Brat Farrar (1949)

To find real classics of the genre, however, you have to go further back in time. One of the best authors of easy to read but highly satisfying murder mysteries is Josephine Tey. Born in Inverness in Scotland, her real name was Elizabeth Mackintosh and she was also a playwright. Many of her novels feature Detective Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard, and they are all worth reading. My favourite book by her, however, is Brat Farrar. It’s set on the south coast of England after World War II and it’s about a family called Ashby. Both parents have died, so it’s Aunt Beatrice who is bringing up her nieces and nephews. On no account find out anything else about this book online before reading it!

From our article Books like The Thursday Murder Club