Oh, no. Not like that. There are just certain similarities in plot and characters. There's something very compelling about Bowles' book, even tho all of the characters are pathetic ... unless this is meant to be satire, in which case it is great. (I somehow don't think it is meant to be satire, tho.)

I haven't read it (yet), but from all I've heard about it, too, it's not intended to be satire. Well, I guess I'll await your final assessment -- at the moment it doesn't look like a candidate for taking my TBR by storm.

Btw, I started "A Shilling for Candles" earlier today -- and I love that it features a will modelled on the main line that Tey's own will ended up having.

Re Sheltering Sky - Without giving away spoilers, at first I thought this was the story of three entitled college kids on a gap year "finding themselves"...and the characters are all as annoying as that would make them sound, but there is something dark and complex about this which keeps reading and keeps me from completely hating the book. That's probably what made me think that this would work well as a satire.

Re Tey: Hooray! :D This one is not her most accomplished work, but I love it.

Oh, I love the Tey as well. (Particularly now that I've reached the point where Grant has been shown the error of his ways -- blessedly much earlier than in "Man in the Queue".) Erica is a hoot and a half.

Re: Bowles: It's on my TBR (has been for a while) -- I'm still going to wait and see before I decide about moving it up or down. :)

Erica is fab!

Also, loved the way Tey let rip on the media and on gossip.
And damn, I laughed so hard at the solution as well as at the explanation for the title.

Well, it seems I have lots to look forward still. :) And yeah, I grinned when I saw the reference to the title in the will ... now I want to know what's behind it all.

Has Erica met the shrubbery, yet?

You mean, what's hidden in the shrubbery? Yes -- and embarked on her chase of one dark gentleman's coat, with all buttons present and correct. (That's what I meant by Grant having been shown the error of his ways.)

:D

:)