"Josephine Tey" was actually a pseudonym for Elizabeth MacKintosh. A physical education teacher by trade, she was notoriously private—so much so that she managed to remain a literary enigma during her lifetime. She also wrote successful plays under the name Gordon Daviot. Her Scottish roots often infused her work with a certain dry, sharp wit and a refusal to be sentimental.

Top 5 Must Read Novels

Tey only wrote eight mystery novels, but almost all are considered classics. Here are the top five:

1. The Daughter of Time (1951)

Often cited as the greatest crime novel of all time, this isn't your typical murder mystery. Inspector Alan Grant is stuck in a hospital bed with a broken leg. Bored out of his mind, he decides to "investigate" a cold case from five centuries ago: Did Richard III really kill the Princes in the Tower?

The Hook: It’s a brilliant exercise in historical revisionism that proves you don’t need a fresh corpse to have a gripping investigation.

2. The Franchise Affair (1948)

Based loosely on an 18th-century true crime case, this story follows a mother and daughter living in a secluded house called "The Franchise." A young girl accuses them of kidnapping and beating her. The town turns into a lynch mob, but a local solicitor suspects the girl might be a very gifted liar.

The Hook: It’s a chilling look at how easily "cancel culture" (1940s style) and mob mentality can destroy lives.

3. The Man in the Queue (1929)

This was the debut of Inspector Alan Grant. A man collapses while waiting in line for a popular West End theater production. When the crowd shifts, it’s discovered he has a silver dagger in his back. The problem? Nobody saw a thing, and the victim has no identification.

The Hook: A classic "impossible" setup that showcases Tey’s ability to ground a theatrical premise in gritty reality.

4. Brat Farrar (1949)

The Ashby family is about to celebrate the coming-of-age of their heir, Simon, when his long-lost twin brother, Patrick (who was presumed dead by suicide years ago), suddenly reappears to claim the fortune. Except, the reader knows from page one that Patrick is an impostor named Brat Farrar.

The Hook: The tension doesn't come from "who is the killer," but from whether Brat will be caught—and what dark secrets the "real" family is hiding.

5. Miss Pym Disposes (1946)

Lucy Pym, a psychologist, visits a physical training college (drawing heavily on Tey’s own background). What starts as a lighthearted look at student life turns dark when a "perfect" student dies in what looks like a tragic accident. Lucy realizes someone has cheated—and that someone might be a killer.

The Hook: It captures the high-pressure, claustrophobic atmosphere of an all-female academy with terrifying precision.

Why You Should Read Her

Tey’s brilliance lies in her subversion. She hated clichés. In a Tey novel, the "obvious" villain is often the victim, and the "hero" is often flawed and uncertain. She was fascinated by the face we show the world versus the one we hide, making her the spiritual grandmother of the modern psychological thriller.