Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Teaser Tuesdays: A Shilling for Candles

This week my teaser lines come from the vintage mystery novel A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey. First published in 1936, the book is the second entry in Tey's series featuring Scotland Yard's Inspector Alan Grant. In this snippet, Inspector Grant is questioning one of his suspects, and finds himself becoming a little too charmed by the young man's likable manner.
Charm. The most insidious weapon in all the human armory. And here it was, being exploited under his nose. He considered the good-natured feckless face dispassionately. He had known at least one murderer who had had that type of good looks; blue-eyed, amiable, harmless; and he had buried his dismembered fiancee in an ash-pit. (p.37)
I know it's a little long. Sorry -- just couldn't decide what to leave out.

(The cover of the Pocket Books edition from 1980.)

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by mizB at Should Be Reading. If you'd like to read more teasers, or take part yourself, just head on over to her blog.

And please feel free to leave me a link to your Teaser Tuesday post in your comment here.
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26 comments:

  1. HeatherMay 17, 2011 at 1:10 AM

    Oh, good teaser, Joy. I for one am glad you didn't attempt to cut it down. Mine: At Grave’s End

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  2. StephenMay 17, 2011 at 1:15 AM

    Charm is indeed potent, in both fiction and in real life. I watched the most recent season of Survivor after ignoring it for a few years, just because a favorite player of mine was back. Why I love watching him, I don't know...but he's so charismatic that even though people KNEW how dangerous he was, they kept him around. Last night he won a million dollars. The ability to turn people who should be your rivals into friends and followers is *power*.

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  3. BethMay 17, 2011 at 2:00 AM

    Great teaser! I read Daughter of Time a few months ago and loved it! I want to read the whole series, but none of the libraries around me have the first book of the series! Here is my teaser for this week.

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  4. Kyanara_BJDMay 17, 2011 at 4:50 AM

    What a wonderfull teaser!

    Have a great day
    Kyanara

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  5. Kyanara_BJDMay 17, 2011 at 4:50 AM

    What a wonderfull teaser!

    Have a great day
    Kyanara

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  6. Laurel-Rain SnowMay 17, 2011 at 4:55 AM

    Ah, yes, watch out for the charmers! Thanks for sharing....

    Here's MY TT POST

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  7. MargMay 17, 2011 at 6:22 AM

    The only book I have read by Tey is Daughter of Time. I meant to read more, but haven't managed to do so yet.

    My teaser this week comes from one of my favourite authors!

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  8. MarceMay 17, 2011 at 8:09 AM

    The title, the cover and the teaser, hmmm, interesting.

    My TT

    http://teawithmarce.blogspot.com/2011/05/teaser-tuesday-girls-by-lori-lansens.html

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  9. HarveeMay 17, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    An older mystery novel! Bet the series is good!
    My tease

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  10. Jo KMay 17, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    Intriguing teaser! Here is mine: http://beyondstrangenewwords.blogspot.com/2011/05/teaser-tuesday-may-17-2011.html

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  11. Playing LibrarianMay 17, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Intriguing teaser!
    Thanks for commenting on mine.

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  12. CMashMay 17, 2011 at 9:30 AM

    Charm!!! It does work. Good teaser.

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  13. KellyMay 17, 2011 at 9:31 AM

    Wow. That was an awesome teaser. Makes me want to put it on my TBR pile.

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  14. BunnitaMay 17, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Great teaser and so true....charm in the wrong hands can make a person ruin their life.

    Bunnita

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  15. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 10:03 AM

    Good teaser. Charm is certainly an impressive weapon.

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  16. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    What a true teaser! Love it.

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  17. Confuzzled ShannonMay 17, 2011 at 10:44 AM

    Nice! never heard of the book or the author..Hope your enjoying it!

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  18. KristynMay 17, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    What a great teaser! You see so few for old books. This one is fantastic!

    I'm a new follower, your blog is lovely. Here's my teaser: http://aturnofpage.blogspot.com/2011/05/teaser-tuesday-no-3.html.

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  19. fredamansMay 17, 2011 at 11:27 AM

    Awesome teaser!

    http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2011/05/teaser-tuesday_16.html

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  20. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    A wow! teaser.

    http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/05/teaser-tuesday_17.html

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  21. AnonymousMay 17, 2011 at 1:54 PM

    You did great! Don't cut 'em down. I have read only Tey's The Daughter of Time but thought it very good, and this one sounds great.

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  22. Aisle BMay 17, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Blued eyed???? Looks like I escaped my last boyfriend's fiendish ways... gulp thank goodness I married another ;)

    This sounds really intriguing so will look this one up too.

    PS I stayed up in the wee hours to finish the Final Note... tears ran constantly... but it was worth it. :)

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  23. SarahMay 17, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Great teaser Joy! Hmm...I wonder how many murderers he's known. lol

    Thanks for stopping by My Teaser as well. I am enjoying the book so far! :)

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  24. Gigi AnnMay 17, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    LOL... I am reading a vintage romance book this week. I sometimes like reading a vintage book just for the fun of it.

    Thanks for visiting my TT today.

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  25. Karen HarringtonMay 17, 2011 at 8:20 PM

    Love the description and attitude in this teaser. Adding it to my TBR list!

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  26. Obsession with BooksMay 17, 2011 at 11:43 PM

    A great teaser!

    My TT for this week is Savor the Danger by Lori Foster. http://obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

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