An Expert in Murder

[sawyl]

As a fan of Josephine Tey, I've had Nicola Upson's An Expert in Murder on my to-read list for quite a while. The story weaves a series of a murders into a fictionalised account of the last weeks of Tey's long-running play Richard of Bordeaux, with Tey herself acting as foil to Upson's detective, Archie Penrose, in a way that really works.

What really makes the book work is the strength of Upson's cast of characters. The actors are all beautifully drawn, especially John Terry — very obviously based on John Gielgud, who played the actual lead in Richard — who constantly worries that he is becoming stale, and Lydia Beaumont who is concerned that her age means that she is going to struggle to find work. Of the rest of the cast, the Motley sisters, Ronnie and Lettice, are particularly fine; mixing the practical and the artistic, the catty and the sensible, but combining it all with a real sense of loyalty and hard work.

The book also gives a nice sense of a relaxed artistic group of friends who've become comfortable with each other. Nothing is made of Lydia's sexuality, beyond a general enthusiasm for her latest girlfriend, and Terry recieves much the same treatment, although when someone does attempt to blackmail him his reponse, when he discovers the reason, is compassionate and in keeping with his character.

Highly recommended.