- Paperback: 226 pages
- Publisher: Macmillan USA; 1st Collier Books Ed edition (30 Aug 1988)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0020545304
- ISBN-13: 978-0020545309
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.7 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,870,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
A Shilling For Candles
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Product Description
Review
"Josephine Tey has always been absolutely reliable in producing original and mysterious plots with interesting characters and unguessable endings." -- "Spectator"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Sphere
‘Witty, ingenious, and makes one regret that there will be no more from the same pen’
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
"The last legacy of all read, 'To my brother Herbert, a shilling for candles.'"
- from the last will and testament of Christine Clay, herein
The unusual title comes from a still more unusual clause in the last will and testament of superstar actress Christine Clay - an enigmatic legacy to her estranged brother. Clay worked her way up from nothing, with a mother who spoiled her brother rotten while having all kinds of excuses why Christine couldn't have proper schooling. Christine managed to escape to the life of the stage; her rise was so rapid that when she married a wealthy man with a title, she was considered to have made a catch, but within a couple of years *he* was thought of as 'Christine Clay's husband'. (Her background, gradually uncovered by police investigation, is enough to support a story in itself.) Now she has been found drowned at the lonely seaside place she was visiting incognito, and a youngster who seems like a stereotypical victim of circumstances is on the run, suspected of her murder for what seems like an inadequate motive. And given the brilliance of Christine Clay's shining star, why was she alone on holiday, with neither a court of hangers-on nor her husband?
Grant carries part of the story's action during his investigation, but Tey isn't shackled to a stylistic formula. Erica, the local Chief Constable's 16-year-old daughter, wades in where angels fear to tread, and generally assists Robin Tisdall, one of the chief suspects, to stay out of police custody while the police try to find out how Christine died. (This last provides an excuse for several mildly entertaining bit-part characters to appear, so I can live with it in the name of entertainment.)
A few too many plots getting in the way of the story, and could've used better editing to work as a book. I think it works better as a performance on the audio edition than it does on the page. As always when Stephen Thorne is the reader, the audio edition is performed well.
Elizabeth Mackintosh ("Josephine Tey" was a pseudonym) was primarily a playwright; she only produced 8 mystery novels altogether, 7 featuring Grant. Incidentally, she used yet another pseudonym, "Gordon Daviot", as both a playwright and for the original publication of many of her books. A SHILLING FOR CANDLES (1936) was Mackintosh's 2nd mystery novel, with an emphasis on 'novel' rather than 'who done it?' Tey isn't particularly interested in playing fair with the reader here, but I personally can live with that since the book works as a story. (I've taken off points for it, and for some issues with the story construction, but on the whole it's enjoyable, so the audio edition is worth having.)
- from the last will and testament of Christine Clay, herein
The unusual title comes from a still more unusual clause in the last will and testament of superstar actress Christine Clay - an enigmatic legacy to her estranged brother. Clay worked her way up from nothing, with a mother who spoiled her brother rotten while having all kinds of excuses why Christine couldn't have proper schooling. Christine managed to escape to the life of the stage; her rise was so rapid that when she married a wealthy man with a title, she was considered to have made a catch, but within a couple of years *he* was thought of as 'Christine Clay's husband'. (Her background, gradually uncovered by police investigation, is enough to support a story in itself.) Now she has been found drowned at the lonely seaside place she was visiting incognito, and a youngster who seems like a stereotypical victim of circumstances is on the run, suspected of her murder for what seems like an inadequate motive. And given the brilliance of Christine Clay's shining star, why was she alone on holiday, with neither a court of hangers-on nor her husband?
Grant carries part of the story's action during his investigation, but Tey isn't shackled to a stylistic formula. Erica, the local Chief Constable's 16-year-old daughter, wades in where angels fear to tread, and generally assists Robin Tisdall, one of the chief suspects, to stay out of police custody while the police try to find out how Christine died. (This last provides an excuse for several mildly entertaining bit-part characters to appear, so I can live with it in the name of entertainment.)
A few too many plots getting in the way of the story, and could've used better editing to work as a book. I think it works better as a performance on the audio edition than it does on the page. As always when Stephen Thorne is the reader, the audio edition is performed well.
Elizabeth Mackintosh ("Josephine Tey" was a pseudonym) was primarily a playwright; she only produced 8 mystery novels altogether, 7 featuring Grant. Incidentally, she used yet another pseudonym, "Gordon Daviot", as both a playwright and for the original publication of many of her books. A SHILLING FOR CANDLES (1936) was Mackintosh's 2nd mystery novel, with an emphasis on 'novel' rather than 'who done it?' Tey isn't particularly interested in playing fair with the reader here, but I personally can live with that since the book works as a story. (I've taken off points for it, and for some issues with the story construction, but on the whole it's enjoyable, so the audio edition is worth having.)
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Tey is a brilliant writer of character studies, with her strength lying in her portrayals of younger women and girls. Unlike her later mysteries though, "Candles" has one of the weakest endings in the entire genre of mystery writing. Still, the characters are so brilliantly drawn, it is just plain fun to read about them. After the first five chapters, the mystery becomes immaterial though. For stronger mystery writing, Tey's 'Brat Farrar' or 'Daughter of Time' would be the ones to read. 'A Shilling for Candles' would come at the bottom of the Tey listing, I'm afraid.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
A body found dead on a Kent beach turns out to be that of a famous actress Christine Clay. At first it is assumed to be a tragic accident or even suicide. However, a button twisted in her hair leads to suspicion of murder and Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard is called in to investigate.
There are plenty of suspects including Robert Tisdall, a homeless young man, who had been staying with Christine at a cottage near the beach. He had recently squandered a fortune and taking pity on his situation Christine had offered him accommodation. However, when he is named as a beneficiary in her will, he goes to the top of Grant's suspect list. Other suspects include the victim's brother and her titled husband.
As ever with Tey there are plenty of interesting characters including an astrologer and the actress Marta Hallard who appears in other Tey books. A most delightful character is Erica Burgoyne the local Chief Constable's 17 year old daughter who plays a part in identifying the coat from which the button came.
The action moves at a good pace and there are many twists and turns. The identity of the murderer certainly surprised me and Tey is on top form with this mystery.
There are plenty of suspects including Robert Tisdall, a homeless young man, who had been staying with Christine at a cottage near the beach. He had recently squandered a fortune and taking pity on his situation Christine had offered him accommodation. However, when he is named as a beneficiary in her will, he goes to the top of Grant's suspect list. Other suspects include the victim's brother and her titled husband.
As ever with Tey there are plenty of interesting characters including an astrologer and the actress Marta Hallard who appears in other Tey books. A most delightful character is Erica Burgoyne the local Chief Constable's 17 year old daughter who plays a part in identifying the coat from which the button came.
The action moves at a good pace and there are many twists and turns. The identity of the murderer certainly surprised me and Tey is on top form with this mystery.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
My favourite author of detective stories
In this Josephine Tey story her detective Chief inspector Grant suffers from stress depression. On top of being a thrilling story it is a very good description of life and nature... Read more
Published 25 days ago by Helena Palmgren
Good story but Hitchcock did a better ending in his film
I enjoyed the story keeping me guessing till the end. Half way through I remembered a film by Hitchcock very similar and found out it was based on this book,I think hitchcock had... Read more
Published 8 months ago by AngelaM007
Excellent
As expected, a great read. Josephine Tey is such a readable writer.
I don't normally read "who-dunits" but her books are an exception.
I don't normally read "who-dunits" but her books are an exception.
Published 15 months ago by Mrs. A. Robinson
Hitchcock filmed this book
A 1930s whodunit from an excellent author, it was filmed in 1937, shortly after publication, by Alfred Hitchcock. Is the film like the book? Read more
Published on 12 April 2010 by Perry
Mystery and manners
Josephine Tey's books are perhaps a little slow moving for the average modern reader but well worth the effort for her slant on the England of the 1930's and 40's. Read more
Published on 6 April 2009 by D. Cooke
A Tey To Remember
Brief and gentlemanly, Tey's 'Shilling' comes in the middle of the pack of Tey offerings. She's enjoying something of a rennaisance these days--most of her novels seem ahead of... Read more
Published on 31 May 1999
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