Nicola Upson – författare

It takes a village to bury a child . . .'Genius . . . A standout series.' The Times Crime Book of the Month1 September 1939. As the mass evacuation takes place across Britain, thousands of children leave London for the safety of the countryside. But when a little girl vanishes, it's clear that danger can lurk in the quietest village.In the chaos of war, crime novelist Josephine Tey arrives to help her friend DCI Penrose to investigate the girl's disappearance. When a cloud of mistrust falls across the small community she has come to love, events take a sinister turn.

Summer, 1936. The writer, Josephine Tey, joins her friends in the holiday village of Portmeirion to celebrate her fortieth birthday. Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma Reville, are there to sign a deal to film Josephine's novel, A Shilling for Candles, and Hitchcock has one or two tricks up his sleeve to keep the holiday party entertained - and expose their deepest fears.But things get out of hand when one of Hollywood's leading actresses is brutally slashed to death in a cemetery near the village. The following day, as fear and suspicion take over in a setting where nothing - and no one - is quite what it seems, Chief Inspector Archie Penrose becomes increasingly unsatisfied with the way the investigation is ultimately resolved. Several years later, another horrific murder, again linked to a Hitchcock movie, drives Penrose back to the scene of the original crime to uncover the shocking truth.

'Brilliant.' The Times'One of Upson's most evocative novels.' GuardianSeptember 1939: The worries of war follow Josephine Tey to Hollywood, where a different sort of battle is raging on the set of Hitchcock's Rebecca.Little does Josephine realise that the man she has befriended in Hollywood is the perpetrator of a shocking act of violence and is being sought back in Britain by DCI Archie Penrose.Together, they find themselves on a trail that echoes Rebecca's timeless themes of obsession, resentment and murder.WHAT READERS THINK:'Brilliant as ever . . . Thrilling.' 5* review'Fascinating and compelling . . . Loved it.' 5* review'What a story!' 5* review'Wonderful.' 5* review'I absolutely loved this . . . a thrilling and glamorous read.' 5* review

** Longlisted for the CWA Sapere Books Historial Dagger 2020 **'Haunting . . . Superlative.' Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month'A terrific novel.' A. N. WilsonSummer, 1915: a young woman falls to her death at Charleston Farmhouse on the Sussex Downs. But was it an accident?Twenty years later, Josephine Tey is faced with the accusation that it was murder, and that she was complicit in the crime. Can she clear her name and uncover the truth, exposing the darkest secrets of that apparently idyllic summer?

December 1938, and storm clouds hover once again over Europe. Josephine Tey and Archie Penrose gather with friends for a Cornish Christmas, but two strange and brutal deaths on St Michael's Mount - and the unexpected arrival of a world famous film star, in need of sanctuary - interrupt the festivities. Cut off by the sea and a relentless blizzard, the hunt for a murderer begins.Pivoting on a real moment in history, the ninth novel in the 'Josephine Tey' series draws on all the much-loved conventions of the Golden Age Christmas mystery, whilst giving them a thrilling contemporary twist.

Old sins cast long shadows...Thirty years on from a horrific series of child murders in London, Josephine Tey sets out to write a novel about the crimes' perpetrators: Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, the notorious Finchley baby farmers. Meanwhile, her friend, Inspector Archie Penrose is investigating the sadistic murder of a young seamstress, found dead amid preparations for a star-studded charity gala. The girl's death seems to be the result of a long-standing domestic feud, but Archie is unconvinced; and when a second young woman is involved in an horrific accident soon afterwards, the search begins for a vicious killer who will stop at nothing to keep the past where it belongs...

May, 1937. Josephine Tey is in London to oversee a BBC radio production of her play, Queen of Scots. Meanwhile, the country is preparing to crown a new king. At the height of the Coronation celebrations, Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose is called in to investigate the murder of one of the BBC's best-known broadcasters. A second victim - his mistress, and the play's leading actress - suggests that the motive lies close to home, but Josephine suspects that the killings are linked to a decade-old scandal.With Archie's hands tied by politics, and his attention taken by another, seemingly unrelated death, it is left to Josephine to get to the truth - and to confront at first-hand the deadly consequences of love, deceit and betrayal.

Called to the peaceful wooded churchyard of St-John's-at-Hampstead, Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose faces one of the most audacious and unusual murders of his career. The case leads Archie to Cambridge, where, coincidentally, his old friend Josephine Tey has recently settled. Before long, another body is discovered. In the shadow of King's College Chapel, Archie uncovers a connection twenty-five years old which haunted both victims - as well as some of their living companions. As Archie and Josephine each grapple with savage malefactors intent on making their victims pay, they must race to stop another attack...

Two can keep a secret - if one of them is dead...Inspector Archie Penrose invites crime writer Josephine Tey down to his family home in Cornwall so she can recover from a recent trauma. Josephine welcomes the opportunity, but her hopes of experiencing a period of rest are dashed when her arrival coincides with the mysterious death of a young man in the village. Soon, more people are going missing or turning up dead, and Josphine and Archie begin to suspect the involvement a cold-blooded murderer.As Josephine and Archie try to unravel the mystery, they begin to see death as an angel with two faces - one gazing at the violence in the present, the other looking back to the crimes hidden in the past.

An Expert in Murder is the first in a new series that features Golden Age crime writer Josephine Tey as its lead character, placing her in the richly-peopled world of 1930s theatre which formed the other half of her writing life. It's March 1934, and Tey is travelling from Scotland to London to celebrate what should be the triumphant final week of her celebrated play, Richard of Bordeaux. However, a seemingly senseless murder puts her reputation, and even her life, under threat. An Expert in Murder is both a tribute to one of the most enduringly popular writers of crime and an atmospheric detective novel in its own right.

'Always a delight.' Sunday TimesI will never understand why murder is considered such a lowbrow speciality in Hollywood.September, 1939, and the worries of war follow Josephine Tey to Hollywood, where a different sort of battle is raging on the set of Hitchcock's Rebecca.Then a shocking act of violence reawakens the shadows of the past, with consequences on both sides of the Atlantic, and Josephine and DCI Archie Penrose find themselves on a trail leading back to the house that inspired a young Daphne du Maurier - a trail that echoes Rebecca's timeless themes of obsession, jealousy and murder.'An astonishingly complex mystery.' The Times'Classy, clever, endlessly entertaining . . . one of this talented author's most impressive outings yet.' Lancashire Evening PostReaders love Nicola Upson'Oh my, what a delight to read this was. An author absolutely in command of her craft.' ***** reader review'I felt like I knew the Hitchcocks personally. The talent to make that feel likely is really Upson's draw for me. She never misses a beat.' ***** reader review'One of my favourite things about this author is the detail she brings to the pages and the way she can build tension and truly keep you gripped.' ***** reader review'What's not to like about a story of Hollywood and murder? . . . She writes in a way that the story flows effortlessly and makes reading easy and a joy.' ***** reader reviewPraise for the Josephine Tey series'[A] splendid series.' The Times'There's a wonderful golden age feel . . . containing wonderful twists and turns which single out Upson as a talented author of historical crime.' Scotland on Sunday'If Josephine Tey were alive, she would be the first to welcome a major talent.' Daily Mail

'A perfect Christmas crime story.' Elly Griffiths A Christmas murder mystery featuring the real-life couple who invented Cluedo'An ingenious plot' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A great read for Christmas . . . nostalgic and thoroughly entertaining.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Unexpectedly emotive, engaging and sweet.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐Christmas Eve, 1943. Anthony and Elva Pratt arrive in a snowy English village to run a murder mystery game - and instead discover a real murder.The Pratts had planned for festive cheer, despite the wartime shortages: with Elva's map of the hotel and Anthony's prop weapons to use as clues, the guests in their parlour game would move through the rooms to figure out whodunnit.But when Anthony discovers the cook's sister Miss Silver beaten to death, they instead find themselves investigating a shockingly real crime. The hotel manager Mr Browning is trying to keep the peace but the guests are agitated, Colonel Colman is about to take over the hotel for the war effort - and the mysterious Mrs Threadgold hasn't been seen at all.In games, there's only one victim - but this is real life. Can the Pratts puzzle out this Christmas mystery before it's too late?'A true Christmas cracker!' Andrew Taylor'What fun!' Lynne TrussPraise for Nicola Upson:'Always a delight.' Sunday Times'Upson [. . .] gives new life to a classic murder setting.' Spectator'Wonderful writing.' Ian Moore'A talented author of historical crime.' Scotsman

'A perfect Christmas crime story.' Elly Griffiths'A true Christmas cracker!' Andrew TaylorA Christmas murder mystery featuring the real-life couple who invented Cluedo'An ingenious plot' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A great read for Christmas . . . nostalgic and thoroughly entertaining.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Unexpectedly emotive, engaging and sweet.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐Christmas Eve, 1943. Anthony and Elva Pratt arrive in a snowy English village to run a murder mystery game - and instead discover a real murder.The Pratts had planned for festive cheer: with Elva's map of the hotel and Anthony's prop weapons to use as clues, the guests would move through the rooms to figure out whodunnit - a bit like in a board game.But when Elva discovers the cook's sister Miss Silver dead, they instead find themselves investigating a shockingly real crime. The hotel manager is trying to keep the peace, but the guests are agitated - and one of them hasn't been seen at all.Can the Pratts puzzle out this Christmas mystery before it's too late?'There's terrific historical detail, and this twisted tale still resonates today.' Val McDermid'I loved that the real-life creators of Cluedo appeared as characters in this clever, entertaining mystery that will appeal to cosy crime fans!' Good Housekeeping'The perfect quiet-time reward to follow a festive family board-game session.' Telegraph

The First World War is over, and in a quiet Hampshire village, artist Stanley Spencer is working on the commission of a lifetime, painting an entire chapel in memory of a life lost in the war to end all wars. Combining his own traumatic experiences with moments of everyday redemption, the chapel will become his masterpiece.When Elsie Munday arrives to take up position as housemaid to the Spencer family, her life quickly becomes entwined with the charming and irascible Stanley, his artist wife Hilda and their tiny daughter Shirin.As the years pass, Elsie does her best to keep the family together even when love, obsession and temptation seem set to tear them apart…