I read my first Josephine Tey mystery, The Daughter of Time, a few weeks ago and enjoyed it (you can read my review here). Deb mentioned Tey’s A Shilling for Candles in her comment so I figured I’d give that mystery a try.
A Shilling for Candles was published in 1936 the Josephine Tey pseudonym that Elizabeth MacKintosh used. The mystery follows the investigation of the drowning of a film actress, known as Christine Clay. But Inspector Alan Grant determines the death was murder, not an accident. Christine Clay’s frenetic life-style generated a number suspects who would like to see her dead.
A Shilling for Candles is the second of Tey’s five mysteries featuring the wily Inspector Alan Grant, and the first book written under the Josephine Tey pseudonym. A Shilling for Candles kept me guessing right until the end! GRADE: A
I read all of Tey’s books in the ’70s. I probably remember this one least of all of them, but I know I enjoyed it at the time.
Jeff, I’m impressed that Tey’s early work is both clever and compelling.
Glad you enjoyed it, George. It’s so interesting now to read about what was considered a “wild lifestyle” in 1936!
Deb, yes, that “wild lifestyle” got Christine Clay killed. But there’s also feisty Erica Burgoyne, the 16-year-old daughter of the local Chief Constable, who drives around in her car and provides a key bit of evidence that turns the entire case on its head!
Don’t miss THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR, my favorite.
Patti, THE FRANCHISE AFFAIR is near the top of my Read Real Soon stack!
Cool. I’ve barely read “Tey”…a slight typo in your headline.
On my (never decreasing) TBR.
Neeru, I know the feeling! My Real Real Soon stack is bordering on an avalanche!
I’ve long meant to read Daughter of Time, but it’s one of those books I’ve never gotten around to. I haven’t read any other Tey. Q: is there a good short story collection?
Rick, apparently “Josephine Tey” wrote only novels and plays. But her novels are relatively short, just over 200 pages on average.
Interestingly, the only print book by Tey the library system has is Daughter of Time. All her other titles are only available as ebooks. An interesting example of the changes since the Covid pandemic (you know, the one so many Republicans disbelieve) struck.
Rick, The Daughter of Time was a detective work investigating the role of Richard III of England in the death of the Princes in the Tower, and named as the greatest crime novel of all time by the Crime Writers’ Association.
I have read all of the Inspector Grant books twice, except for possibly The Daughter of Time. I don’t like that one as well as most people do.
Miss Pym Disposes and Brat Farrar are the ones I need to reread next.
Tracy, I’m finally getting around to reading Tey’s mysteries. A lot of my mystery-reading friends speak highly of BRAT FARRAR.