Reading the Detectives discussion

Since her name has come up quite a bit in chat so far, here's a thread for Josephine Tey, another of the great crime writers from the Golden Age. Which are your favourite books by her?

I remember The Daughter of Time especially well and thought about it when Richard III's body was uncovered in Leicester.

I have read most of her books more than once. While The Daughter of Time is one that gets mentioned in a lot of lists (perhaps because it is unusual), my favorites are The Franchise Affair and Brat Farrar.

I'm meaning to get to Brat Farrar next, after I finish the Michael Innes book I'm supposed to be reading - I was really enjoying that one, but have had zero reading time for a few days!

I read Brat Farrar many, many years ago and remembered it being a nice little impersonation mystery set in English surroundings with likeable characters except for an very unlikable villain who was wasn't at all nice right from the start. I couldn't remember the ending though.

Just last year I re-read it and found it pretty much as I remembered, although the ending, even though I couldn't remember how it ended, a little flat with the hows and whens in arriving at the solution unexplained.

I was probably just in my twenties when I first read it which could account for my not picking up on the snobbery and shallow values of the characters. (view spoiler)[When the family were made aware of "Patrick's" return, they seemed unconcerned as to why he left; where he'd been; was he okay, in good health. They asked whether he was "nice to look at"; did he "talk nicely or have a frightful accent". Nor do I recall picking up on the suggestion of homosexuality when Sheila was 'chatting up' Brat and said "It’s a pity you aren’t interested in women." "His eyes went on to the wood of the bedstead, and he remembered that this was Alec Loding’s bed, and was pleased once more by the irony of it all. It was fantastically right that he should come to Latchetts only to sleep in Alec Loding’s bed. He must tell him one day. It was the kind of thing that Loding would appreciate." (hide spoiler)] Probably living in more liberal times caused me to notice that this time round.

For all that, I still consider it a well worthwhile read, particularly because of its differences. Just like Daughter of Time is an unusual mystery showing great imagination and writing skills - certainly not just your run of the mill Golden Age murder/detective mystery.

My English History professor in college highly recommended The Daughter of Time and I found it very enjoyable.

I read Brat Farrar for the first time just a year or two ago, because it was recommended to me by a GR friend as a good companion to The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart. I really enjoyed the whole thing, and I even remember a fair bit of it (no mean feat, I tell you!), but not enough to actually discuss it. I'd be up for a group read of it one of these day!

I really must read more Josephine Tey. I read, and liked, the first novel. I have to admit that I was not as convinced by, "The Daughter of Time," as so many other readers are. To me it seemed a strange book and I suppose I just thought too much of historical bias, etc in taking someone's nature from a portrait, when such paintings were obviously trying to represent something, rather than show the truth (Holbein springs to mind here!). It was an interesting read, but I put it down feeling doubtful about the conclusions...

I think that The Daughter of Time shows up on so many lists just because it is unusual. Not a mystery at all in the typical meaning of the term...

Whether portraits painted in the middle ages were supposedly "trying to represent something, rather than show the truth" or not, Tey brought the question of how biased histories can be to popular attention.

Yes, agree Leslie. Like I say, I would certainly like to read more of her work. There are just SO many authors that I really want to read their entire body of work, rather than just a book here and there. It is just a matter of time - sigh!

Judy wrote: "Since her name has come up quite a bit in chat so far, here's a thread for Josephine Tey, another of the great crime writers from the Golden Age. Which are your favourite books by her? "

Daughter of Time by a wide margin. Fantastic book.

Judy wrote: "Since her name has come up quite a bit in chat so far, here's a thread for Josephine Tey, another of the great crime writers from the Golden Age. Which are your favorite books by her

Daughter of Time is not only my favorite Tey mystery, it is in my top 5 books

Was just browsing on Amazon and came across a new biography of Tey Josephine Tey: a life which may be of interest to some of us.

Karlyne wrote: "I read Brat Farrar for the first time just a year or two ago, because it was recommended to me by a GR friend as a good companion to The Ivy Tree by Mary Stewart. I really enjoyed the whole thing, ..."

This might well have been me! Josephine Tey is one of my favourite authors. I was deeply affected by The Daughter of Time because ever since I can remember fairness mattered to me, and I felt it was deeply unfair that a king who was loved and respected in his time had been so badly libelled by the man who defeated him in battle and seized the throne of England even though his claim to it was very poor.

I also love Brat Farrar, and all her other books. I re-read them frequently.

I think she was a superb writer. Her plotting is good, but for me where she excels is in her characters and their relationships. Of course her books are very dated, but that's part of their attraction for me; they encapsulate and record a specific period.

Looks like it will be published in US in late March and mid-April for Kindle.

Susan wrote: "Was just browsing on Amazon and came across a new biography of Tey Josephine Tey: a life which may be of interest to some of us."

Thank you Susan -- I've always wanted to know more about her.

Thank you Susan. She has always been a bit of a mystery herself. A couple of interesting reviews of the book -

The Telegraph, 15 January 2016
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what...

and
Daily Record, 11 October 2015
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/sco...

I thought it looked good and have pre-ordered it. Perhaps, if a few of us plan to get it, we can do a buddy read?

Would be interesting! But then I’d have to reread all her novels first . . .

The Daughter of Time was a favourite of mine. Loved Brat Farrar too (& I have a copy of that if we do a group read) I didn't enjoy the other 2 titles I read, but then I haven't enjoyed every Christie or Heyer I read.

Excellent, Ann :)

I picked up a 1955 edition of Three By Tey: Miss Pym Disposes, The Franchise Affair, and Brat Farrar years ago, when one of my professors was decluttering his bookshelves. I read the first one, "Miss Pym Disposes", but ... well, I was disappointed by the denouement, though I can't explain why without spoiling the story. I didn't read the other two ("The Franchise Affair" and "Brat Farrar") because of my disappointment, though I'm thinking now I should give Miss Tey another chance.

Christopher wrote: "I picked up a 1955 edition of Three By Tey: Miss Pym Disposes, The Franchise Affair, and Brat Farrar years ago, when one of my professors was decluttering his bookshelves. I read the ..."

Oh, do consider reading another as I think that Miss Pym... is her weakest book. At any rate, it is the one I personally like least. And the other 2 are the 2 I like best!

I was browsing Audible last night and came across Derek Jacobi reading A Daughter of Time - so I snapped it up and was listening to it. It has to be one of my all time favourite books and I regularly re-read it.

Leslie wrote: "Oh, do consider reading another as I think that Miss Pym... is her weakest book. At any rate, it is the one I personally like least. And the other 2 are the 2 I like best!k..."

I agree with Leslie, completely! I too did not like the denouement of Miss Pym Disposes, and I think the book is quite unlike her others in many ways. Brat Farrar and The Franchise Affair are wonderful.

Damaskcat wrote: "I was browsing Audible last night and came across Derek Jacobi reading A Daughter of Time - so I snapped it up and was listening to it. It has to be one of my all time favourite books and I regular..."

Ooh Derek Jacobi - that's very tempting!

I can totally understand why you would want to listen to Derek Jacobi. He has such an amazing voice, and what a great actor.

Yes Miss Pym was one of the ones I read & didn't like, whereas I loved Brat Ferrar. Unlike some of you I did like the ending, but the rest of the book was so slow moving & boring!

I have a similar issue with Josephine Tey that I have with Margery Allingham. On paper, I should love her books, but I don't. I really struggled with A Daughter of Time when I read it, although an audio version would be interesting.

I am just listening to The Franchise Affair and that is almost modern in some ways as it includes vigilantes assuming people are guilty when there is actually much more to the story.

Susan wrote: "I have a similar issue with Josephine Tey that I have with Margery Allingham. On paper, I should love her books, but I don't. I really struggled with A Daughter of Time when I read it, although an ..."

I loved Daughter of Time but it is only recently that I've started reading her other books.

I might get the audio book you mentioned and give her another try, Damaskcat.

Susan wrote: "I might get the audio book you mentioned and give her another try, Damaskcat."

Worth a try perhaps :-) I've just finished listening to The Franchise Affair and enjoyed it.

Damaskcat wrote: "I am just listening to The Franchise Affair and that is almost modern in some ways as it includes vigilantes assuming people are guilty when there is actually much more to the story."

That is one of my favorites! I find the ending so satisfying :)

Leslie wrote: "Damaskcat wrote: "I am just listening to The Franchise Affair and that is almost modern in some ways as it includes vigilantes assuming people are guilty when there is actually much more to the sto..."

You're right it is - very satisfying.

Damaskcat wrote: "I was browsing Audible last night and came across Derek Jacobi reading A Daughter of Time - so I snapped it up and was listening to it. It has to be one of my all time favourite books and I regular..."

Great book, great reader. And my library has it in Overdrive! It's downloading now -- thanks for the tip!

Everyman wrote: "Damaskcat wrote: "I was browsing Audible last night and came across Derek Jacobi reading A Daughter of Time - so I snapped it up and was listening to it. It has to be one of my all time favourite b..."

I hope you enjoy it :-)

Damaskcat wrote: "Everyman wrote: "Damaskcat wrote: "I was browsing Audible last night and came across Derek Jacobi reading A Daughter of Time - so I snapped it up and was listening to it. It has to be one of my all..."

So far am enjoying it greatly. Had forgotten all the discussion about Mary, Queen of Scots. I'm dealing with a herniated disk which requires me to get up and walk around the house for five to ten minutes every twenty minutes. Which is excruciatingly boring after days and days of the same rooms (I'm only supposed to walk on the flat, so not outdoors). So I put the book on my Sanza and now stick in the earbuds and listen to snatches of it as I walk, and it's almost a disappointment when the walking time has passed and it's time to get back to the computer or book again!

Everyman wrote: "Damaskcat wrote: "Everyman wrote: "Damaskcat wrote: "I was browsing Audible last night and came across Derek Jacobi reading A Daughter of Time - so I snapped it up and was listening to it. It has t..."

Good that it's enlivening your boredom :-)

That sounds painful, Everyman. I hope you are better soon.

I finished reading The Singing Sands last night and it had me totally enthralled. It is just so well written and even though it's not a conventional crime novel as such it still draws you along with Grant in his search for clues to the mystery.

Everyman, glad that you are enjoying the book and that it helps to beat the boredom. Hope you get better soon.

The Singing Sands sounds quite interesting. Where is a good place to start with this author?

Damaskcat wrote: "I finished reading The Singing Sands last night and it had me totally enthralled. It is just so well written and even though it's not a conventional crime novel as such it still draws..."

I love this book, too!

Roisin wrote: "The Singing Sands sounds quite interesting. Where is a good place to start with this author?"

Apart from leaving Miss Pym Disposes to last, you could start with almost any of her books. I particularly like Brat Farrar, and it is a stand-alone.

Most of her books feature inspector Alan Grant, so you could read those in order of publication, and start with The Man in the Queue. I love how one gets a glimpse of how central to ordinary life in London theatre-going was in the 1920s and 30s -- and remember that Josephine Tey was also a successful playwright under the name Gordon Daviot, so she knew how the business worked.

Thanks very much HJ!

Susan wrote: "That sounds painful, Everyman. I hope you are better soon."

Thanks. Sadly, my orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist both think that it's going to be months, unless I submit to back surgery which for me isn't an option if natural healing, even if it will take time, is available.

But meanwhile, it's a major drag. :(

off topic: I should add that my PT makes clear that it isn't a problem that sprang up overnight, but that I have been mistreating my body for years by being as sedentary as I have been (too much reading, I learn to my dismay, is really bad on the body).

If you don't want to wind up here, too, the answer is to spend a lot more time off your butt. Doesn't need to be exercise, as my PT says; can be just easy walking, flying kites, gardening, playing with children or grandchildren, dancing, you name it, anything to use the body gently and stay off the chair or couch.

Everyman wrote: "off topic: I should add that my PT makes clear that it isn't a problem that sprang up overnight, but that I have been mistreating my body for years by being as sedentary as I have been (too much re..."

Thanks for this reminder to get off my comfy chair Everyman!

So reading is good for the brain, but not the body... I think we will all heed your advice, Everyman and I agree that it is not good for us to be too sedentary. I work part time, but if I do a full day in the office, I do find that my back hurts from being at a desk all day.

Thanks for the advice, Everyman, and wishing you all the best with the recovery process - glad to hear that audiobooks help to make the walking more interesting.