An Expert in Murder is the first in a new series which features Golden Age crime writer Josephine Tey as its lead character, placing her in the richly-peopled world of 1930s theatre which formed the other half of her writing life. It's March, 1934, and Tey is travelling from Scotland to London to celebrate what should be the triumphant final week of her celebrated play, Richard of Bordeaux. However, a seemingly senseless murder puts her reputation, and even her life, under threat. Cleverly blending fact and fiction, An Expert in Murder is both a tribute to one of the most enduringly popular writers of crime and an atmospheric detective novel in its own right.
An Expert in Murder (Josephine Tey Crime Series)
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A wonderful period murder mystery which recruits real-life crime writer Josephine to investigate a slaying at the opening of her own West End play. Fans of Tey herself and Agatha Christie will relish this both for its authenticity and its gripping plot.
-- Evening Standard
-- Evening Standard
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The first in an entralling series from a major new female crime writer.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 46 people found the following review helpful
By Maria
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an extremely interesting crime story set in the 1930s; the mystery is absorbing, the writing excellent and the characters interesting and likeable. The inclusion of real-life '30s detective writer Josephine Tey, about whom we convieniently know very little, so the author can take whatever liberties she likes with her life, makes it even more charming and the fact that it is not her that does the detecting helps to keep it realistically plausible. The portrayal of the "lost" generation, which came out of WW1, and how that war affected the mindset of an entire country takes it to a whole other level, as the book becomes worth reading in its own right, regardless of the mystery angle.
My only possible objection is that it doesn't seem to stay true to the period in certain aspects. For example, homosexuality certainly existed and I am willing to believe that in the theatre world it was even more or less excepted, but the idea that a homosexual couple would kiss in public, when homosexuality was an actual crime, is a bit of a stretch. However, anybody but a contemprary writer is bound to get at least a few things wrong, so this does not detract greatly from the novel.
My only possible objection is that it doesn't seem to stay true to the period in certain aspects. For example, homosexuality certainly existed and I am willing to believe that in the theatre world it was even more or less excepted, but the idea that a homosexual couple would kiss in public, when homosexuality was an actual crime, is a bit of a stretch. However, anybody but a contemprary writer is bound to get at least a few things wrong, so this does not detract greatly from the novel.
40 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I loved the blend of fact and fiction in this clever crime novel. To see Josephine Tey brought to life in this way was fascinating, and I'm particularly grateful that she wasn't made into some kind of amateur sleuth, but remained a real person caught up in events beyond her control. I found all the characters engaging and sympathetically protrayed, and like all good books in this genre I didn't guess the perpetrator until it was revealed, but when it was all the pieces fell neatly into place.
The book has since been passed on to my girlfriend (who had to take a day off work to finish it she got so caught up by the story) and my parents, where it received a similarly warm reception.
Can't wait for the next one.
The book has since been passed on to my girlfriend (who had to take a day off work to finish it she got so caught up by the story) and my parents, where it received a similarly warm reception.
Can't wait for the next one.
26 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I am extremely impressed by this first novel. To precis it is a superbly wrought mix of a literary Agatha Christie blended with the fine characterisation and narrative of P.D. James ; giving a beautifully crafted sense of people, place and time.
Set in the 1930's, a period I personally have little interest in, and based around a fictional portrait of the author Josephine Tey (about whom I confess I knew next to nothing) I was immediately won over and sucked very rapidly and willingly into the plot concerning murders committed around and connected to the Josephine Tey play "Richard of Bordeaux" in its final weeks run at a London Theatre.
The plot interweaves family history, WW1, the vain glories of the theatre players, dark secrets and poignant love affairs in a most satisfying way. And of course there are murders and a police investigation headed up by Josephine's old friend - and soon I hope serialised sleuth ,Archie Penrose. Nicola Upson creates hugely memorable characters about whom you care, and there is a dry sardonic wit running through the book that refreshes.
I have a 2-a-week crime novel "addiction" and after so many years can usually identify the murderer before the end. Here I knew who it was by page 235 - and was totally wrong! Hurrah to Ms Upson for writing a super evocative first novel that kept this old crime story addict guessing right until the end!
Bring on book 2 of the series I say.
Set in the 1930's, a period I personally have little interest in, and based around a fictional portrait of the author Josephine Tey (about whom I confess I knew next to nothing) I was immediately won over and sucked very rapidly and willingly into the plot concerning murders committed around and connected to the Josephine Tey play "Richard of Bordeaux" in its final weeks run at a London Theatre.
The plot interweaves family history, WW1, the vain glories of the theatre players, dark secrets and poignant love affairs in a most satisfying way. And of course there are murders and a police investigation headed up by Josephine's old friend - and soon I hope serialised sleuth ,Archie Penrose. Nicola Upson creates hugely memorable characters about whom you care, and there is a dry sardonic wit running through the book that refreshes.
I have a 2-a-week crime novel "addiction" and after so many years can usually identify the murderer before the end. Here I knew who it was by page 235 - and was totally wrong! Hurrah to Ms Upson for writing a super evocative first novel that kept this old crime story addict guessing right until the end!
Bring on book 2 of the series I say.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Reads more like the script of a play than a novel
Ms Upson tries hard to echo the style of Josephine Tey, but the result is a series of overlong and ultimately tedious conversations and a complex and unlikely plot. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Trevor Hiles
5.0 out of 5 stars
thank you
I really enjoyed this book, and it arrived propmtly in good condition. She is a new author to me but I would definately read more of her work. Thank you, diolch yn fawr
Published 2 months ago by jan hughes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read
Thought I would read this for the Josephine Tey connection, having been introduced yo them by mum when I was young. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Caroline Green
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Expert in Murder
This was a really interesting book. A good story . The inclusion of Josephine Tey as a character was the reason I bought it.( I love her books. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Avid reader
2.0 out of 5 stars
Pale shadow
Sorry, but I found this book lacking in credible plot and atmosphere of the era. I struggled to finish it, despite having being brought up to clean my plate & read to the end! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dogservant
3.0 out of 5 stars
The copy is not as good as the original
The best of the three books with detective story writer Josephine Tey as a heroin. But the orgonal stories by Tey is so much better.
Published 5 months ago by Helena Palmgren
4.0 out of 5 stars
SCOTLAND YARD'S EXPERTISE
An enjoyable murder mystery set in the London theatrical community of the 1930's that combines factual historical elements with the author's fictional creations, and uses the real... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Red Rock Bookworm
2.0 out of 5 stars
It only just managed to drag me to the end
Very well written but the first two thirds are plodding as far as "action" is concerned.
The West End theater scene is quite well evoked, and most of the characters are... Read more
The West End theater scene is quite well evoked, and most of the characters are... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ransen Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant novel
The first of four Nicola Upson novels and all are a cracking read, maybe I'm biased as I know the author but for who done its with a difference these should be in your collection.
Published 10 months ago by Rodney Stephens
4.0 out of 5 stars
Unusual and Interesting
This book has a most unusual approach in that it features various (recent) historical characters and an actual play in a detective novel. It seems to work and is a good read. Read more
Published 10 months ago by W. Tegner
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