From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

The Man in the Queue (Inspector Alan Grant, #1)

Josephine Tey

Start date: June 1, 2016

Finish date: June 30, 2016

Discussion: Group reads

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Group reads

* December 2025 group read - Winner!
By Judy · 28 posts · 32 views

last updated Oct 15, 2025 10:39AM

* Oct 25: Murder Included (#1 D.I. Price) by Joanna Cannan
By Susan · 11 posts · 17 views

last updated Oct 02, 2025 10:38AM

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What Members Thought

May 25, 2016 Jill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: josephine-tey

Really good . I liked the writing and really liked Grant, who seemed so human for a police inspector.

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 26, 2021 Dipanjan rated it liked it

"The Man In The Queue" is the first appearance of Inspector Alan Grant. The opening pulls the reader right back into the 1920s and straight into London’s prevalent theatre world during that period.

It was written very well and it was clear that Josephine Tey, already a successful playwright, knew and loved the world she was writing about. She understood the importance of the big picture balanced well with the micro details and of the psychology of her characters.

And in the very first chapter ther ...more

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Sep 30, 2023 John Frankham rated it liked it

Shelves: crime-detective

Having loved the Inspector Grant whodunnits when a boy, this re-read after decades was enjoyable but little more. Literate, well-plotted, although the dénouement was too much a confessional coup de théatre.

But I will probably read the next five for old times’ sake!

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