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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm strolling through Josephine Tey's mysteries in and between other books, having read them all many years ago.
This one is an interesting reworking of a real case that happened in the 18th century, and is enjoyable. There are a few jarring notes where individuals say they would like to beat up the girl who claims to have been abducted, beaten and held hostage, because the speaker believes she is lying. There is a tone of "no better than she ought to be" and a looking down on someone seen as coming from the "lower classes".
However, that is a reflection of the time it was written and the unravelling of the mystery is enjoyable. All ends satisfactorily with the possibility of a new and happy life ahead of the main characters.
This one is an interesting reworking of a real case that happened in the 18th century, and is enjoyable. There are a few jarring notes where individuals say they would like to beat up the girl who claims to have been abducted, beaten and held hostage, because the speaker believes she is lying. There is a tone of "no better than she ought to be" and a looking down on someone seen as coming from the "lower classes".
However, that is a reflection of the time it was written and the unravelling of the mystery is enjoyable. All ends satisfactorily with the possibility of a new and happy life ahead of the main characters.
Robert Blair has settled into the law firm that was waiting for him. His cousin Nevil, is the younger partner now. Robert is sitting in his office after tea contemplating leaving for the day when his phone rings. It is Marion Sharpe - she would like him to come out to the Franchise because Scotland Yard is there and she wants someone to advise her and her mother. He tries to get her to call Carley, a criminal lawyer, but she refuses. So, intrigued, he goes out there. A 16 year old school girl claims that Marion and her mother kidnapped her and tried to force her to be a maid. When Betty tried to escape they beat her. She describes where she was locked in the attic - a small room with a round window. And claims she escaped after six weeks when they forgot to lock the door. She managed to catch a ride with a lorry driver to get home. At first she refuses to tell her family what happened and won't talk to police, but is finally persuaded. The Sharpes have never seen the girl and have no idea what she is talking about, but this sweet-faced girl is piling up evidence against them. Inspector Grant decides there is not enough real evidence - it is mostly circumstantial. Betty's foster brother (she was adopted when her parents were killed during a bombing raid in WWII), is highly indignant the Yard won't do anything and goes to the papers. Which blows the whole thing up and puts the Sharpe women in a state of siege in their isolated house. Added to which, a vindictive maid sees further opportunity to get revenge. Robert begins to go round, tallking to people who knew Betty. He talks to the aunt she was staying with in a nearby town. Franchise is between this town and Milford where his practice is. Her aunt tells him she would go to the cinema in the mornings and ride buses into the countryside in the afternoons. Her aunt thought she had gone home, but her family thought she was still with the aunt. But Robert talks to some people around the town who had a different idea of the girl. But he still needs proof and hires a private detective on the recommendation of his trial lawyer friend, Kevin McDermott. Kevin comes to visit and finds Mrs Sharpe is a sister of his horse breeding friend who bred Kevin's first pony and very knowledgeable about horses in her own right, so he decides to help Robert defend them.
So, was this sweet girl kidnapped? or was their something else even worse going on?
I stumbled across Josephine Tey years ago, and found her mysteries fascinating. I believe the first I read was Daughter of Time. And I was hooked. There is just something very appealing and distinctive about her stories. She does not stick to the mystery 'rules', but that just makes them more intriguing. You never know for sure what will happen.
So, was this sweet girl kidnapped? or was their something else even worse going on?
I stumbled across Josephine Tey years ago, and found her mysteries fascinating. I believe the first I read was Daughter of Time. And I was hooked. There is just something very appealing and distinctive about her stories. She does not stick to the mystery 'rules', but that just makes them more intriguing. You never know for sure what will happen.
Folio Society Edition.
Josephine Tey is a pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh, a Scottish-born writer who wrote plays and novels in the first half of the 20th century. It's shocking that she is not better known in her homeland, I had never heard of her until I came across these Folio Society editions. Witty, amusing, and well-crafted,very much in the style of Agatha Christie, who was a contemporary. A delight from start to finish.
Josephine Tey is a pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh, a Scottish-born writer who wrote plays and novels in the first half of the 20th century. It's shocking that she is not better known in her homeland, I had never heard of her until I came across these Folio Society editions. Witty, amusing, and well-crafted,very much in the style of Agatha Christie, who was a contemporary. A delight from start to finish.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Read in the context and society in which it was written this is fab. It’s my first Tey and I love her approach to crime. There’s little mystery and no murder - it’s about the impact of crime with time spent with a cast of great characters.
Josephine Tey is a crashing snob and a xenophobe, and I strongly suspect her of supporting eugenics. Her prejudices really grated on me this second time of reading*. But no one can deny that she can write. Both language and plot are tight and perfect. As a detective story, this is magnificent.
The mystery is not about who the criminal is, but rather in how she achieved the crime, and as such is truly mysterious. The characters, though unabashedly "types" (how Tey loves to pontificate on "types!") are somehow still vivid and fascinating, to love or hate as we are supposed to - if we can turn off our critical mind. Basically, this is one of those three-stars that really mean it is worthy (IMO) of both one star and five stars at the same time.
*Even within the context of her time, it's much worse than any contemporary of hers that I've read.
The mystery is not about who the criminal is, but rather in how she achieved the crime, and as such is truly mysterious. The characters, though unabashedly "types" (how Tey loves to pontificate on "types!") are somehow still vivid and fascinating, to love or hate as we are supposed to - if we can turn off our critical mind. Basically, this is one of those three-stars that really mean it is worthy (IMO) of both one star and five stars at the same time.
*Even within the context of her time, it's much worse than any contemporary of hers that I've read.
slow-paced