Reviews

Miss Pym ingriper by Josephine Tey

cimorene1558's review against another edition

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4.0

A very fine and chilling book. I love it so much, but the ending is so awful!

lgpiper's review against another edition

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3.0

Soon, one hopes

mmw2024's review against another edition

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3.0

not sure I loved this as a mystery- a little too convenient that the protagonist just keeps finding significant items on the ground!

l1nds's review against another edition

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5.0

Well considering that I only read this because it's cited as an inspiration for the excellent Murder Most Unladylike, it was surprisingly brilliant! It's a very slow burn kind of mystery but still very atmospheric during the build-up. I loved it, but then I've always loved a good school story. My only complaint would have been that it was too predictable but then the THING happens, after I'd forgotten former suspicions, and I was SHOCKED!

saroz162's review against another edition

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dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Not a mystery novel, but more of a slow-burn study of psychology, as Miss Pym ingratiates herself into the community of a girls' college and slowly learns just how human all the seemingly obvious personalities are (of students and faculty alike). Somewhere around halfway through the book the atmosphere starts to become very tense and you are aware something awful is going to happen, but you don't know just when, or to whom, or why. 

It's an interesting book, and I think Tey shows a lot of skill in gradually unfolding what's going on. Not everything or everyone is who they seem, but not in grandiose ways, only realistic ones. Even Miss Pym is no hero - some of her actions undoubtedly add to the tragedy of the book, and I think it's fair to say she doesn't show much strength of character when she realizes.

I probably would have reviewed this book a little higher with a more appropriate audiobook narrator. For whatever reason, Karen Cass's "jolly hockey sticks" accent never quite seemed right; she got across the moments of humor, but the darker, more contemplative moments are just too light in her performance.

mckeanja's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

camillam's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

magratajostiernos's review against another edition

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3.0

3,5/5
Creo que lo ideal es leer este libro disfrutando del estilo de la autora y olvidando que está catalogada como "novela de misterio".
La historia nos presenta a Lucy Pym una ex-profesora reconvertira en escritora de éxito tras el lanzamiento de su libro sobre psicología. La visita a una escuela de educación física tendrá entretenida durante dos semanas a Lucy ahondando en los intereses ocultos que hay en cada una de las alumnas y lo que esconden bajo esa fachada de salud y buena voluntad.
Es una novela ligera, entretenida y con un toque feel good que sabrán disfrutar los fans de D.E. Stevenson o Barbara Pym... con un poco más de intriga, eso sí, pero sin el malrollismo genial de novelas como 'La plenitud de la Señorita Brodie' de Muriel Spark.
Me ha gustado mucho el estilo de la autora, que como su protagonista hace un agudo estudio de la mente de los personajes con el añadido de un toque de ironía inglesa que le viene de lujo.... Seguro que volveré a leer alguna obra de Josephine Tey :)
*** Como siempre la edición de Hoja de Lata fantabulosa.

thegel's review

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

4.0

johnnyforeign's review against another edition

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4.0

As chance would have it, "Miss Pym Disposes" reminds me in many ways of the exquisite novels of Barbara Pym. Like Barbara Pym, Josephine Tey has a very keen eye for the nuanced world of the English class system and, like Pym, she is extremely witty and wise. If you are looking for a straight ahead whodunit, be forewarned that "Miss Pym Disposes" is only nominally a mystery and that Miss Pym is no Miss Marple; nonetheless, the novel does hold enough uncertainty and suspense to maintain one's interest. Overall, a very entertaining story, with an interesting plot, fully realized characters, and sharp emotional and sociological insights.