A review by lady_grey_with_honey
The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Wow, I absolutely loved this mystery and found it to be quite gripping for an older book (1948), which feels to me like the very beginnings of the thriller/courtroom drama genre. The initial mystery was very intriguing, the defense of the accused kept me hooked, the public reaction to the charges added another element of interest and surprise, and the ending was superb. I think what really knocks it out of the park, though, is the characters. They are so real and relatable. I felt like I was a cousin, called in to help them get through this. Very vivid and memorable scenes and dialogue. There are times when this book can feel a little dated, but there were also some quite modern sentiments, so nothing detracted from the story for me.