Book Review

Here's another of those red and blue bound mystery books.

THE DAUGHTER OF TIME
by Josephine Tey
copyright 1951

Scotland yard agent Alan Grant, bedridden in the hospital because he fell through a trap door, is bored. A kindly nurse he has dubbed "The Midget" urged him to read the many books his friends have brought him to alleviate his "prickles of boredom.". (Side note: I would like friends bearing books!) Alan's friend Marta, knowing his fascination with faces, brought him a group of portraits, one of which caught his eye: King Richard III - whom he took for a murderer before reading the caption on the picture. Richard III is said to have murdered his two nephews, who were the rightful heirs to the throne. Grant had historical reference books brought to him in an effort to solve the historical murder mystery.

This was not an exciting read, but it was a nice, quiet book for a cold night at home. I do enjoy books from a while ago, but not an unrecognizable time ago, because they make contemporary reference to things which are now a part of history. For instance, in this book, there is reference to a picture of someone wearing a strange hat to Princess Elizabeth's wedding; it was with a start that I realized that this princess is now Queen Elizabeth II. And it was rather amusing to recall that there were derogatory pictures of a hat at a much more recent royal wedding. Some things don't change!