Josephine Tey

Josephine Tey was the pen name of Elizabeth Mackintosh, a Scottish author born in Inverness in 1896. She is best known for her mystery novels, which she wrote under the name Josephine Tey, as well as historical fiction written under the pseudonym Gordon Daviot. The name "Josephine Tey" was derived from her mother's first name and her grandmother's maiden name.

Tey wrote around six novels based on mystery and thriller genres, most of which revolve around the life of the fictional character Alan Grant, a detective in Scotland Yard. Her first novel, "The Man in the Queue," was published in 1929, under the pseudonym Gordon Daviot. 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 under the pseudonym Gordon Daviot, some of which were produced during her lifetime.

Elizabeth Mackintosh came of age during World War I and attended the Anstey Physical Training College in Birmingham, England from 1915 to 1918. After graduation, she became a physical training instructor for eight years. In 1926, after her mother's death, she returned home to Inverness to care for her invalid father. It was during this period that she turned to writing as a diversion and found success in creating a second career.

Tey's novel "The Daughter of Time" (1951) was voted the greatest mystery novel of all time by the Crime Writers' Association in 1990. She never married and died in London at the age of 55, leaving her entire estate to the National Trust. Despite her success and popularity, Tey remained something of a mystery even to her intimate friends, and her death came as a surprise to many. However, there is some indication that she may have known she was fatally ill for some time prior to her passing.