P D James's latest novel, dramatised by Neville Teller, finds Commander Dalgliesh (once again played by Richard Derrington) and DI Kate Miskin (Deborah McAndrew) investigating a mysterious death at a top cosmetic surgery clinic, Cheverell Manor, in Dorset. The clinic lies close to an ancient stone circle - the Cheverell Stones - where a young woman accused of witchcraft, Mary Keyte, was burned to death in the 17th century. One of the staff at the Manor believes the ghost of Mary Keyte is not at rest, while others may have a grudge against the clinic's arrogant owner. Added to this, there is an argument over a disputed inheritance which may or may not have a bearing on the crime.

The Private Patient is the latest in the long-running Dalgliesh series, and the first to be dramatised on radio before television. The entire serial will be released on CD by BBC Audiobooks in June, and repeated on Radio 7 in August as part of a PD James season.

The dramatiser is Neville Teller, who also dramatised the previous Dalgliesh serial featuring Richard Derrington and Deborah McAndrew, A Taste For Death.

Narrator / Emma Lavenham . . . . . Carolyn Pickles
Cdr Adam Dalgliesh . . . . . Richard Derrington
DI Kate Miskin . . . .Deborah McAndrew
DS Francis Benton-Smith . . . . . Johndeep More
Marcus Westhall . . . . . . Adrian Grove
Candace Westhall . . . . . Alison Pettitt
Sharon Bateman / Mary Keyte . . . . . . Charlotte Worthing
Stephen Collinsby . . . . . Andy Hockley
Lettie Frensham . . . . . Kate Layden
Jeremy Coxon . . . . . Mark Carey
Philip Kershaw . . . . . Robert Lister
Grace Holmes . . . . . Charlotte West-Oram

Dramatised by Neville Teller

Producer/Director . . . . . Peter Leslie Wild. Show less