“Daughter of Time” by Josephine Tey

A really enjoyable light read in the genre traditions of detective fiction, where a classic Scotland Yard detective delves into the mysteries behind the much maligned historical devil King Richard III. Laid up in a hospital bed Detective Grant is forced through sheer boredom to turn his police skills to the murder of Richard III’s nephews in the tower. Something doesn’t add up between the face portrait of Richard and Sir Thomas Moore’s famous account. When he discovers that Moore’s account is not in fact an eyewitness account, Grant decides to investigate further using new information and instinct. With the nurses, friends and colleagues as his assistants and advisors, his scrutiny of the past leads to some interesting conclusions that will make the lover of history consider un-orthodox conclusions. Reads equally as well as a detective crime mystery, and/or historical novel, the recognisable English characters of yesteryear provide a compelling and pleasantly familiar tale set around familiar English scenes, and what seemed to be history set in stone. The recent interest in the excavations and exhumation of King Richard III’s remains have sparked a new interest in his story, and this book also provides a novel and interesting way to review the facts of the case against Richard.

Review by Lindsay

Publishers Review