Reviews

Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey

cazzalarouge's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ifollowedthatrabbit's review against another edition

4.0

Brat Farrar thought he'd had an exciting life. He was only 21 years old and lived plenty of adventures. He'd traveled to the USA and worked with horses until he felt the need to come back to the land he was born in. Once he arrived in England, he met a man who confused him with someone else. This man encourages him to pose as Patrick Ashby, who disappeared eight years ago and was believed dead because of a note he left which was understood as a "suicide note", though they never found his body.

After learning everything he needed in order to pose as Patrick, Brat is ready to meet the Ashby family in order to claim his inheritance. How would the family react, especially Patrick's twin? And what really happened to Patrick?

suvata's review against another edition

4.0

Continuing my TBR project:
This is one the oldest selection on my TBR list - Originally added April 17, 2017.

Written in 1949, This is an old-fashioned , cozy mystery about an impostor who convinces a wealthy family that he is their son who died in his childhood. Actually, there is quite a twist at the end.

conniezawa's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

alex_watkins's review against another edition

4.0

I miss the deliciously 70's cover of my mother's paperback copy of this book. This book isn't really much of a mystery novel. It's actually more about relationships and english manners and horses. The murder was obvious from the start. I kept being like HE OBVIOUSLY KILLED HIM PEOPLE. So much so that I have to assume surprise was not the point. Though the method I did not figure out. It was surprisingly compelling for a book where not all the much happens besides people eating breakfast at an English manor, it is basically Downton abbey with a poorer family. In fact thie particular plot line of this book (return of a presumed dead heir) was actually in a couple Downton episodes and was terrible, but it was good in this book.

alice_horoshev's review

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

5.0

shalini_gunnasan's review against another edition

4.0

What an interesting story, if a little predictable. It was obvious from the beginning what had happened. I predicted two things which is proven, but such revelations are pretty common for thrillers like this. Interesting ending, though.

Great book for a weekend read.

graff_fuller's review against another edition

challenging dark hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Many years ago (mid-90s), I found the author, Josephine Tey (actually Margaret McIntosh). She was a contemporary of Agatha Christie...and had an ability to write really unique stories...that I loved.

I seemed to fly through her works, loving each and everyone of them, but for some reason...I got distracted by other authors/writings and never completed her catalog. I am now trying to complete the ones that I had not previously read.

This story was NOT what I thought it was going to be, going in. It was a discovery type story. 

At first, I thought that Brat Farrar was going to be the bad guy, and I wasn't too sure that I was going to like THAT. As the story progresses, I realized that I had been looking at it from a different angle...than the author intended,..and I liked her view a LOT better.

It took a bit...to get used to the writing style, again...but once into the rhythm...I really loved it.

Each of the characters were really well characterized. The protagonist is to BECOME someone who disappeared 10 years earlier, and because of the striking similarities in looks, a person devised a plan to receive money from this ruse.

As Brat is impersonating Patrick Ashby, his twin brother questions him about who he is.

And from there...things are revealed that open up another thread of inquiry It really was/a good story.

By the end, I was in tears. The story touched me...and again shows how this author really did have a great gift of writing unique stories.

So sad about her early demise.

caroline1976's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

carolline's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75