Reviews - Brat Farrar | The StoryGraph

208 reviews for:

Brat Farrar

Josephine Tey

3.98 AVERAGE

hazel_ht's review against another edition

4.5

dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: Yes

megmcardle's review against another edition

4.0

There's a reason Jospehine Tey has never gone out of print, and wowza, this is one of them. The plot revolves around a young man pretending to be the presumed dead heir to an English estate, who was thought to commit suicide 8 years previous, when he was a boy of 14. Really about the reactions of the family to this spectre's reaapearance, and the feelings of the imposter himself about what he is doing. Infused with a creeping sense of the dread of being uncovered as a fraud, we sympathize with our con man quite a bit. Not really dated at all, with the exception that no one suggests a DNA test, this "mystery" is like so many of Tey's novels - psychological studies in disguise. A slightly pat wrapping up of loose ends is all that prevents a 5 star.

judyward's review against another edition

4.0

I know, I know, I need to get off this classic mystery kick, but every time I turn around, I hear about another book that I have to read. This is my favorite Josephine Tey book yet. Originally published in the late 1940s, it explores the question, "what is morality" and firmly establishes that there are no total black and white answers. At age 13, Patrick Ashby committed suicide by jumping off a cliff into the ocean leaving behind a note that said, "I'm sorry, but I can't bear it any longer. Don't be angry with me." But his body was never found. Eight years later, a young man with an uncanny resemblence to Patrick is convinced by a frequently unemployed actor to impersonate Patrick and return to his home to claim Patrick's inheritance. Which by the way, snatches that inheritance from his twin brother days before their 21st birthday. Told from the point of view of Brat Farrar--the impersonator--the book details "Patrick's" return home and the effect that reappearance has on every member of his family. Telling the story from Brat's point of view also allows the reader to understand the mixed feelings Brat has as the Ashby family slowly embraces him as one of their own. An excellent read. Bring on more Josephine Tey.

unevendays's review against another edition

4.25

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

caroparr's review against another edition

4.0

(Note to self: see my original reviews under [b:Three By Tey: Miss Pym Disposes / The Franchise Affair / Brat Farrar|952318|Three By Tey Miss Pym Disposes / The Franchise Affair / Brat Farrar|Josephine Tey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1272504783l/952318._SY75_.jpg|937230]).
Yes, this is a fairly improbable story: random guy who looks exactly like Patrick Ashby, thought to have thrown himself off a cliff eight years before, turns up and, thanks to coaching by a former friend of the family, convinces everyone he is Patrick finally returned. But it sets up some wonderful tension and offers surprises of its own. Very much of its time and place - in other words, Tey's "Tory reactionary" side is in full view - but if you can swallow that, it's very engaging.

andforgotten's review against another edition

4.0

What an excellent mystery! I love the way (almost) all the characters are drawn in a sympathetic light - in particular of course the title-giving antihero. Though parts of the actual mystery were pretty clear to me early on, it was still a pleasure to listen to the entire thing, and see it turn out so positively in the end.