The Death of Lucy Kyte

I am a huge fan of all Nicola Upson's novels, with their feisty heroine, real life crime writer and playwright Josephine Tey. The Death of Lucy Kyte is a particular favourite. The main setting for this novel is the Suffolk countryside, so beautifully evoked by the author and seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story itself which is in part an account of the infamous Red Barn Murder of 1827; essentially a village scandal with tragic outcomes, and repercussions which seemingly still haunt the community a century later. We and Josephine are irresistibly drawn into the claustrophobic and bleak world of an isolated community well hidden beneath the cloak of a seemingly idyllic, picturesque village in the early 1800s. The book combines glorious descriptive passages of place and time, with great characterisation, as ever, in the shape of Josephine, her family, friends and foes in the bohemian world of the mid 1930s, and the hardened population of a Suffolk village in the early 19th century, not so very different in some ways. Past and present dangers are drawn together for Josephine Tey to make sense of and put right. A compelling, and beautifully written novel.

I loved this book. It was compelling, and so interesting the way an old Suffolk murder was woven into the story, which brought extra tension and atmosphere to the plot - an excellent read.

I read this book over 2 days as I was pulled into the 2 story strands past and present from the very start - I loved it - a mixture of thriller, history, love, passion and death. Enjoyed it a lot and would recommend to anyone who enjoys a great story beautifully told.

Nicola Upson gradually and cleverly builds up the tension in the story switching back and forth from the past in the servant girls diaries to the present day so skilfully that it was a surprise when I suddenly realised that i was very tense and very scared! A great book in the excellent series featuring Josephine Tey.

Completely engrossing, atmospheric book with intriguing characters and vividly painted settings. An absorbing read which blends real life events into gripping fiction.

I wait for each book in Nicola Upson's Josephine Tey series, but this one has stayed with me more so than the others. It's haunting, surprising, lyrical -- which makes it something truly special. I love mysteries, particularly historical mysteries, because I love the puzzle and the atmosphere. But The Death of Lucy Kyte is beautiful too. I treasure it.

I loved this book! Jammed packed with atmosphere which leaves you hanging till the very last. I was absorbed into the story so completely my own fear took me by surprise. Like all great ghost stories you know something's coming but you can't stop listening, you can't stop reading.....

I have read all Nicola Upson's 'Tey' novels but, had I to choose just the one, it would be The Death of Lucy Kyte. This is an intriguing storyline based on real life events and I especially enjoy the device employed by Upson of using real life crime writer Josephine Tey (aka Elizabeth MacKintosh) as the key protagonist. If you want a really good read weaving factual events and fictionalised interpretation, one that is just a little bit spooky at times but fascinating throughout, then I would highly recommend this book.

wow, just reading the brief write-up makes me want to read the book. Can't wait to get a copy.

I read Nicola Upson's grippingly atmospheric The Death of Lucy Kyte when it first came out. Upson raises the crime mystery game with every book she pens but the delicious combination of a legendary storyline given a heart-stopping new twist makes this fifth outing for the redoubtable Josephine Tey utterly irresistable. I give it 5 stars for originality, intelligence and spine-tingling story-telling.

What an absolute treat! I became fully immersed in the story and read into the early hours on more than one night because I found it so hard to put down. Wonderful descriptions of the Suffolk landscape, an intriguing storyline and, in all the right places, deliciously chilling, I would thoroughly recommend this, especially to those who haven't dipped into the crime genre before.

This is not a genre I normally read, however, it was recommended by a friend, I was intrigued by the story line, usually if a book does not grab me in the first 10 pages its not for me. I was drawn in immediately and before I knew it I had read three chapters.

I loved the way that the story within the story began to unfold, normally other authors do this chapter by chapter as the story runs in parallel, but there is a smooth transition so that you feel as though you become involved as a participant as the reader of the diary rather than you reading /listening to the character read the story, a refreshing change.

The descriptive prose made me visualise the landscape and the characters pop into your head and stay there, it's all about the details. It's a mystery, psychological thriller with a strong female lead, albeit based on a real author , another interesting fact, hooray more please.

The story builds slowly and I think it is all the better for it, so you get a real sense of anticipating tradgey , sadness and hope that forms the crux of the story. The psychological tension towards the end made me keep turning the pages, I had to know how it was going to end. Unlike some books the conclusion was satisfying and pleasing.

I really enjoyed this book, and i didn't want to move on to my next read as I wanted to linger with the story and characters for a while longer . It has made me want to read the authors other books and also to look up the details about the Red Barn case and hopefully find out more about the author the main character is based upon. If a book can compel you to learn more then thats a good thing, If you haven't read it, when you do you will not be disappointed, I thoroughly recommend it.

Just brilliant! Josephine Tey, ghosts, murder, remote Suffolk cottage and snow!