Thirty years after an inexplicable tragedy that derailed her budding career and first love, Lady Margaret Millett receives a phone call that once again shatters the foundations of her life.

Overview of Death of a Unicorn (Paperback)
Plot Summary:
Lady Margaret, now a best-selling romantic novelist, inherits a stately home but remains haunted by the mysterious death of her first lover. Decades later, when an old acquaintance unexpectedly reappears, long-buried secrets begin to surface, forcing her to confront painful truths she thought were left behind.

Reception & Style:
Widely praised as a classic British mystery, the novel appeals to fans of atmospheric period dramas such as Downton Abbey. Celebrated authors including Laurie R. King, P.D. James, Penelope Lively, and Ruth Rendell have admired Peter Dickinson’s elegant prose and masterful storytelling. Beyond its suspense, the novel delivers a sharp social critique—juxtaposing 1950s Britain with the Thatcher-era 1980s through wit, subtle irony, and piercing insight.

Summary & Recommendation

With its blend of mystery, social commentary, and richly drawn characters, Death of a Unicorn is a hidden gem. Readers seeking an intelligent and atmospheric tale of secrets, memory, and consequence will find Peter Dickinson’s novel both compelling and unforgettable.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Arrow Books Limited UK
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 15, 1986
• Edition ‏ : ‎ A Hamlyn Paperback
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0099392402
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0099392408
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.2 ounces
• Condition: Used Good

 

Traditional Detective Mysteries, Historical Mystery, Literary Fiction

About The Author

Peter Dickinson was born in Africa but raised and educated in England. From 1952 to 1969, he was on the editorial staff of the British satirical magazine, Punch, and since then has earned his living writing fiction of various kinds for adults and children.

Amongst many other awards, Peter Dickinson has been short-listed nine times for the prestigious British Carnegie medal for children’s literature and was the first author to win it twice. He has won the Phoenix Award twice for "The Seventh Raven" and "Eva". He won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for "Chance, Luck and Destiny". "Eva" and "A Bone from A Dry Sea" were ALA Notable Books and SLJ Best Books of the Year. "The Ropemaker" was awarded the Mythopoeic Award for Children's Literature and was a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Peter's books for children have also been published in many languages throughout the world. His latest collection of short stories, "Earth and Air", was published in October, and his latest novel, "In the Palace of the Khans," was published in November.

Peter Dickinson was the first author to win the British Crime Writers' Golden Dagger for two books running: Skin Deep (1968), and A Pride of Heroes (1969). He has written twenty-one crime and mystery novels, which have been published in several languages.

He has been chairman of the UK Society of Authors and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He was awarded an O.B.E. for services to literature in 2009.