The acclaimed crime novelist PD James has died at the age of 94.
James, who became Baroness James of Holland Park in 1991, is the author of 20 detective novels and creator of popular Adam Dalgliesh series.
She is survived by her two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren
Her most famous works are the Adam Dalgliesh series, immortalised by actor Roy Marsden in film and television.
The actor today said her death was a 'great loss'.
'It is with great sadness that the family of author P D James, Baroness James of Holland Park OBE, FRSL, FRSA, announce that she died peacefully at her home in Oxford on the morning of 27 November 2014, aged 94, a much-loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
'The family have requested privacy at this time,' a spokesman for the novelist said this morning.
Since publishing her first novel at the age of 42, Baroness James has become known as one of the country's finest crime writers.
The author, born Phyllis Dorothy James in Oxford in 1920, always showed a keen interest in literature, inventing fictional characters for her younger siblings when they were children.
Besieged by austerity and put in charge of her two siblings at the age of 14, she was forced to abandon her dreams of writing for a job at the theatre.
A career in the NHS, and in various departments of the British Civil Service followed, providing the writer with a vast understanding of such environments which would become commonplace in her later crime series.
She did not publish her first novel until the age of 42 after months of secrecy, her only confidante being her husband who, at the time, was being treated in a psychiatric hospital.
A doctor in the war, he returned in poor mental health and died some years later.
Describing herself in interviews as a 'late starter', Baroness James was quickly rewarded for her literary talents.
The Adam Dalgliesh novels, starting with Cover Her Face, were adapted by ITV in 1983 in a 10-part series starring Roy Marsden.
In 2003 the BBC took over to adapt two more starring Martin Shaw.
Her 1992 novel Children of Men was made into a film by Alfonso Cuarón in 2006.
Five years later, the then 91-year-old reproduced Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice to critical acclaim.
Her other fictional work, The Children of Men, also received praise.
Among her many accolades is the International Crime Writing Hall of Fame 2008 and the Grand Master Award from Mystery Writers of America, 1999.
In her role as Governor of the BBC, Ms James challenged the then-director general of the BBC while guest-editing the Today programme in 2009.
She urged that the salaries of BBC executives become public knowledge, which they now are.
While Baroness James spoke of her lack of sentimentality in fiction, she enjoyed a strong connection to the Church and its values in reality.
Speaking at St Paul's Cathedral in May last year, she told the congregation: 'Even our religious duties must come secondary to meeting the need of another human being.
When we see that need we should meet it and not have excuses.'
Roy Marsden, who gleaned his most prolific role as Baroness James's Adam Dalgliesh, led tributes to the writer today.
'She was a gentle, slightly coquettish, but gentle woman. She was great, it's a great loss,' Mr Marsden, 73, told MailOnline this afternoon. '
‘She used to write, better than anything else I’ve read in my life, a description of place. She'd have made the greatest travel writer if she turned her pen to it. She could evoke the most extraordinary places, when you read her books it was that that you were drawn to, and out of that were these extraordinary characters.'
Speaking of his time working with Baroness James, he added:
'It was a wonderful period and a very good period of television, when it was in a powerful and strong place, we were making a lot of good dramas.
‘I always associate her (stories) with a very happy, creative period in my life.
‘It's always been good, I'm very lucky.'
Her publishers Faber & Faber said: 'This is a very sad day for us at Faber.
'It is difficult to express our profound sadness at losing PD James, one of the world's great writers and a Faber author since her first publication in 1962.
'She was so very remarkable in every aspect of her life, an inspiration and great friend to us all.
'It is a privilege to publish her extraordinary books.
'Working with her was always the best of times, full of joy. We will miss her hugely.'
Fellow crime write Ian Rankin was among the first to publically pay tribute to Baroness James this morning.
'So sad about PD James. Every event I did with her was a joy. Sharp intellect, ready wit. She will be missed,' he wrote on Twitter.
US crime writer Patricia Cornwell said: 'RIP PD James and thanks for encouraging me when I was getting started,' while Chelsea Clinton wrote: 'Very sad to hear of P.D. James passing, one of the all time great mystery writers. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends.'
The Prime Minister paid tribute to one of the country's 'greatest crime writers who thrilled and inspired generations of readers'.
'Saddened to hear of the death of PD James, one of the UK's greatest crime writers, who thrilled and inspired generations of readers,' David Cameron added.
The Reverend Canon Michael Hampel, Precentor of St Paul's Cathedral and a friend of Baroness James, said: 'We are desperately sad to hear of P D James' death.
'Her creative genius put her alongside the great authors of detective fiction, not least Dorothy L Sayers whom Lady James greatly admired.
'She was a woman of sharp intellect and profound grace and those of us who met her here at St Paul’s were hugely privileged to have done so.'
The Rev Richard Coles added: 'RIP PD James. I looked after her when she stayed at my theological college researching a book. "Call me Phyllis," she said, "while I'm here"'
BBC Women's Hour Jenni Murray praised the writer whom she described as a 'great friend' to the programme.
Baroness Stowell, Leader of the Lords, said: 'In addition to being an acclaimed novelist who brought so much pleasure to so many through her writing, PD James also made a great contribution to public life as a civil servant, a BBC Governor and as a peer of the realm.
'She was a loyal member of the Conservative party and was much loved by all sides of the House of Lords.
'Her contributions in the chamber were characteristically modest and considered, and we shall all miss her greatly. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this sad time.'
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