An Expert in Murder

I originally encountered this author, Nicola Upson, in a book catalog and--for a change--decided to check it out from the library instead of buying it. But I may change my mind as I quite like this initial outing and there are several more in the series. In the world between the wars (WWI and WWII) life is getting back to normal in London, and the protagonist, ostensibly the popular author Josephine Tey, has been surprised by the success of the stage production based on her story of Richard II. On the train to London from Scotland, Tey is gently accosted by a fan of the play, Elspeth Simmons, and Tey is charmed by the young woman's enthusiasm and lack of pretensions. Elspeth has recently found love, someone who shares her passion for the theatre, and he has tickets for the best seats in the house during this final week of performances. When Elspeth is brutally murdered, clues left at the scene suggest to Scotland Yard's Inspector Archie Penrose that perhaps Josephine herself was the intended target. When a 2nd murder occurs within two days, this time of the play's producer, Archie is sure that the play is the key. However, the real solution comes only from learning about the victims--one a total innocent and the other, a keeper of secrets--and how the past has carried forward to the present. This is a complex but tightly plotted storyline with scads of colorful characters associated with the theatre world of London's West End. Josephine is friends with the costumers for the play, the Motleys, and is staying in their flat just across the road from the New Theatre, where "Richard of Bordeaux" is being performed. The somewhat cynical and very practical Archie is cousin to these successful and flamboyant sisters. Josephine has also become friends with the leading actress and so is familiar with the other performers, who have secrets and rivalries that drive their relationships and behavior. If you like historical mysteries and have any interest in the theatre, this is an easy one to recommend. The credibility of Upson's description of this world is bolstered by her interviews of actual cast members, including Sir John Gielgud. Written in a style reminiscent of writers from Britain's "Golden Age" --Christie, Marsh, Sayers.  A more in-depth review is here from The Guardian. A bit of history about the "real" Josephine Tey, a pseudonym for Elizabeth Mackintosh, is provided by Upson here.