Published in 1962 this six part adaption was first broadcast in 1985 on ITV and was a instant success paving the way for more PD James adaptions and even more TV detectives such as Morse, Lewis, Endeavor, And Frost and many many others.
Each has its own twist with the lead detective front and centre, the PD James stories with chief superintendent Adam Dalgleish note the spelling are somewhat different with far more time spent explaining and introducing the various characters most of whom serve as suspects while Dalgleish appears sparingly and he casts an aloof almost threatening figure full of himself and his high office, a man of few words and thoughts at least outwardly who almost stalks his suspects and comes over to the viewer as cold almost unfeeling, yet he is a poet for some plot counterweight. This story "Cover Her Face" was the very first Dalgleish story published 23 years before this dramatization, so the mini series alters quite a few details in order to keep the plot up to date, which mostly works out alright, none the less though some of the characters are far more 52 than 85 this is however one of the best Dalgleish stories if not the best. In six one hour episode's the complex plot slowly unfolds in the usual TV manner but with much less padding than in many other similar shows. Roy Marsden I think is excellent as the deep thinking brooding sleuth and though the character is probably best on the page the actor and producers do a pretty good job on involving the audience as the crimes are solved. Great TV from the UK and that odd era that was the 1980's!
