Nine Lessons

A Josephine Tey Mystery

By: Nicola Upson

Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon

Josephine Tey, a sharp-witted amateur sleuth based on the celebrated Golden Age mystery writer, returns in the seventh in Nicola Upson's critically acclaimed series, perfect for listeners of Agatha Christie and Jacqueline Winspear.

Called to the peaceful wooded churchyard of St John-at-Hampstead, Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose faces one of the most audacious and unusual murders of his career. The body of the church's organist is found in an opened grave, together with a photograph of a manor house and a cryptic note. The image leads Archie to Cambridge, where the crisp autumn air has brought with it bustling life to the ancient university and town.

Mystery author Josephine Tey and Archie's lover Bridget Foley have each recently settled in Cambridge, though both women are not equally happy to see him. One has concealed an important secret from Archie which now threatens to come to light. Meanwhile, the change of seasons has also brought with it a series of vicious attacks against women in town, spreading fear and suspicion through the community.

Soon, another body is revealed, and in the shadow of King's College Chapel, Archie uncovers a connection 25 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 in this beautifully written, intricately plotted mystery.

©2017 Nicola Upson (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Exceptional book in an excellent series

I can't help but reccomend this series to everyone. I have fallen in love with all the characters, the plot lines are exceptional, and I just couldn't put it down.
The narrator is excellent, too.

I really liked this book

I like the characters, they seemed real to me. I liked the story, believable but still enough crime to make it a murder mystery, and I loved the location and cadence. The narrator was excellent. This is not an edge-of-your-seat terror book. But neither is is "cozy." I absolutely loved it and hope for many more.

Nicola Upson is My Fav!

I relisten to the story every couple of years. Ms. Upson has not written a book that I haven’t devoured.

Good story but...

It was an interesting story with twist and turns and well thought out until the end. The end was finished like there was a dead line and all strings tied together in 5 minutes. The identification of the murderer could have been more developed in a few more chapters.

Nuanced and powerful

The subject of this book is undoubtedly distressing, but the care and intensity of each characters experience of it is illuminating, and poignant. Another powerhouse! More!

Complex, well written, emotion-driven

If you are rape sensitive, this may not be the book for you. But, bear in mind, the book is dedicated to rape victims, and is written very sensitively and compassionately from a woman's perspective ... a woman determined not to surrender into victimhood and working to ensure other women recover fully. It's also written in a period of time almost 100 years ago, in Britain, when women's professions were limited to the arts, teaching, nursing, childcare, and housework. So, it's also a story of the struggle of women to maintain the element of personal dignity, and to cling to their passionate desire for a way to earn their livelihood in a manner they love. There is much here to be admired in this novel.

Disappointing.

This narrator was not very good at differentiating each character by voice which made the story difficult to follow. I had to rewind many times throughout the book to figure out who was speaking.
Overall, the story and its conclusion were disappointing.

A good mystery!

procedural, law-enforcement, relationships, serial-killer, serial-rapist, historical-fiction ----------
There are two simultaneous horrors to be investigated by DCI Penrose and his sometime assistant playwright Josephine Tey. One is a complicated series of murders which appear to be inspired by revenge. The other is a series of home invasions which include rape and the use of a knife. Set in the 1930's, it exposes attitudes that are not much better today. But the plotting and character development is excellent, and it maintains the suspense til the end.
I had originally requested and received a review copy via NetGalley, but was unable to sight read it. Recently, I bought an audio copy and feel that Wanda McCadden gave an excellent audio performance as narrator.

One of Upson’s very BEST!

So far in the series, this is one of the very best. With two story lines to follow, she keeps the action moving. Such realism in the reaction of some of the victims, make it seem a bit too life-like

Cozy ? This was not for me !

Violence and subject matter not for me. Dreary and narrator leFt me confused for several chapters!