The Franchise Affair: Their country house will soon play host to a nightmare…

‘An ingenious book’ SARAH WATERS’Permanent classics in the detective field . . . no superlatives are adequate’ THE NEW YORK TIMESMarion Shape and her mother are quiet and ordinary villagers, enjoying a peaceful life in their country home, the Franchise. Everything changes when a local schoolgirl accuses them of kidnap and abuse, describing the attic room of the house as her prison. Scotland Yard inspector Alan Grant is called to solve the mystery of the Franchise, but will he fall right in the middle of nightmarish affair that will change a town, and its locals’ lives, forever?’Josephine Tey enjoys a category to herself’ NEW STATESMAN

Reviews of The Franchise Affair: Their country house will soon play host to a nightmare…

The Franchise Affair is an ingenious book … The essential mystery is wonderfully established; the claustrophobic building-up of the apparently seamless case against the Sharpes is impeccably done — Sarah Waters Permanent classics in the detective field . . . no superlatives are adequate * The New York Times * A detective story with a very considerable difference. Ingenious, stimulating and very enjoyable * Sunday Times * As interesting and enjoyable a book as they will meet in a month of Sundays * Observer * Suspense is achieved by unexpected twists and extremely competent storytelling . . . credible and convincing * Spectator * Really first class . . . a continual delight * Times Literary Supplement * Tey's style and her knack for creating bizarre characters are among the best in the field * New Yorker *