Intrepid writer and amateur sleuth Josephine Tey returns in this sixth installment of Nicola Upson’s popular series—perfect for fans of Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot and Jaqueline Winspear’s Maisie Dobbs—that unfolds in 1930s London as England prepares to crown a new king.
London, 1937. Following the gloomy days of the abdication of King Edward VIII, the entire city is elated to welcome King … welcome King George. Just one of the many planned festivities for the historic coronation is a BBC radio adaptation of Queen of Scots, and the original playwright, Josephine Tey, has been invited to sit in on rehearsals.
Soon, however, Josephine gets wrapped up in another sort of drama. The lead actress has been sleeping with Britain’s most venerable newsman, Anthony Beresford—and his humiliated wife happens to work in the building. The sordid affair seems to reach its bloody climax when Beresford is shot to death in his broadcasting booth at the deafening height of the coronation ceremony.
Josephine’s dear friend, Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose, has the case wrapped up before long. But when a second, seemingly related murder throws Penrose for a loop, it falls to Josephine to unravel a web of betrayal, jealousy, and long-held secrets… caught all the while in a love triangle of her own making.
Charming and provocative, thick with the atmosphere of prewar England, London Rain is a captivating portrait of a city on the edge—and an unforgettable woman always one step ahead of her time.
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I like a mystery with complex characters and good writing. While the plot of London Rain stretches credulity, the setting and the characters, including a re-imagined Josephine Tey, based on the writer who, in real life, seems to have chosen to remain mysterious, are totally believable and engaging.
Written by a word master and a character and story with a unique depth.
I’ve become a fan of upson and buy her books as soon as they are published. Thankfully ebooks mean I can receive them as they aren’t stocked in many places. Don’t miss the series, read from the beginning and get hooked.
Really original premise using a real life novelist as the protagonist/sleuth to figure out how and why a prominent BBC broadcaster was murdered.
An interesting series.
This is well written with multi faceted characters and a good plot. The story weaves nicely together although I was able to see where it was going at the end. I enjoy this series.
I love all the books with Josephine Tey as the protagonist. This one is particularly poignant.
Didn’t finish it. Rather tedious.
I love the books in this series. I’ve read the original Josephine Tey novels, and these bring her to life in a fictionalized but seemingly real way.
I was caught up in the story. I have previously read about Josephine Tey and her life. I found the ambiance to be spot on. As the ending approached I was really unable to stop reading. The ending was fantastic.
The beginning took awhile to develop into a plot. But, about half way through it really grabbed my attention
this series is an entertaining look at Great Britain between the wars told form the perspective of the theater world. This book is a shade different as the protagonists are out of London and in the countryside for much of it but the historical sleuthing of an actual crime kept you engaged.
This book hooked me on this series and I’n anxiously awaiting her new one,
As anther reviewer said, this book starts out slow. I considered not finished ng the book and I rarely do that. It finally picked up and the last 2i enjoyed the last part of the book. The ending leaves you hanging. I could have ended more smooth.
Nicola, keep them coming!
Loved learning about England during this era.
Enjoyed the book until the ending which was too abrupt & didn’t complete the story gracefully.
Loved it until the end, was disappointed by part that didn’t work.
While following a convoluted mystery, in the historical background is the British coronation, following Edward’s abdication.
The book started out very slowly but improved after a few pages and developed into an interesting story.