The last month's reading list...
A woman's body is found on the English seacoast, and twisted in her hair is an article screaming murder. For Inspector Alan Grant, the case becomes a nightmare, as too many clues and too many motives arise.
Robert Blair is about to knock off from a slow day at his law firm when the phone rings. It's Marion Sharpe on the line, a local woman who lives with her mother at their decrepit country house, The Franchise. Miss Sharpe and her mother are accused of brutally kidnapping a demure young woman named Betty Kane. Miss Kane's claims seem highly unlikely, even to Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard, until she described her prison - an attic room with its cracked window, the kitchen, and the old trunks - which all sound remarkably like The Franchise. Yet Marion Sharpe claims the Kane girl has never been there, let alone been held captive for an entire month. Blair takes up the case and, in a dazzling feat of amateur detective work, solves the unbelievable mystery that stumps even Inspector Grant.
P.S. Here's a good site with some great background information on Josephine Tey.
During a summer festival in an English spa town Miles Quentin, a distinguished actor, and his devoted wife Jill, become friendly with the local member of Parliament, Geoffrey Thornton, and his young daughters, Robin and Kit. All these attractive, intelligent and fully occupied people are seemingly untroubled. But the surface of their lives is deceptive.
All, even the lively teenagers, have unusual problems which are only brought fully to light after the Quentins return to the London theatre world and the Thorntons to their Westminster house. Then the story becomes a far from conventional love story in which loyalty may prove more important than love. Few readers of its early sunny chapters will foresee its dramatic development, the outcome of which is uncertain until the very end.
All, even the lively teenagers, have unusual problems which are only brought fully to light after the Quentins return to the London theatre world and the Thorntons to their Westminster house. Then the story becomes a far from conventional love story in which loyalty may prove more important than love. Few readers of its early sunny chapters will foresee its dramatic development, the outcome of which is uncertain until the very end.
London's theatre world of the 1920's provides a glittering backdrop for Mouse, an eighteen year-old Lancashire girl intent on a stage career. She tells the story herself with the utmost frankness and with an authenticity which derives from Dodie Smith's own wide experience as both actress and playwright.
As you can see - still on the mid-century women authors thing!
These look great! (Though I've never heard of Josephine Tey before now.) I've only read Dodie Smith's "I Capture the Castle" but I loved her writing in that. Will have to check out more of her other novels.
ReplyDeleteTey is one of the more forgotten writers from that golden age of crime writers (but highly regarded by critics and her peers). Her style of narrative is sometimes surprising when you realise when they were published - although "old fashioned" in some ways they are surprisingly modern in others. The Dodie Smith's are also a bit odd - although published in the 60's they absolutely hark back to an earlier era. P.S. You should check out Persephone Books if you haven't already, they publish mid-century (mainly female) authors, mostly forgotten classics of their time. P.P.S. loving your blog too!
DeleteHmm, I'll have to check out some of Tey's work then.
ReplyDeleteI did check out Persephone books. Thanks for giving me the link, btw! They do seem to have a good collection. I love that they're reprinting ones that have gone out of print over the times. And thanks about my blog :)