Angel with Two Faces

Inspector Archie Penrose heads to his childhood home in Cornwall to investigate the death of a local estate worker. The case brings him and his friend, crime writer Josephine Tey, into a community haunted by both recent tragedy and long-buried secrets. The investigation centers around two local families whose lives have been intertwined for generations through their connection to the horses and land of the Loe Pool valley. Josephine finds herself drawn into the complex relationships between the residents while attempting to separate truth from local legend. As more suspicious incidents occur, Archie and Josephine must navigate the tensions between preserving a traditional way of life and uncovering dangerous deceptions. The mystery forces them to confront their own pasts while racing to prevent further violence. This second installment in the Josephine Tey series explores themes of loyalty, belonging, and the price of keeping secrets in close-knit rural communities. The stark Cornish landscape serves as both setting and metaphor for the darkness that can exist beneath seemingly idyllic surfaces.

Readers found this second Josephine Tey mystery slower-paced than the first book in the series, with more focus on character development and atmosphere than the central crime plot. Readers appreciated: - The vivid descriptions of 1930s Cornwall - Complex character relationships and dynamics - Historical details and setting authenticity - Integration of real-life figure Josephine Tey Common criticisms: - Plot moves too slowly in the first half - Too many characters to track - Less mystery/suspense compared to first book - Some found the writing overly descriptive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (574 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (48 ratings) Notable reader comments: "Beautiful sense of place but the mystery takes too long to get going" - Goodreads reviewer "Rich in period detail but occasionally gets bogged down in side plots" - Amazon reviewer "Not as tightly plotted as An Expert in Murder, but the characters shine" - LibraryThing reviewer

The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie A 1930s English village murder investigation uncovers secrets beneath the surface of rural life.

A Duty to the Dead by Charles Todd A World War I nurse investigates a family's dark past in the English countryside during the 1920s.

Death at Wentwater Court by Carola Dunn A lady journalist solves crimes in 1920s England while navigating the complexities of class and society.

A Test of Wills by Charles Todd A Scotland Yard inspector confronts the aftermath of war while solving a murder in a small English town.

Death in the Garden by Elizabeth Ironside A decades-old murder case in an English country house connects the past and present through parallel investigations.

🔹 The novel's protagonist, Josephine Tey, was a real-life crime writer and playwright who wrote under several pseudonyms, including Gordon Daviot. 🔹 The book is set in Cornwall in 1935, drawing heavily on the region's rich folklore and history of tin mining communities. 🔹 Author Nicola Upson worked as a theatre critic before becoming a novelist, which helps inform the theatrical elements woven throughout her Josephine Tey mystery series. 🔹 The book's title is inspired by the traditional Cornish folk tale of Jana of the Fair, a spirit with two faces - one beautiful and one hideous - who haunts lonely places. 🔹 The real Josephine Tey wrote one of the earliest examples of true crime writing with "The Daughter of Time" (1951), which investigated the historical case of Richard III and the Princes in the Tower.