A review by ianbanks
The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey

4.0

Mysteries and thrillers have always struck me as inherently conservative in their nature, which is why I’m baffled by the sheer number of 1-star reviews for this here on Goodreads. The story of a pair of women charged with the kidnapping and battery of a girl who has had statutory rape committed upon her would end very differently today, I know, but even for the time it was written, this was grossly unfair treatment for the antagonist, regardless of the fact that it was based on a case that was two hundred years old at the time of publication. I read all this in one sitting but it did not leave a pleasant taste in my mouth despite the very obvious skill of the author. Brilliantly put together but quite mean-spirited in its execution.