In this atmospheric, intriguing historical mystery brimming with psychological tension, an unexpected inheritance plunges beloved British mystery author Josephine Tey into a disturbing puzzle of dark secrets eerily connecting the present and the past.
When Josephine Tey unexpectedly inherits Red Barn Cottage from her estranged godmother, the will stipulates that she must personally claim the … claim the house in the Suffolk countryside. But Josephine is not the only benefactor — a woman named Lucy Kyte is also in Hester’s will.
Sorting through the artifacts of her godmother’s life, Josephine is intrigued by an infamous death committed on the cottage’s grounds a century before. Yet this old crime — dubbed the Red Barn murder — still seems to haunt the tight-knit village and its remote inhabitants. Is it just superstition, or is there a very real threat that is frightening the locals? Could the truth be related to the mysterious Lucy Kyte, who no one in the village admits to knowing?
With a palpable sense of evil thickening around her, Josephine must untangle historic tragedy from present danger and prevent a deadly cycle from beginning once more.
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I’ve been a big fan of Josephine Tey for decades, and am delighted with Nicola Upson’s series. Tey is just as I imagined her to be and her biographical background (as far as I know it) is subtly introduced and serves to create the plot. This is my first of Upson’s books–now I’ll go back to the beginning of the series and read them all.
This is the best story I’ve read yet. And I’ve read a lot lately. I can’t praise it enough. It was historical, sad, mysterious, haunting and hold your breath scary at times. A lot of tragedy all rolled up into one read that kept me so interested I couldn’t put it down. It takes place in the era of the 1800’s with the language people spoke at the …
An unpredictable mystery in a seemingly tranquil setting. Combines haunted houses, dark and tormented souls, gruesome murders, and clever storytelling!
Acclaimed author, Josephine Tey, who has a sideline in amateur detection, inherits an old cottage in Suffolk from her godmother, actress Hester Larkspur. Hester was a close friend of Josephine’s mother but Josephine only met her once or twice as a child.
Hester’s Will stipulates that she wants Josephine to dispose of the contents of the cottage as …
I like this Writer. Her stories about the writer Josephine Tey are quite good, and I have even read all of the books by Tey.
What a great setting in Scottland and an immediate mystery from page one! A cast full of real characters and a story that draws over and over. Many late-night reads just to get to the next chapter, and the next chapter, and the next.
I would also recommend it for any Book Club.
Dont read this in your bathtub. The water will get ice cold before you come up for air. Twists & turns, red herrings galore. Only one loose end.
Well written but perhaps too well researched. The true story on which it was based was not that compelling
The plot was excellent but the development was a bit slow.
Held my interest.good book
The author incorporates a true event in this mystery featuring Josephine Tey. The story is good, except for the on-going issue (found throughout this series) dealing with Josephine’s love life. Just stick with the mystery and stop with the pages of introspection – boring. The rest was interesting.
A 300 page book that read like a 600 page book, slow! The few actions scenes that moved the story forward were few and far between. I found myself skipping entire pages that added nothing to the story. I was disappointed!
Very enjoyable
I have saved this book to my favorites so that I can go back and research how the author blended seamlessly historical incident with diary and a story within a story. beautifully worded descriptions pulled me into a historical world peopled with characters I knew and understood. Led me gently through the differences in cultures and ages. Though a …
Not a word in the description or leading reviews about the brutishness and horror of the crimes depicted inthis book. Have we gotten that enured to ugliness? Upson’s writing is fine, but I won’t read her again. I tossed the book unfinished. I’ve read all of Josephine Tey’s books, owned most, and finally passed them on so others could enjoy. She …
This book was slow and boring!! Josephine inherits a cottage from her godmother (Hester), takes ownership of it, cleans it up, and in the process, figures out how/why her godmother died, as well as how/why a previous tenant of the cottage (Lucy) died. At one point, Josephine is reading Hester’s account of Lucy’s diary, and she “wondered at the …
In this book, Josephine inherits a cottage from her godmother, who was obsessed with a murder that took place in the last century. In the will, her godmother leaves someone named Lucy Kyte something as well. But no one knows who Lucy is. This was a book that I couldn’t put down.
I found this too convoluted and contrived. I enjoy the series immensely, but, sadly, this one is a clunk.
I liked the blend of Mystery and mysticism. Josephine Tey’s The Daughter of Time is one of my all-time favorite book so I was intrigued by this book with her as a character. Well worth reading.
This book had more tension than the others that I have read in this series. It was intense and even invaded my dreams.