I'm glad you liked your first foray into Tey. I love her work. She's a bit different from her contemporaries in that she was first and foremost a successful playwright, and when she did turn to writing mysteries I don't think she took the genre very seriously. In my view, her first book was a bit of a mockery of the genre. Her later books are more traditional mysteries (except The Singing Sands), but it's almost like she used the mystery as a means of telling about a completely different story or issue.
I had the feeling she had at least written a play - though that could be because these days I'm working on translating an essay about Irish theatre, but there's something in the way the characters are described and their interactions that reminded me of a theatrical play a few times while I was reading.
I really enjoy this kind of stories, where an author borrows from a genre to play around with its conventions and tropes, and this one felt incredibly fresh and new. I focused more on the investigative part during my read, my brain was kind of hardwired for it, but I noticed more elements and touches - some of which I saw mentioned in other posts about the Buddy Read - that I'll definitely need a second read.
Since you're a fan, which other titles of Tey would you suggest to read next?
Unfortunately, she hasn't written a lot of books. The Daughter of Time was probably her best. The Man in the Queue is her first and, probably the one that has not aged well. But it's probably better to read that one before A Shilling for Candles or To Love and Be Wise because some of the characters in those three books are the same.
I would probably say go for Brat Farrar next, because this one is more of a stand-alone read. So is The Franchise Affair, but I thought The Franchise Affair was a bit on the slow side.
My personal favourite is A Shilling For Candles, but I also like To Love and Be Wise and The Singing Sands. Definitely leave The Singing Sands for last.
Also, her book Miss Pym Disposes is an excellent book. It's a standalone and does not feature Alan Grant.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll probably pick Brat Farrar since you said it's a stand-alone book, I started too many series of which I read only the first book.
I really enjoy this kind of stories, where an author borrows from a genre to play around with its conventions and tropes, and this one felt incredibly fresh and new. I focused more on the investigative part during my read, my brain was kind of hardwired for it, but I noticed more elements and touches - some of which I saw mentioned in other posts about the Buddy Read - that I'll definitely need a second read.
Since you're a fan, which other titles of Tey would you suggest to read next?
I would probably say go for Brat Farrar next, because this one is more of a stand-alone read. So is The Franchise Affair, but I thought The Franchise Affair was a bit on the slow side.
My personal favourite is A Shilling For Candles, but I also like To Love and Be Wise and The Singing Sands. Definitely leave The Singing Sands for last.
Also, her book Miss Pym Disposes is an excellent book. It's a standalone and does not feature Alan Grant.