esque Shakespeare tragedy, but it didn’t hit the right notes for me. I just felt like it was really trying to develop something- and short stories are a difficult art, no doubt- but it fell short of the mark. The ending was obvious which was deeply frustrating, and I just wanted one of those delicious short story twists.
January 10, 2019
Oh this was fabulous. All of the slugs have been dug up in a sociopathic rage! I can picture Penn Badgley as the disgruntled Librarian first husband. Biding his time.
November 24, 2024
A simple but intriguing story narrated by a wronged husband turned murderer. Could there have been more substance to our narrator and the story as a whole? Sure, but there was certainly enough to make this short story an enjoyable read.
did-not-finish
April 24, 2019Blech.
October 19, 2022
این یه داستان کوتاه از کتاب "خون خواب را ریختهاند" از نشر نون بود که مجموعه داستانهای کوتاه این نویسندهست و تم جنایی داره و به رازهای گذشته مرتبطه.
دوست داشتم.
دوست داشتم.
June 23, 2020
Another one published as a part of the Faber 90 series, The Victim by P. D. James is a gripping story of revenge. As the plot unfolds, the narrator's relationship to the other characters is revealed, resulting in a bloody climax. I am a fan of a twisted narrator and seeing inside the mind of the villain, which this story definitely offers, though there is definitely a case to be made for the villainy of other characters here.
While the characters were interesting to read, I wasn't entirely sure how much I really believed in them, especially Ilsa. The other thing I wasn't such a fan of with this book was the predictability of the plot. There is somewhat of a twist at the end that casts a new light on some other aspects of the story, but the grand climax felt far too smooth and predictable to me, so this one doesn't quite make it to a 4 star read for me.
While the characters were interesting to read, I wasn't entirely sure how much I really believed in them, especially Ilsa. The other thing I wasn't such a fan of with this book was the predictability of the plot. There is somewhat of a twist at the end that casts a new light on some other aspects of the story, but the grand climax felt far too smooth and predictable to me, so this one doesn't quite make it to a 4 star read for me.
December 17, 2019
‘The Victim’ is a well-executed story about a scorned ex-husband planning, executing and finally getting away with the murder of his wife’s second husband. No, this is no spoiler as the ex-husband tells us his story long after the events transpired - a clever spin on a classic murder tale. Yet, I’m missing a bit more character development and depth, I’d loved to have read more about the social climbing of the narrator’s ex-wife, for instance. A well enough short story which sadly doesn’t leave much of an impression besides. It may be more enjoyable for connoisseurs of the crime genre and fans of P.D. James’ other works.
October 16, 2021
(5/30 faber stories)
less than forty pages and i still had to force my way through this story which made me feel like i’d read it a hundred times before. everything about this book from its style of writing to the characters and the plot was off and left me completely underwhelmed? there was just no Point to this.
“there is one thing i shall never forget. the blood must have been red, what other colour could it have been? but, at the time and for ever afterwards, i saw it as a golden stream.”
less than forty pages and i still had to force my way through this story which made me feel like i’d read it a hundred times before. everything about this book from its style of writing to the characters and the plot was off and left me completely underwhelmed? there was just no Point to this.
“there is one thing i shall never forget. the blood must have been red, what other colour could it have been? but, at the time and for ever afterwards, i saw it as a golden stream.”
February 16, 2019
A great and very quick 15 minute read. Just what you need sometimes!
February 22, 2019
Never read P.D. James’ books, so I didn’t know what to expect. I loved the buildup of the story, and how she gave the characters personality within such a short story.
October 15, 2019
3,5 stars
Read
December 17, 2021This was my first experience reading a P.D. James mystery, and her writing is . . . clean. I don't know how else to explain it. The technicality of her writing was fantastic and the twist was twisted, but (slightly) predictable. Considering it was so short, I think that it was well-executed but it felt somehow sterile. I'd like to try reading one of her longer works though. If anyone can recommend a good James' mystery, I'd appreciate it!
TIA :)
TIA :)
December 15, 2024
This is the first PD James I've ever read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. It reminded me of a mix between Evelyn Hugo and The Tell Tale Heart. Written from the perspective of the killer, is always a fascinating take. The language choices were also stunning, creating a stunningly vivid setting for the action. I'll definitely be reading more of her books!
January 13, 2025
อารมณ์เหมือนอ่านนิยาย mystery-thiller สมัยก่อน โดยที่ตัวเอกเป็นฆาตกรและค่อยๆ ขยายว่าจะฆ่าคนนั้นเพราะอะไร เพื่ออะไร และทำยังไง เอาจริงสนุกนะ เพราะมันสั้นด้วยแหละ เนื้อเรื่องฉับไวสุดๆ ถ้ายาวกว่านี้น่าเบื่อแน่
October 11, 2023
Accidental feminist literature told from the perspective of her psycho ex husband? Yes please
October 24, 2024
(3.75 Stat Rating)
December 31, 2024
a man accidentally helps his ex-wife prosper!
✰ 2.5 - i liked the writing style
✰ 2.5 - i liked the writing style
February 16, 2025
Perfect Sunday afternoon book to curl up with.
I do like a short story and I’m surprised this one had been on my shelf so long unread. The humour and twisty darkness was very very tasty.
I do like a short story and I’m surprised this one had been on my shelf so long unread. The humour and twisty darkness was very very tasty.
February 7, 2019
I was disappointed to discover that this was a story that I had already read as it is contained in the recent anthology "Sleep No More: Six Murderous Tales". This accounts for a lower mark than I otherwise would have given it as I do enjoy P. D. James' writing so much. Unfortunately I remembered every detail of the story which rather spoiled its overall effect this time around!
May 19, 2023
4.5 Stars 🌟
December 11, 2024
Well that was quick 🤣.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews