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What Members Thought
This 1949 suspense novel is a gripping story of deception and hidden identity, set in post-WWII England among the upper classes. Simon Ashby is about to turn 21 and finally inherit his dead parents' estate, easing the financial stresses on his family and younger sisters. But suddenly another young man appears, claiming to be Simon's older twin brother Patrick, who is thought to have committed suicide at age 14.
However: "Patrick" is Brat Farrar, an orphan who's been coached by an unscrupulous ne ...more
However: "Patrick" is Brat Farrar, an orphan who's been coached by an unscrupulous ne ...more
I've not been a fan of every Tey I have ever read & sometimes a reread can disappoint - but not in this case! Brat Farrar's temptation into a life of assumed identity (or is it???) & intrigue thrills every step of the way. Every detail of this book works perfectly & meshes together. We take every careful step with Brat & the scene where (view spoiler) is a quite wonderful example of taut suspense.
If you don't read any ot ...more
If you don't read any ot ...more
Great characterizations (including of several horses). Crime and a whiff of romance--and did I mention horses? I've read it to shreds.
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After reading The Daughter of Time I'd promised myself to read another Josephine Tey, but couldn't pick which. Then I saw Carol♔Type, Oh Queen!♕'s review and decided to give this one a go. I couldn't put it down. It's tense and twisty and turny and just the thing for a rainy afternoon in, with a hot cup of tea and your phone on silent.
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Wow, did I enjoy this book! I had never heard of it or the author until it was mentioned in the discussion of a Mary Stewart group read of The Ivy Tree. Then it was added as a group read for the Retro Reads group, so I read them in succession. I'm so glad I did and now I have discovered a new author. The pacing of the book is rather slow but so enjoyable and the events seem to fit together so seamlessly. This is going on my favorites shelf.
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Although this was an excellent mystery and kept me guessing all the way through, there were two loose ends that rather spoiled the conclusion for me. I found myself wanting more explanation. Otherwise, it was a brilliant setup -- a young man with a strong resemblance to the Ashby family is persuaded to impersonate the heir Patrick Ashby, supposedly back from the dead, in order to collect an inheritance. The young man, who is a very sympathetic character in spite of his criminal behaviour, finds
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2024: Relisten for Spinster September 2024.
Aunty Bea would have to be one of my favourite (more) modern times mature single woman in literature – Tey crafted a wonderful, loving, and lovely character to be the guardians to the orphaned Ashby children.
2023: Repeat listen. I was going through others of Tey's stories on audiobook and decided to relisten to this one, again, last as it's my favourite of all Tey's full length stories
2022: Repeat listen: I originally listened through this in 2017 as ...more
Aunty Bea would have to be one of my favourite (more) modern times mature single woman in literature – Tey crafted a wonderful, loving, and lovely character to be the guardians to the orphaned Ashby children.
2023: Repeat listen. I was going through others of Tey's stories on audiobook and decided to relisten to this one, again, last as it's my favourite of all Tey's full length stories
2022: Repeat listen: I originally listened through this in 2017 as ...more
Oct 19, 2018
Barbara
marked it as to-read
Apr 27, 2019
Petra
marked it as to-read
Jan 19, 2021
Creolecat
marked it as to-read
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review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-and-suspense,
brit-lit
