My favorite Tey so far, though it is definitely not for everyone. This is not your typical mystery by any means. The story starts at a dinner party being held to celebrate the publication of romance writer Lavinia Fitch's latest book. Inspector Alan Grant has gone to pick up his friend, Marta Hallard, so they can go out to eat. While there he meets Leslie Searle, a very handsome, even beautiful, young man with a gift - or is it a curse? - for attracting attention. Searle has an earthly, unsettling air about him that both attracts and repels people. He dominates the novel, even when he is not present. Searle claims to have a mutual acquaintance with Lavinia's nephew, Walter Whitmore, and Lavinia quickly invites him to come stay with them. Lavinia, her widowed sister Emma, Emma's stepdaughter - and Walter's fiancee - Liz Garrowby, and Walter live in the small town of Salcott St. Mary, which has become, quite unwillingly, a sort of artists' colony. Searle casts a spell over many of the inhabitants in the town - Lavinia, who becomes infatuated with him, but also appears to hate him; Walter, who befriends him, but then comes to resent him out of jealousy; Liz, who appears to be falling in love with Searle; Emma, who hates Searle for disrupting her well-arranged and comfortable match between Walter and Liz; Toby Tullis, the playwright, who quickly falls for Searle and humiliates himself vying for his attention; and Sergei Ratoff, a ballet dancer and companion of Tullis, who hates Searle for probably the same reasons as Walter. The tension is palpable and everything comes to a head when Walter and Searle have an argument. They had planned to write a book - Searle, a professional photographer, would take the photos, and Walter, a professional writer and traveler, would provide the narrative. Everything seems fine until Walter loses his temper at the local pub, the Swan, and storms off. Searle, however, is quite calm, acts as if nothing is wrong, and cheerfully walks out of the Swan - never to be seen again. If Searle's presence is disruptive, his disappearance is even more so. As Grant investigates Searle's background, the mystery simply deepens. As always, Tey is more interested in the story than in the mystery. She doesn't play fair. We're not talking Ellery Queen here. However, Tey does an excellent job of characterization, something that mystery writers often leave out. All too often the characters are simply cardboard with no personality of their own and highly suspicious motivations for their actions. However, I could understand why people both loved and hated Searle - and both at the same time. The title, "To Love and Be Wise," is very apt for love is at the root of this novel. Highly recommended.
I've recently been rereading the Josephine Tey mysteries. Sadly, there aren't many--only eight of them. One of the pleasures of reading To Love and Be Wise after almost all of the others was recognizing allusions to the prior novels, such as Jerry Lamont, a suspect in The Man in the Queue; Jammy Hopkins, the sensationalist journalist from A Shilling for Candles; and several characters that would get a mention in The Daughter of Time such as Benny Skoll, and novelists Lavinia Fitch and Silas Weekly.Lavinia Fitch actually has a prominent role in this novel, as she plays hostess to American photographer Leslie Searle. Inspector Alan Grant meets the "beautiful young man" briefly at a party. Weeks later he'll be investigating Searle's disappearance and possible murder. Lavinia says of Searle she's "sure that he was something very wicked in Ancient Greece" and her guest has an unsettling effect on all around him. Her Inspector Alan Grant has rather grown on me through the novels. He's no Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot. He's not at all flashy or eccentric and his strong suit isn't brilliant deductions, but what his superior calls "flair." In other words, he's an intuitive detective--sometimes his gut doesn't match his head, and sometimes his gut and his prejudices lead him wrong. He's about the most fallible detective protagonist I've ever read. I love Tey's style--spare, lyrical and witty and her characters are delightfully individualized. Even though I don't think this is one of her best novels, it may be her best mystery. Tey tends not to care much about devising perfect little puzzle pieces. She certainly plays fair this time--the clues are all there, even if very quietly dropped in, and I do remember the twist as a surprise first time reading, which makes for a delicious denouement.
What do You think about To Love And Be Wise (1998)?
Excellent book, very much set in its place and time period, though the dry humor is timeless. (And some of the circumstances and topics being discussed among the characters seem very modern indeed.) This is an Alan Grant mystery, and an almost-classic by my favorite mystery writer, Josephine Tey. The dialogue is crisp, amusing, to-the-point. And though set in 1949, this is the type of book that does not get dated; it keeps its date firmly fixed. (Why do writers worry so about being 'dated?' Every book they write, if set in the current time period, will eventually become dated, sometimes in just a year or two.) I love all of Tey's mysteries and re-read them every so many years.
—Jaksen
Tey, Josephine (pseud. Elizabeth Mackintosh). TO LOVE AND BE WISE. (1950). ****. I thought I had read of Ms. Tey’s mysteries, but luckily I found another one. This one features Detective-Inspector Alan Grant and his sidekick, Sgt. Williams. What transpires here is the mystery of a missing person. What makes it so interesting is that this person, Mr. Leslie Searle, is a man of mystery himself. He claims to be an American photographer, and is in England on vacation. While here, he sets out to meet Walter Waitmere, a mutual friend of a photographer known to both of them who has recently died. Walter is a writer and a relatively wealthy man through his family, and lives with them at a manor house outside of London, near a village called Salcott St. Mary. The house has turned into a pseudo-art colony. Living there – the actual owner – is Ms. Lavinia Fitch, a popular authoress. Close by, there is an assemblage of painters, dancers, and drama writers who all hang out at the house. It seemed only natural that Walter have Leslie down to the Manor for a long weekend, where they could reminisce over their dead friend. Leslie was a captivating fellow. He was extremely good looking and impressed everyone with his air of royalty. There was an undercurrent of feeling, however, that he was somehow tainted with wickedness. Walter and Leslie plan a canoe trip down one of the local rivers; Walter will write of the experience and Leslie will take the photographs for the illustrations. Three days into the trip, Leslie goes missing, after having a quarrel with Walter in the local pub. Suspicions abound. Inspector Grant is called in to investigate a case of possible amnesia, suicide, or homicide. Watch out for the surprise ending. This novel is well written and highly entertaining. Recommended.
—Tony
I love Tey and I love your comment that she was "deliciously sly." I looked at your profile and realize you are the quite well-known Laurie R. I am looking forward to reading your novels.
—Laurie
