Josephine Tey is the pseudonym that Elizabeth Mackintosh used in writing her fictional prose.  She was born in 1896 in Inverness, Scotland and died  in 1952 in London, England.  Her parents were Colin and Josephine Horne  Mackintosh.  She had two sisters who both married while she, herself,  never did.  Little is known of her personal life.  She was raised in  Inverness where she attended Anstey Physical Training College in  Birmingham and earned a living as a physical training instructor.  When  she quit work to care for her father, she began writing.  Her first  mystery novel was published in 1929 and her first play, Richard of  Bordeaux was published 1932.

She used the psuedonym Gordon Daviot when writing her plays, of which she  produced around twelve full length and about as many one-acts plays.  Only  four were given productions while she was still alive.  She also three  non-mystery novels, and a biography. 

She was a recluse and had no close friends and she never gave interviews.  She died soon after the publication of The Daughter of Time which  is considered her best work.