London, 1903. Two women are hanged in Holloway Prison for killing babies. More than thirty years later, their crimes resurface with shocking consequences. When Josephine Tey sets out to write a novel about Amelia Sach and Annie Walters, the notorious Finchley baby farmers sentenced to death for a string of newborn murders, she has no idea that the research for her book will be used in the investigation of a modern-day killing--the sadistic murder of a young seamstress, found dead in the studio of Tey's friends, the Motley sisters, amid preparations for a star-studded charity gala.
While initially the death of the young girl, an ex-con trying to go straight, seems to be the result of a long-standing domestic feud, Josephine's friend, Inspector Archie Penrose, is not convinced. And when a second young woman is involved in a horrific accident soon afterwards, the search begins for a vicious killer who will stop at nothing to keep the past where it belongs. Moving between the decadence and glamour of a private women's club, the bleak surroundings of Holloway prison, and the deprivation of London's slums, Two for Sorrow is a dark and unsettling exploration of the way in which the crimes of the past destroy those left behind--long after justice is served.
About the Author :
Nicola Upson was born in Suffolk and read English at Downing College, Cambridge. Her debut novel, An Expert in Murder, was the first in a series of crime novels whose main character is Josephine Tey, who--along with Agatha Christie--was one of the finest of Britain's Golden Age crime writers. There have been nine books in the series, of which Nine Lessons was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger in 2018. She lives with her partner in Cambridge and Cornwall.
Davina Porter won the prestigious Audie Award in 2006 for Best Female Narration and in 2004 for Best Inspirational Literature Narration. She has been honored as an AudioFile Golden Voice and has won nineteen Earphones Awards. As an actress, she has appeared onstage at the Vineyard Playhouse and the Square One Theater, among others.
Review :
"Any crime aficionado...should make room for Nicola Upson's novels in which the real-life author Josephine Tey, one of the grandest dames of the Golden Age of detective fiction, investigates murders in the thirties."
-- "Daily Telegraph (London)"
"Curiously touching and psychologically compelling."
-- "Sunday Times (London)"
"This excellent entry in this highly recommended series provides all the classic detective components with a contemporary kick. The case is intricate and surprisingly intimate, weaving in and out of two historical periods."
-- "Library Journal (starred review)"
"Upson upsets readers' expectations with a surprise that keeps the suspense high to the satisfying conclusion. Puzzle fans as well as admirers of psychologically-rich crime authors such as Ruth Rendell will find a lot to savor."
-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"
"Upson's style is compelling, meticulously researched, and immaculately written. She creates a world you enter through her pages and are reluctant to leave at the end."
-- "Hunts Post (London)"
