Overview

In Dear Little Corpses, Britain stands on the edge of war as children are evacuated from London to the countryside. In the Suffolk village of Polstead, one young girl goes missing soon after arriving. Crime writer Josephine Tey and her partner Marta Fox become involved as suspicion, fear and long held secrets begin to surface in a place that appears calm but is far from safe.

Writing & Voice

We found Nicola Upson’s writing measured and atmospheric, with a strong sense of time and place. The rural setting feels unsettled rather than comforting, shaped by anxiety about the coming war. The style echoes Golden Age crime fiction while allowing space for emotional weight. The opening sections move slowly, which may test patience, but they do establish mood and tension.

Characters

Josephine and Marta remain thoughtful and engaging leads, bringing empathy and observation to the case. The evacuated children add real emotional force to the story. With a large village cast, some characters are less clearly defined, and a few motives feel under explored, but the central relationships remain strong.

Themes

This novel explores fear, displacement and the damage caused by silence. The evacuation highlights tensions between hosts and newcomers, and the missing child exposes deeper cracks within the community. Upson looks closely at how trauma and expectation shape behaviour, especially in times of uncertainty.

What Worked

• Evocative setting: pre war England feels uneasy and well observed.
• Emotional pull: the disappearance of a child gives the story real weight.
• Series continuity: familiar characters and tone will satisfy long time readers.

Minor Quibbles

• The early pacing is slow compared to other books in the series.
• Several subplots feel lightly sketched rather than fully developed.

Final Thoughts

Dear Little Corpses is a thoughtful and atmospheric historical mystery that focuses on mood and emotion as much as plot. While it does not reach the strongest heights of the series, it remains a compelling and quietly unsettling read.

Rating: ★★★¾☆ (3.8 / 5)