The Man in the Queue

by Josephine Tey

Overview

A quiet line outside a London theater becomes the scene of a chilling crime in this classic British mystery that introduces one of detective fiction's most thoughtful investigators.

On a damp March evening, theatergoers gather to see a hit musical. But as the queue inches forward, a man collapses-stabbed through the back in full view of dozens, yet unnoticed until it is too late. Who was he? Who wanted him dead? And how could the killer vanish from such a public space without a trace?

Enter Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard-a perceptive, intuitive detective known for his deep understanding of human nature. As Grant pieces together the identity of the victim, he uncovers a tangle of misleading appearances, reluctant witnesses, and the unsettling realization that the truth may lie far from where it first appears.

Grant's journey takes him from the heart of London's West End to the rugged landscapes of Scotland in pursuit of a suspect-and in search of certainty in a case clouded by doubt. Along the way, The Man in the Queue subtly explores themes of justice, social class, and the danger of quick conclusions.

Written under the pseudonym Gordon Daviot, Josephine Tey's first novel is a brilliantly constructed puzzle and a sharp psychological portrait that helped redefine the modern detective story. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and P.D. James, this is where the legend of Alan Grant begins.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684229826
Publisher:	Martino Fine Books
Publication date:	05/07/2025
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Josephine Tey was a pseudonym of Elizabeth Mackintosh. Josephine was her mother's first name and Tey the surname of an English Grandmother. As Josephine Tey, she wrote six mystery novels including Scotland Yard's Inspector Alan Grant.

The first of these, 'The Man in the Queue' (1929) was published under the pseudonym of Gordon Daviot , whose name also appears on the title page of another of her 1929 novels, 'Kit An Unvarnished History'. She also used the Daviot by-line for a biography of the 17th century cavalry leader John Graham, which was entitled 'Claverhouse' (1937).

Mackintosh also wrote plays (both one act and full length), some of which were produced during her lifetime, under the pseudonym Gordon Daviot. The district of Daviot, near her home of Inverness in Scotland, was a location her family had vacationed. The name Gordon does not appear in either her family or her history.

Elizabeth Mackintosh came of age during World War I, attending Anstey Physical Training College in Birmingham, England during the years 1915-1918. Upon graduation, she became a physical training instructor for eight years. In 1926, her mother died and she returned home to Inverness to care for her invalid father. Busy with household duties, she turned to writing as a diversion, and was successful in creating a second career.

Alfred Hitchcock filmed one of her novels, 'A Shilling for Candles' (1936) as 'Young and Innocent' in 1937 and two other of her novels have been made into films, 'The Franchise Affair' (1948), filmed in 1950, and 'Brat Farrar' (1949), filmed as 'Paranoiac' in 1963. In addition a number of her works have been dramatised for radio.

Her novel 'The Daughter of Time' (1951) was voted the greatest mystery novel of all time by the Crime Writers' Association in 1990.

Miss Mackintosh never married, and died at the age of 55, in London. A shy woman, she is reported to have been somewhat of a mystery even to her intimate friends. While her death seems to have been a surprise, there is some indication she may have known she was fatally ill for some time prior to her passing.

Editorial Reviews

Inspector Alan Grant painstakingly, fascinatingly identifies the body, then chases suspects up to the Highlands of Scotland and all around the town.”

Daily Express

With his appealing baritone, Golden Voice Stefan Rudnicki draws listeners into this first outing of Inspector Alan Grant. An unidentified man is stabbed while waiting in a long line to see the final London performance of a popular musical comedy. Grant can't understand how none of the others in the queue saw anything. Nonetheless, he takes the few clues he has and begins his dogged investigation. Rudnicki's portrayals of Tey's characters work well. His voice demands attention, and his insights into both major and minor characters are first-rate. The book was first published in 1929, so Tey's Inspector Grant has no fancy forensics at his disposal. He solves the mystery just by employing intelligent detective work. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine

MAY 2025 - AudioFile