The Victim

P.D. James takes us inside the mind of a murderer in this story from 1973.

An assistant librarian at a local, branch library marries a 17-year old beauty. He’s a 32-year-old, virgin whose hair is starting to thin. Not exactly a match made in heaven, but he had a job and was steady and reliable. As long as she was getting what she wanted, she seemed content and they made it work for a couple years.

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 voice: “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?”

PD James lets us see the killer’s motives for the crime, his careful planning and execution and the aftermath which has some unexpected consequences.

Faber Stories, a landmark series of individual volumes, presents masters of the short story form at work in a range of genres and styles.