This is a brilliant new instalment in Nicola Upson’s ‘Golden Age’ crime series featuring Josephine Tey as detective. It’s a genius idea to have an actual crime writer as a detective, something that Upson has sustained beautifully over 11 books – ‘Shot with Crimson’ being the latest.
I’ve followed this series from the start and was delighted to be granted a copy of ‘Shot with Crimson’ for review by NetGalley. As always, opinions are entirely my own.
This book takes us into a world poised on the edge of the terrors of World War II. It’s September 1939 and – as war is declared – Josephine Tey is headed to Hollywood on a transatlantic voyage to meet her partner who is working on the film version of ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier. As her journey becomes suddenly more dangerous, DCI Archie Penrose remains in newly-at-war England to try to unravel a crime that also has its own links to ‘Rebecca’; it centres on the house that inspired Daphne du Maurier who herself appears in some flashback scenes to when the property was used as a hospital in the first war. As past secrets begin to surface, it becomes apparent that Josephine and Archie have different perspectives on the same story…
I loved that ‘Rebecca’ was so central to this novel. While I don’t actually love ‘Rebecca’ (I know, I know….shocking!), it is so cleverly integrated into Upson’s own novel. The fact that Upson can weave together her own mystery with real-life people and events is truly impressive and seamlessly done. The reader is treated to an insight into a 1939 movie set, complete with cast, on-set tensions, Hollywood executives – and the Hitchcocks, who have appeared before in Upson’s series. It made me want to Google everything ‘Rebecca’-related and dig out a copy of the 1940 film! There is evidence of some serious research here on Upson’s part and the period detail is on point (as with this whole series).
It should also be noted that ‘Rebecca’ is the PERFECT book and film for Upson to use as a backdrop for her own mystery. All of Daphne du Maurier’s key themes and ideas – gender inequality, murder, jealousy, past misdeeds, hidden secrets – are all writ large in Upson’s book too. I also loved that the house that inspired Manderley in ‘Rebecca’ also got a starring role, as did the young novelist herself.
As with all of Upson’s novels, the mystery is far from straightforward in moral terms; the reader is left to grapple with some real grey areas in terms of the punishment fitting the crimes especially in light of the outdated attitudes of the time. As with previous books, Upson uses elements of the story to highlight tragedies in LGBTQ+ lives in an intolerant and hostile world and it is – quite frankly – heartbreaking.
This is an absolute gem in an already fabulous series – the mystery is well-constructed as it plays out on both sides of the Atlantic and I’m always totally sold on a book that features a transatlantic journey on a huge, glitzy ship! If you’re a fan of Upson’s books, ‘Rebecca’, 1930s crime novels, Golden Age mysteries with a contemporary twist, retro Hollywood glamour or just clever plotting, I think this might just be your thing.
Also, just as an observation, this was a tricky review to write without completely over-using the phrase ‘Golden Age’ – of detective novels, of Hollywood, of transatlantic travel…this book really does combine the best of the best!
If you’d like to buy a copy of this novel, published 2nd November, please use my affiliate link below. Thanks for supporting my blog with any purchases:
Header photo by Irham Setyaki on Unsplash
