A rent collector is murdered, and children are missing in Dear Little Corpses, the latest Josephine Tey mystery.
The heroine of Dear Little Corpses is a fictionalized Josephine Tey. Tey was a writer of laudable British golden age mysteries that fictionalized historical figures. This book attempts to do the same with varying results. The pacing here is clearly at historical fiction speed. The first third is setting the atmosphere and time period of right before WWII as the real Operation Pied Piper begins shipping British town children to the countryside. Not much else happens. Eventually, the mysteries begin but it is a long time coming.
I think this book would be better for historical fiction, rather than mystery, fans due to its pacing. However, its character development is excellent. 3 stars.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.