The Daughter of TimeThe Daughter of Time
Score Classic
What it's about
Laid up with a broken leg, Scotland Yard's Inspector Alan Grant becomes fascinated by a portrait of Richard III that looks nothing like history's villain. From his bed, he sets out to discover whether Richard really killed his brother's children to secure the crown.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a detective story that investigates a 500-year-old mystery.
You'll love it if you liked
Wolf Hall
The Moonstone
The Murder of Roger AckroydGood to know
There's no action: it's all research and reasoning, and it's gripping anyway.
By the numbers
- Readers41 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller15 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #174 of the 260 young adult books we rank
- #424 of the 623 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #715 of the 924 classics we rank
- #2293 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
If you like this, read next
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The Book Thief
The Confessions of Nat TurnerExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →Quick answers
Is The Daughter of Time worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,293 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Daughter of Time about?
Laid up with a broken leg, Scotland Yard's Inspector Alan Grant becomes fascinated by a portrait of Richard III that looks nothing like history's villain. From his bed, he sets out to discover whether Richard really killed his brother's children to secure the crown.
How long does it take to read The Daughter of Time?
About 6 hours (226 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Daughter of Time?
If you liked it, try Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins or The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie.




















