London Rain (Josephine Tey Series #6)

by Nicola Upson Narrated by Wanda McCaddon

Overview

Intrepid writer and amateur sleuth Josephine Tey returns in this sixth installment in Nicola Upson's popular series-perfect for fans of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Jaqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs-that unfolds in 1930s London as England prepares to crown a new king.

London, 1937. Following the gloomy days of the abdication of King Edward VIII, the entire city is elated to welcome King George. Just one of the many planned festivities for the historic coronation is a BBC radio adaptation of Queen of Scots, and the original playwright, Josephine Tey, has been invited to sit in on rehearsals.

Soon, however, Josephine gets wrapped up in another sort of drama. The lead actress has been sleeping with Britain's most venerable newsman, Anthony Beresford-and his humiliated wife happens to work in the building. The sordid affair seems to reach its bloody climax when Beresford is shot to death in his broadcasting booth at the deafening height of the coronation ceremony.

Josephine's dear friend Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose has the case wrapped up before long. But when a second, seemingly related murder throws Penrose for a loop, it falls to Josephine to unravel a web of betrayal, jealousy, and long-held secrets ... caught all the while in a love triangle of her own making.

Charming and provocative, thick with the atmosphere of prewar England, London Rain is a captivating portrait of a city on the edge-and an unforgettable woman always one step ahead of her time.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A complex and compelling plot with rich historical detail…. A brilliant meditation on love’s depths and darknesses, London Rain stands out on every level…complete with a stunning conclusion.” — Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Psychologically complex and twisty…. Upson adroitly confounds the reader’s expectations, and her subtle and emotionally intelligent exploration of Josephine’s relationship…adds depth.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The author continues to blend history and fiction seamlessly…. A murder mystery that will keep readers guessing. The glimpses into the changing face of feminism and the politics of the BBC in the late 1930s prove equally intriguing.” — RT Book Reviews

“This book is what historical crime is all about.” — Suspense Magazine

“Revenge, murder, and royal pageantry…. The complexity of the overlapping relationships and a burst of momentum make [this] fictionalized heroine’s sixth case a worthy sequel to its predecessors.” — Kirkus Reviews

“For fans of period British crime fiction, this sixth series entry…delivers deft plotting and evocations of the era through charming descriptions of London.… Intriguing.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Old secrets come to light involving murder…in the sixth entry in this series, notable for its well-wrought characters and involving plots that vividly capture a time and place.” — Booklist

“Historical crime fiction at its very best.” — Sunday Times (London)

“Lyrical prose…and subtle plotting make Upson’s fifth novel featuring real-life mystery writer Josephine Tey a worthy successor to Fear in the Sunlight, a PW Best Mystery of 2013…. Upson…amply rewards her readers’ patience with a satisfying resolution that feels true to life.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Upson…possesses great skills in creating character-driven novels that evoke a strong sense of place, spins this sad but seductive story with grace and intelligence.” — Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Upson’s fifth Tey mystery is a hauntingly atmospheric story based on fact with personal reverberations for Josephine herself. A worthy addition to this intriguing series starring a real-life mystery writer and set in between-the-wars England.” — Booklist

“A deft and agreeably darker addition to the series.” — Booklist

“Excellent. . . . Upson upsets readers’ expectations with a surprise that keeps the suspense high to the satisfying conclusion. Puzzle fans as well as admirers of psychologically rich crime authors such as Ruth Rendell will find a lot to savor.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Upson surpasses herself with her mesmerizing and psychologically complex fourth whodunit featuring real-life mystery writer Josephine Tey. . . . The melancholy tone and pitch-perfect prose add depth to the sinister plot.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Lovely. . . . For fans of the British puzzle mystery, there’s a murder in a locked room, a secret passageway, a surfeit of clues, red herrings, and hidden identities.” — Boston Globe

“Nicola Upson has . . . given us a highly original and elegantly written novel.” — P.D. James

“Upson’s novel has beautifully rendered the modernist atmosphere of Britain between the wars. Her characters are developed richly…and her plot is a lovely layered puzzle.” — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Sunday Times (London)

Historical crime fiction at its very best.

RT Book Reviews

The author continues to blend history and fiction seamlessly…. A murder mystery that will keep readers guessing. The glimpses into the changing face of feminism and the politics of the BBC in the late 1930s prove equally intriguing.

Suspense Magazine

This book is what historical crime is all about.

Booklist

Old secrets come to light involving murder…in the sixth entry in this series, notable for its well-wrought characters and involving plots that vividly capture a time and place.

Richmond Times-Dispatch

A complex and compelling plot with rich historical detail…. A brilliant meditation on love’s depths and darknesses, London Rain stands out on every level…complete with a stunning conclusion.

P. D. James

Nicola Upson has . . . given us a highly original and elegantly written novel.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Upson’s novel has beautifully rendered the modernist atmosphere of Britain between the wars. Her characters are developed richly…and her plot is a lovely layered puzzle.

Boston Globe

Lovely. . . . For fans of the British puzzle mystery, there’s a murder in a locked room, a secret passageway, a surfeit of clues, red herrings, and hidden identities.

Booklist

Old secrets come to light involving murder…in the sixth entry in this series, notable for its well-wrought characters and involving plots that vividly capture a time and place.

P.D. James

Nicola Upson has . . . given us a highly original and elegantly written novel.

JUNE 2016 - AudioFile

Narrator Wanda McCaddon switches effortlessly among Scottish, English, and Welsh accents, expertly coloring the intriguing subplots in Upson’s sixth historical crime novel featuring a fictionalized version of mystery author Josephine Tey. It’s 1937, and London is at a fever pitch of excitement over the coronation of King George VI. In the midst of the hysteria, a star BBC radio announcer is murdered. Josephine, who knows some of the people involved, is drawn into the case, while also trying to resolve her own personal love triangle. McCaddon’s range of expression and pace greatly enrich the well-drawn novel, which is as much historical fiction as mystery. Her clear, crisp, and inviting narrative voice perfectly channels 1930s England, offering listeners a time warp that is hard to leave. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169548471
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	03/29/2016
Series:	Josephine Tey Series , #6
Edition description:	Unabridged

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