Book #4 in the Inspector Alan Grant series.
"The fun had been so bland, so lightly handled, that its essential quality, its ruthlessness, had not been apparent."
To Love and Be Wise finds Inspector Alan Grant investigating the baffling disappearance of a charismatic American photographer.
Set in a picturesque English village that has become a haven for artists and writers, the enigmatic and handsome Leslie Searle is staying at the home of a well-known author when he suddenly vanishes without a trace. Grant is called in to solve the mystery, and as his investigation proceeds, he uncovers a web of secrets, jealousies, and hidden motives among the village's bohemian residents that reveal the darker side of the allure of fame and ambition.
Full of Tey's masterful storytelling and sharp character insights, the novel has been praised for its subtle wit, cleverly constructed plot and cunning twists, which all combine to make To Love and Be Wise a thrilling mystery that keeps listeners guessing until the very end.
Josephine Tey (1896-1952) was a renowned author and one of the most celebrated figures in detective fiction. Tey initially pursued a career in theatre, writing plays before shifting her focus to novels, and her writing is characterised by psychological depth, strong character development, and a subversion of traditional crime fiction norms. Her most notable works include The Daughter of Time, Brat Farrar, and The Franchise Affair, and despite her relatively small output, her influence is significant, inspiring future generations of mystery writers.
In 2015, Val McDermid argued that Tey "cracked open the door" for later writers such as Patricia Highsmith and Ruth Rendell to explore the darker side of humanity, creating a bridge between the Golden Age of Detective Fiction and contemporary crime novels.
