The morning after conducting a meeting of the Golden Age of Mystery book club, Professor Lexie Driscoll finds a dead man in her backyard. Is the murderer her visiting sister or a book club member harboring secrets from the past?
Professor Lexie Driscoll is discussing Josephine Tey's books at a Golden Age of Mystery book club meeting when her sister Gayle arrives, terrified for her life. She had witnessed her boyfriend's murder and fears the murderer is coming after her. The next morning a man's body is found lying in Lexie's backyard. Gayle takes off, and Lexie is worried that her sister may have murdered the man, believing he's been sent to kill her. Determined to learn the truth, Lexie investigates. She discovers the book club members have secrets and hidden vices that lead to more murders and unexpected revelations.
Excerpt
“Lexie, wake up!”
I burrowed under my quilt to escape from the maddening person in my dream.
The maddening person shook my shoulder hard. “You have to get up!”
I blinked my way into consciousness. In the dim light, I saw Gayle hovering over me, her eyes wide with fear.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s a man in your backyard!”
I sighed as I slipped out of bed and into the early morning chill. Seven o’clock, my clock said. My alarm was set to go off in an hour since I didn’t have to be at the university till eleven, but I had to calm my sister before she had an all-out heart attack. I didn’t want a strange man in my backyard, especially with that peeper from last night. But neither was I especially worried. Ryesdale residents often gave themselves permission to cross their neighbors’ yards. Joy, who lived two houses from me in the opposite direction of the Roberts sisters, did it often enough when she stopped by for a visit. And I had faith in the alarm system Al had installed when I’d moved in.
I peered out the window. “He’s gone.”
Gayle pointed to the extreme left. “He’s lying face down on the lawn. Just beyond the patio.”
“Oh!”
She gripped my arm so tightly, I knew there’d be marks. “Do you think he’s dead?”
Now I was worried. “I’ve no idea.”
I raced into the kitchen, my sister behind me close as a shadow. I peered out the picture window. The man lay face down on the lawn. He hadn’t moved.
I spun around to stare at Gayle. “How did you know he was out there?”
She stared down at the floor. “I woke up hungry, so I made tea and toast. He was there when I looked outside the kitchen window.”
“What time was this?”
Gayle shrugged. “I’m not sure. Only minutes before I woke you up.”
I opened the kitchen door and stepped into the cold, damp air. I crossed the cement patio to kneel beside him. My heart hammered so loud, I was sure Gayle, who had followed me outside, could hear it. I placed my fingers on his neck. No pulse. He was dead, all right, though I saw no head wound or bullet holes in his windbreaker jacket. Whoever had killed him had done it face-to-face.
Peering closer, I saw blood had trickled from under the torso and into the earth. A black cap lay a few feet away. I started to hyperventilate. This was the man Joy had chased last night! There was something familiar about him and his cap, but no name came to mind.
Who had killed him?
Why was he here?
I rose unsteadily to my feet and stumbled backward into Gayle.
“Is he dead?” she asked, helping me regain my footing.
“Yes.”
I stood there panting, too shaken to walk. Finally, I crossed the patio on rubbery legs. When I reached the door, I realized Gayle was still beside the body. I turned in time to see her reach out as if she meant to turn him over.
“Don’t touch him!” I shouted.
For a minute I thought she was going to ignore my order, then she followed me inside.
I lifted the phone to dial 911. Gayle grabbed my hand. “Don’t call anyone!”
“I have to call the police.” When she refused to relinquish her hold, I stepped back. Suddenly, I was afraid of my baby sister.
Gayle’s face crumpled. “Don’t look at me like that. I didn’t kill that man. I don’t even know who he is.”
“Then why don’t you want me to call the police?”
“Call them after I’m gone,” she shouted over her shoulder as she ran to the front door.
I chased after her. “Where are you going? A man was murdered. The cops will want to take your statement.”
Gayle burst into tears. “I can’t talk to the police. I can’t!”
She allowed me to lead her back into the kitchen, where I sat her down on a chair and brought her a glass of water. She gulped it down, then started crying harder. Something was terribly wrong, something to do with the dead man outside.
“What’s going on? Why did you drive across the country as if the devil were chasing you?”
Her sobbing grew louder. She gasped for breath, then started to cough.
I wrapped my arms around her. “Sweetie, what is it? You’re here, safe inside my house.”
“That man out there. He...he…” She was hiccupping so badly, she couldn’t finish her sentence.
I swallowed the fear rising in my throat. “You recognized him?”
“I don’t think so. But he followed me here. He must have!” She covered her face in her hands.
“From Utah?”
A banshee wail filled the room. “Of course! That’s where it began.”
I handed her a fistful of tissues.
“Gayle, you came here so I could help you, because it’s safe.”
“But it isn’t safe. That man—”
“That man, whoever he is, didn’t hurt you.”
She whimpered, making small mewling sounds. “Shawn will send someone else. I know he will.”
Professional Reviews
5 stars: A Golden Age Mystery
Author Marilyn Levinson once again uses a great mystery writer as her model for Murder Tey Way. Josephine Tey was a great mystery writer whose primary trademark was focusing on the facial expressions of her suspects. The novel she spotlights at the start of the book is The Daughter of Time. Talking about this novel and the main character Alan Grant of Scotland Yard she hopes will spark a discussion among her characters that are members of the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club.
Dr. Lexie Driscoll is the moderator of this club and is back as our main character. Added in we now meet some colorful and odd additions to the club. Felicity and Corinne Roberts who are sisters and definitely quite strange. Felicity is fragile, sad and looks like if you blow on her she might wither away. Standing in the shadow of the sister, Corinne, she tries to speak her mind but cowers when Corinne reels her in.
There are many more new characters, which makes this novel quite colorful and filled with suspense. Enter Gayle, Lexie’s sister who is six years young than her. Into the wrong guys, has her hand in criminal activities she falls prey to the wiles of others and often makes wrong decisions. Not close to Lexie and having been out of touch for quite some time, it was odd that she phoned, said she was driving from Utah and would show up at her door in Long Island. The reunion was not exactly what you would expect between two sisters yet, Lexie took her in despite her odd behavior. Asking to go to sleep the minute she arrived, not really acknowledging that fact that the book club was in session, Gayle makes her exit and entrance.Read more ›
5 star review: Well Crafted Plot
This review is from: Murder the Tey Way: A Golden Age of Mystery Book Club Mystery (The Golden Age of Mystery Book Club Mysteries 2) (Kindle Edition)
Murder The Tey Wey by Marilyn Levinson Is a good cozy mystery featuring a group of friends that get together for a book club. The book club is called the Golden Age of Mystery book club and they read and discuss classic mysteries. It is run by Professor Lexie Driscoll. Other members include her best friend, Joy, who is a former FBI agent who is now a full time mom. There is also her neighbors, Felicity and Corinne, who are very strange. Marge and Evan and Tim and Sadie also belong to the club.
When they are not reading and discussing the books they read they find they have a few mysteries to solve. One, who is chasing after Lexie’s sister, Gayle. Two, who killed the man that was found in Lexie’s backyard. Three, who is robbing the homes of some of the members. And four, who killed one of the book club members and why. It will take some serious investigating to figure out the answers to these questions.
There are many twists and turns in this book that adds to the suspense and mystery. There are also many suspects who could be guilty of these crimes. Between the twists and turns and the suspect list, it is very difficult to figure out who the culprits are. I found myself scrolling through my e-reader as fast as I could read to find out what was going to happen next.
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. You could tell that there is a deep friendship between Lexie and Joy, even though it was put to the test. The relationship between Lexie and her sister is also tested many times and it was interesting seeing if their problems could be resolved. There is a unique dynamics between the book club members and it was refreshing that they all did not get along. In so many cozies, there is a core group of friends that have each other’s back, no matter what. In this book it seems more realistic because the members had problems with each other at times and did not always get along. I think Marilyn has a good understanding of human nature and that shows through in her character development.
The writing style flows smoothly and this book is an easy read. Marilyn is so good at crafting a well plotted book that makes you want to keep turning the pages. I really like the fact that there is more than one mystery to solve and the reasons for the crimes. The book really put my sleuthing skills to the test, and I found out I am not as good as I thought I was.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written cozy. If you enjoy Golden Age Mysteries, you will really enjoy this book because there are many references to Josephine Tey’s works and how it could be used today for solving crimes. I thought this fact made the book even more unique. I have read many of Marilyn Levinson’s books and I have really loved them all. As soon as I find out she has a book coming out, I know it is one I want to read. Check them out for yourself and I am sure you will agree.
5 star review: Kept me guessing
"Murder the Tey Way" is the second book in the series and, once again, Marilyn Levinson has written a mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. The main character, Professor Lexie Driscoll, who leads the mystery readers' book club, has her fair share of problems. But, when a body is found in her back yard, she's determined to discover who committed the murder. Was the killer one of the members?
A well crafted and intriguing mystery!
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