Cordelia Gray

Cordelia Gray, as she appeared in volume 14 of Case Closed

Cordelia Gray is the main protagonist of P. D. James's An Unsuitable Job for a Woman and of The Skull Beneath the Skin. She works as a private detective in London, having inherited a detective agency on the death of her boss. She likes order and knowledge and remains focused on her cases.

At the conclusion of An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, Cordelia Gray meets James's other detective Adam Dalgliesh. In A Taste for Death it is mentioned that they have been seen dining together.

Television

Cordelia Gray was first portrayed by Pippa Guard in the 1982 television adaptation of An Unsuitable Job for a Woman.

Four separate feature-length dramas comprise the series (also called "An Unsuitable Job for a Woman") in which Cordelia Gray was portrayed by Helen Baxendale.

• Sacrifice was first broadcast from 24 October 1997, consisting of three separate 60-minute episodes.
• A Last Embrace was first broadcast from 19 February 1998, also consisting of three separate 60-minute episodes.
• Living on Risk was first broadcast from 27 August 1999, consisting of two separate 60-minute episodes.
• Playing God was first broadcast on 16 May 2001, as one 120-minute episode.

Other appearances

Gray was highlighted in volume 14 of the Case Closed manga's edition of "Gosho Aoyama's Mystery Library, a section of the graphic novels (usually the last page) where the author introduces a different detective (or occasionally, a villain) from mystery literature, television, or other media. The Japanese version of her name was also used to create a cover name for one of the series' main characters, Ai Haibara.