Josephine Tey

Elizabeth MacKintosh, a Scotswoman, wrote mystery novels under the names Gordon Daviot and Josephine Tey during the 1930's, '40's, and very early '50's. She died in 1952. These days, much or all of her work is in print under her better known pseudonym, Josephine Tey.

Because the period in which Tey wrote, one would expect comparisons with Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie, but Tey reminds me of neither of those. Unlike Christie, the puzzle is less important than the people. Tey's characters are superb, and the writing is fabulous. Better still, there is no particular formula. Each book is different, and has its own pattern. My only regret is that there will be no more of them.

My favorite to date is The Daughter of Time. The complete list is as follows:

• The Franchise Affair

Reviews: 1 March 1998

• The Daughter of Time

Reviews: 1 March 1998

• The Man in the Queue

Reviews: 1 March 1998, 1 April 2003

• A Shilling for Candles

Reviews: 1 March 1998

• To Love and Be Wise

Reviews: 1 March 1998

• The Singing Sands

Reviews: 1 March 1998

• Brat Farrar

Reviews: 1 June 1998

• Miss Pym Disposes

Reviews: 1 November 1998