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Fiction featuring Care Experience

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Death in Holy Orders (Novel)

P.D.James

2001

Death in Holy Orders (2001) is a crime novel by noted British novelist PD James (1920-2014).

The setting is a Church of England theological college, Saint Anselm’s, which trains Anglican priests. Saint Anselm’s is located on a cliff along the Suffolk coast.

There are 3 Care Experienced characters in the story – Ronald Treves, an adoptee; Raphael Arbuthnot, who was abandoned at Saint Anselm’s as a baby; and Kate Miskin, who was raised by her grandmother.

Ronald Treves and Raphael Arbuthnot are ordinands or trainee priests; Kate Miskin is a police office with the Metropolitan police.

The police, let by Adam Dalgliesh (who features in 14 of James’ novels), is investigating the brutal murder of a visiting archdeacon.

*Spoiler Alert* None of the Care Experienced characters are murderers.

Children and young people in social care, and those who have left, are often subject to stigmatisation and discrimination. Being stigmatised and discriminated against can impact negatively on mental health and wellbeing not only during the care experience but often for many years after too. The project aims to contribute towards changing community attitudes towards care experienced people as a group. See glossary HERE


Website set up with support from The Welland Trust 

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