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A review by jhbandcats
Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-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
5.0
What a clever, clever story! I watched the BBC series in the 1980s and have always wanted to read the book. It didn’t disappoint. It’s a charming glimpse at the life of the English gentry in the post-WWII era and a look at the close ties of family who love each other.
I remember being floored at the twist when I watched it on TV. It’s just as twisty in the book and I’d never have seen it coming. That said, knowing the story already, I enjoyed the tiny clues.
The most exciting scenes are, perhaps surprisingly, at a horse show, not when anything nefarious is happening. All the family members are performing in one way or another. It’s written in a way that non-horse people like myself can easily understand what’s going on and what’s at stake.
The whole book is an absolute delight.
I remember being floored at the twist when I watched it on TV. It’s just as twisty in the book and I’d never have seen it coming. That said, knowing the story already, I enjoyed the tiny clues.
The most exciting scenes are, perhaps surprisingly, at a horse show, not when anything nefarious is happening. All the family members are performing in one way or another. It’s written in a way that non-horse people like myself can easily understand what’s going on and what’s at stake.
The whole book is an absolute delight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism