From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Angel with Two Faces (Josephine Tey, #2)

Nicola Upson

Start date: April 12, 2019

Finish date: May 6, 2019

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: The second in this popular period mystery series, following on from a previous buddy read.
[close] The second in this popular period mystery series, following on from a previous buddy read.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 468 topics — 9,046 comments total

Buddy reads

* White Nights by Ann Cleeves (Shetland #2) (August/Sept 25)
By Susan · 29 posts · 12 views

last updated Sep 04, 2025 12:17PM

* White Nights - SPOILER Thread - (Shetland #2) (August/Sept 25)
By Susan · 17 posts · 12 views

last updated Aug 24, 2025 11:29PM

showing 5 of 5 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Apr 15, 2019 Susan rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Having had reservations with the first book in this series, I embarked on this journey - rather like Josephine Tey in this novel - with good expectations. Like Tey, I was doomed to disappointment...

After events in the first novel, Tey is invited by Inspector Archie Penrose, for a holiday at his family home in Cornwall, in order to recover. Good intentions get off to a bad start when she arrives on the day of the funeral of a local man, Harry, who has drowned, after his horse bolts into the lake. ...more

25 likes · Like · see review

Apr 11, 2019 Judy rated it it was ok

I quite liked the first in this series, An Expert in Murder, which had a fascinating theatrical background, but did not really enjoy this sequel.

Josephine goes to stay with her police inspector friend, Archie Penrose, in his home village in Cornwall - but, inevitably, the pair find themselves investigating a murder, or possibly two. A young man is drowned after riding his horse into water, and an outdoor theatrical production seems all too likely to end in another tragedy.

The book starts well ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2011 Deborah rated it it was ok

This was described as a mystery that featured the mystery writer, Josephine Tey, as the protagonist. I enjoyed the Tey mysteries that I had previously read and was excited about this one. Unfortunately, I found it to be just okay. The book moved at a steady pace with some twists, but the Tey character was not as involved in the main themes as much as I would have liked. This is the second book in a series, and I had not read the first. It seemed as if it could easily be a stand alone title, but ...more

Like · see review

Mar 05, 2011 Bev rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: british-mystery, mystery, historical-mystery

Angel With Two Faces is the second book in Nicola Upson's mystery series starring Josephine Tey. I have found with mysteries (or just plain fiction) that stars real people in fictional circumstances that they are either very, very good or very, very bad. I am happy to say that this series is very, very good. Upson's first mystery, An Expert in Murder, was good. A strong opener to a very promising series. This book builds on that success and the recurring characters are even stronger and more wel Angel With Two Faces is the second book in Nicola Upson's mystery series starring Josephine Tey. I have found with mysteries (or just plain fiction) that stars real people in fictional circumstances that they are either very, very good or very, very bad. I am happy to say that this series is very, very good. Upson's first mystery, An Expert in Murder, was good. A strong opener to a very promising series. This book builds on that success and the recurring characters are even stronger and more well-defined in this second outing.

This novel finds Josephine Tey and her friend Inspector Archie Penrose headed to Cornwall for a holiday. Tey is more than ready for a vacation after the exhausting and terrible events that surrounded her latest theatrical work in London and Penrose wants to show off his home country--a beautiful estate that belongs to branches of his family. The visit begins in les than pleasant manner--Penrose must arrive earlier than planned to attent the funeral of a family friend--a young estate worker who has died in a riding accident. However, there are many questions surrounding the accident and soon Tey and Penrose find themselves picking their way through secrets and deceptions and finally a witness to a real-life tragedy enacted at the local Minack Theater. Which secrets have led to the tragic circumstances and how will they affect those who remain?

Wow. This book was nearly unputdownable. If my parents hadn't been scheduled to visit today for Christmas Part III, then I would have read it straight through (except for that thing called sleep that I apparently need). Upson has gotten her characters exactly where she wants them. The interactions are near-perfect. The tension and emotions evoked in reading this story were captivating. There were moments that were gasp-out-loud and full of I-never-saw-that-coming. But it all comes together in a heart-rending, spectacular mystery that will keep you guessing till the very end. And just when you think that all the secrets have been revealed--she proves you wrong and whips out another. And they all work. The reader is never tempted to shout, "Unfair!" Four stars out of five--only because I want to give her room to be even better in the next installment. Which is out and I will have to get my hands on ASAP.
...more

Like · see review

Apr 13, 2015 Susan Smith rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Really good mystery that had you guessing until the end.

Like · see review

Mar 30, 2019 Jill rated it really liked it

Shelves: nicola-upson

I thought this was better than the first in the series, but that may have been personal, as I have been visiting the location of this book, since I was a child.
I liked that Tey in this book was coming closer to Archie Penrose, but there was no slushy romance. I can't help thinking that the Cornish people might not take too kindly to it, as it portrays a population of bullying, wife beating, and incestuous people. Having said that I did like it, although it is really very sad. ...more

Like · see review

Aug 29, 2010 Jan C rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, 2011, england

This is the second volume in the series featuring a characterization of mystery writer/playwright/historical fiction/biography author Josephine Tey a/k/a Gordon Daviot a/k/a Elizabeth Mackintosh. This time she is off to visit her friend Detective Inspector Archie Penrose at the old homestead in Cornwall.

Interesting story involving some very strange people involved in strange relationships. Plus a murder or two.

I like this series

Like · see review