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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
Things that annoyed me about this book:
1. The ridiculous overuse of the word "lover".
2. The introduction of an enormous amount of characters with little or no purpose.
3. The main character (Josephine Tey) was extremely dull -- she didn't like being open or personal with anyone, including many if not all of her closest friends, though we are to feel sorry for her because she has suffered a horrible tragedy. Nor is she particularly friendly or kind, except of course when she inexplicably became best chums with the future murder victim after a short train ride. In addition to her general dislike of people, she was a pill about her play and how it brought all this unwelcome attention. It was hard to see why anyone really liked her very much. I know she is based on a real-life person, but she was a dry as a stack of toast served at a wedding reception.
4. The book is touted as a Josephine Tey mystery which would lead one to believe that Josephine is actually doing the sleuthing. This is not so; there is a police officer who does much of the investigating. Josephine figures it out at the end, mostly by accident.
1. The ridiculous overuse of the word "lover".
2. The introduction of an enormous amount of characters with little or no purpose.
3. The main character (Josephine Tey) was extremely dull -- she didn't like being open or personal with anyone, including many if not all of her closest friends, though we are to feel sorry for her because she has suffered a horrible tragedy. Nor is she particularly friendly or kind, except of course when she inexplicably became best chums with the future murder victim after a short train ride. In addition to her general dislike of people, she was a pill about her play and how it brought all this unwelcome attention. It was hard to see why anyone really liked her very much. I know she is based on a real-life person, but she was a dry as a stack of toast served at a wedding reception.
4. The book is touted as a Josephine Tey mystery which would lead one to believe that Josephine is actually doing the sleuthing. This is not so; there is a police officer who does much of the investigating. Josephine figures it out at the end, mostly by accident.
not quite sure what this was meant to be - and not quite sure the author knew, either. was it meant to provide insight into the real-life josephine tey? (it doesn't.) to stand in as a "new" tey mystery? (it doesn't.) to pay homage to tey's wonderfully evocative and introspective writing style? (it may try to, but it doesn't.) to give us a worthy predecessor to inspector grant? (again: nope.)
here's what this novel is: boring. its characters, the sleuthing, the theatre, the psychology, and (most unforgiveable of all) josephine tey, who barely figures into the story at all. all dull and lifeless. bah!
here's what this novel is: boring. its characters, the sleuthing, the theatre, the psychology, and (most unforgiveable of all) josephine tey, who barely figures into the story at all. all dull and lifeless. bah!
From BBC Radio 4 - Extra Debut:
Murder mystery set in 1934. A playwright travels to London for the final week of her hit play and meets an ill-fated young fan. From April 2008.
Episode 2 0f 10
The clues to a murder lead Inspector Penrose to his old acquaintance Josephine Tey.
Episode 3 of 10
The investigation leads Penrose into the theatre world of London's West End.
Episode 4 of 10
Penrose waits for an opportunity to speak to impresario Bernard Aubrey, but tragedy is about to strike at the theatre.
Episode 5 of 10
Penrose is nowhere near catching the murderer and is anxious that Josephine could be the next victim.
Episode 6 of 10
Penrose suspects that the war may hold the key to his double murder investigation. Meanwhile, Hedley White, one of the chief suspects, reappears.
Episode 7 of 10
Hedley has seeks an alibi for the time of Elspeth's murder. Penrose is unconvinced that Josephine was not the intended victim.
Episode 8 of 10
Elspeth's adoptive mother Alice Simmons arrives in London and provides Penrose with a vital link between the past and the present.
Episode 9 of 10
Penrose has discovered a link between Elspeth and Bernard, but what he has yet to find out is the identity of the murderer. Vital information comes from a very unexpected source.
Episode 10 of 10
Josephine and Marta find themselves in mortal danger. Marta has made a ghastly discovery as the investigation closes in on the murderer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009xzbk
Murder mystery set in 1934. A playwright travels to London for the final week of her hit play and meets an ill-fated young fan. From April 2008.
Episode 2 0f 10
The clues to a murder lead Inspector Penrose to his old acquaintance Josephine Tey.
Episode 3 of 10
The investigation leads Penrose into the theatre world of London's West End.
Episode 4 of 10
Penrose waits for an opportunity to speak to impresario Bernard Aubrey, but tragedy is about to strike at the theatre.
Episode 5 of 10
Penrose is nowhere near catching the murderer and is anxious that Josephine could be the next victim.
Episode 6 of 10
Penrose suspects that the war may hold the key to his double murder investigation. Meanwhile, Hedley White, one of the chief suspects, reappears.
Episode 7 of 10
Hedley has seeks an alibi for the time of Elspeth's murder. Penrose is unconvinced that Josephine was not the intended victim.
Episode 8 of 10
Elspeth's adoptive mother Alice Simmons arrives in London and provides Penrose with a vital link between the past and the present.
Episode 9 of 10
Penrose has discovered a link between Elspeth and Bernard, but what he has yet to find out is the identity of the murderer. Vital information comes from a very unexpected source.
Episode 10 of 10
Josephine and Marta find themselves in mortal danger. Marta has made a ghastly discovery as the investigation closes in on the murderer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009xzbk
Decent characterization and atmosphere, but the plot didn't really work for me, and there were too many things that just felt anachronistic—the easy acceptance of many gay characters in 1930s England primary among them. I like having gay characters in books, but I like when the portrayal of their lives feels real and not like window dressing.
Josephine Tey as a character doesn't make a huge amount of sense to me, either. But, I guess it made me read the book when I might not have otherwise, so I see why they did it.
Josephine Tey as a character doesn't make a huge amount of sense to me, either. But, I guess it made me read the book when I might not have otherwise, so I see why they did it.
This is a beautifully written, if dense, period mystery. I found it very slow at times, but I enjoyed the backdrop of the 1930s theater scene in London. I never felt like I got to know the main character very well, but I like the premise of a female playwright as sort-of detective. The book is terribly British in tone, with a lot of subtlety that sometimes made it hard to follow. I would recommend to mystery and historical novel fans, but not to those looking for some romance mixed in with their historical mystery.
Found this murder mystery quite interesting and entertaining, it would have been better to get to know some of the characters better.