In this book of the series about the fictional life of the real Josephine Tey (a pen name of Elizabeth MacKintosh), she inherits a cottage from a godmother that she scarcely knew. She discovers a diary (presumably fictitious as well) from a probably fictitious best friend of Maria Marten, a real person actually murdered by William Corder in 1827. Josephine talks to Tod Slaughter, a real actor who played the villain in a play based on the event and in the 1935 movie, "Maria Marten, or the Murder in the Red Barn." In other words, there's lots of weaving of real and imaginary people. And there's a ghost.

Josephine's relation with Marta progresses. Archie Penrose helps with the mystery. There is an interesting brief aside about the expected obligation of women to act as caregivers, even when it means giving up their own hopes for a fulfilling personal life. ( )

Josephine Tey inherits Red Barn Cottage in Suffolk from her godmother, but who is Lucy Kyte the female mentioned in the will. What dark secrets does the cottage hold.
Just about interested enough to read to the end, but without any interesting or endearing main characters. ( )

Definitely better than the previous book in this series, but still not up to par with the first few. ( )

THE DEATH OF LUCY KYTE by Nicola Upson
Josephine Tey is one of my favorite authors so when I discovered that another author was writing using Ms. Tey as her protagonist I was intrigued. In this outing Josephine inherits a cottage in a village still under the influence of a murder that occurred in that same cottage many years ago.
Surprisingly the will that grants Josephine the cottage contains an enigmatic bequest to Lucy Kyte who “may take whatever she wants” from the cottage.
THE DEATH OF LUCY KYTE is an engaging and convincing mystery on several levels. First – who is Lucy Kyte? No one will admit to knowing her – and this in a village of few persons who all know each other. Second – what does Lucy want? Related mysteries abound. The mysteries are all connected and satisfactorily resolved by book’s end.
The characters are clearly drawn. The plot is tightly woven and original. Altogether an enthralling book.
5 of 5 stars ( )