A Mind to Murder is a 1963 crime novel by English writer P. D. James, the second in her Adam Dalgliesh series.
In a psychiatric clinic late one night, the piercing scream of a dying woman shatters the calm, and Detective Superintendent Dalgliesh arrives to investigate. He soon finds the body of a clinic employee sprawled across the basement floor, with a chisel driven through her heart. This marks the beginning of a psychological battle with an intellectual, predatory killer who feels no remorse, no regret and no self-control.
Chicago Daily News wrote about the novel: "With discernment, depth and craftsmanship, A Mind to Murder is a superbly satisfying mystery."