Published 2nd November 2023 by Faber Books.
From the cover of the book:
I will never understand why murder is considered such a lowbrow speciality in Hollywood.
September, 1939, and the worries of war follow Josephine Tey to Hollywood, where a different sort of battle is raging on the set of Hitchcock's Rebecca.
Then a shocking act of violence reawakens the shadows of the past, with consequences on both sides of the Atlantic, and Josephine and DCI Archie Penrose find themselves on a trail leading back to the house that inspired a young Daphne du Maurier - a trail that echoes Rebecca's timeless themes of obsession, jealousy and murder.
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September, 1939. The reality of another war is starting to hit home, as Josephine says goodbye to her friend DCI Archie Penrose, and steps aboard the glamorous Queen Mary on her way across the Atlantic, wondering if she will ever return. She is looking forward to a tender reunion with her lover Marta, who is busy working once again with Alfred Hitchcock, this time on his adaptation of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca.
After a fraught crossing filled with unexpected drama, in which she falls into company with Hitchcock's wife and daughter, Josephine sets off across-country to Los Angeles. On the way she meets a young man on the brink of throwing himself under a train and stops him just in time. He is also heading to Hollywood, as he is working on Rebecca. She decides to keep a close eye on him, but is unprepared for his confession about what led him to trying to take his own life.
Meanwhile, Archie is called to Milton Hall, the house that inspired du Maurier's Manderley, to investigate a murder. He discovers that the death might be the result of events that actually took place at Milton Hall some twenty years ago, when it was a convalescent home for injured soldiers returning from the trenches - events that involved the young man Josephine has befriended...
"The sky above our heads was inky black. But the sky on the horizon was not dark at all. It was shot with crimson, like a splash of blood. And the ashes blew towards us with the salt wind from the sea."
Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
The eleventh book in this cracking series is one of my favourites for a number of reasons, not least the way Nicola spins two complementary plotlines for Josephine and Archie, in a masterclass that demonstrates every facet of her skills as a writer. Du Maurier's Rebecca sits at the burning heart of this novel (pun intended), through clever use of the problem-struck film directed by Hitchcock, as well as the real childhood memories of du Maurier about Milton Hall and its daunting housekeeper that sparked Manderley and Mrs Danvers into life.
Nicola's settings could not be more different from each other, with Josephine in the weird and wonderful world of Tinsel Town in its heyday, and Archie on a country estate mired in an investigation that has its roots in losses during the Great War. And yet, they form two sides of a many-layered story that can only be unravelled by equal contributions from them both. And, what a story! The subtle shifts in perspective that open up its mysteries are so enjoyable, and I am in awe of the way Nicola manages to explore so many aspects of guilt, shame, suspicion, secrets, love, obsession, jealousy, revenge, and the tragic consequences of a doomed love affair... and keep you guessing until the shocking twists knock you sideways at the completion of the story.
As fitting for a story which revels in du Maurier, Nicola uses her to open and close this novel, bringing it deliciously full circle - and giving her the role of the person who fills in the final pieces of mystery for Archie. Surely her finest use of a famous face in an instalment packed with film and literary royalty like never before.
I love how this one immerses you completely in the world of movie making of the era, especially when it comes to Hitchcock (all the better for Josephine's previous run-ins with the man) and blockbuster producer David Selznick (who was also working on Gone with the Wind at the same time). And if this was not enough when it comes to atmospheric vibes of time and place, Josephine travels to America on the luxurious Queen Mary too. Bliss!
My reread journey through Nicola's Josephine Tey mysteries, via the excellent audio books narrated by Sandra Duncan, has reached an end. That means that my next adventure is the brand new twelfth book, The Voices of the Dead, which is publishing on 5th November. I am so not ready to leave Sandra's lovely voice behind just yet... so I think I may be listening to this one too!
Shot with Crimson is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback,ebook and audio formats.
About the author:
Nicola Upson is the author the Josephine Tey mysteries, including An Expert in Murder, a standalone novel The Christmas Clue, and two works of nonfiction. She has worked in theatre and as a freelance journalist. A recipient of an Escalator Award from the Arts Council England, she splits her time between Cambridge and Cornwall.
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