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Fran Varady #3
Running Scared
When a stranger is stabbed to death, Fran's own life is put in danger...
Amateur sleuth Fran Varady has to stay ahead of a killer in Running Scared, the third exciting mystery in Ann Granger's Fran Varady series. The perfect read for fans of LJ Ross and Elly Griffiths.
'One of crime fiction's most engaging heroines' - Yorkshire Post
Aspiring actress and part-time private investigator Fran Varady knew there would be maximum disruption when her friend Ganesh decided to modernise his uncle's newsagents, starting with the washroom. But she isn't prepared for the nightmare that begins when an agitated passer-by asks to use it: hours later, he's found stabbed to death, leaving a message for Fran to meet him, and a mysterious roll of film hidden behind the old pipes...
Fran realises that whoever wanted the negatives knows where they were hidden. And, probably, where they are now. With her police protection more a hindrance than a help, an old friend, Tig, on the verge of collapse, and the builders wreaking havoc in the shop, can Fran find out why someone is prepared to murder for the negatives— before they find her?
What readers are saying about Running Scared:
'The heroine is a very convincing and likeable character, living almost on the fringes of society'
'Loved this book as I have in all the Fran Varady books; gripping plot as normal with a twist at the end'
'From the start I felt like I know the characters! It's a great read, very believable storyline and some humour as well'
Amateur sleuth Fran Varady has to stay ahead of a killer in Running Scared, the third exciting mystery in Ann Granger's Fran Varady series. The perfect read for fans of LJ Ross and Elly Griffiths.
'One of crime fiction's most engaging heroines' - Yorkshire Post
Aspiring actress and part-time private investigator Fran Varady knew there would be maximum disruption when her friend Ganesh decided to modernise his uncle's newsagents, starting with the washroom. But she isn't prepared for the nightmare that begins when an agitated passer-by asks to use it: hours later, he's found stabbed to death, leaving a message for Fran to meet him, and a mysterious roll of film hidden behind the old pipes...
Fran realises that whoever wanted the negatives knows where they were hidden. And, probably, where they are now. With her police protection more a hindrance than a help, an old friend, Tig, on the verge of collapse, and the builders wreaking havoc in the shop, can Fran find out why someone is prepared to murder for the negatives— before they find her?
What readers are saying about Running Scared:
'The heroine is a very convincing and likeable character, living almost on the fringes of society'
'Loved this book as I have in all the Fran Varady books; gripping plot as normal with a twist at the end'
'From the start I felt like I know the characters! It's a great read, very believable storyline and some humour as well'
310 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
5 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Ann Granger
77 books302 followersAnn Granger attended the Northern Grammar School for Girls, and had thoughts about becoming a veterinarian, but discovered women were not accepted into vet schools because they were not believed to be strong enough. Instead she earned a Modern Languages degree at the University of London, where she first developed a desire to become a writer. worked in British embassies in various parts of the world. She met her husband, who was also working for the British Embassy, in Prague and together they received postings to places as far apart as Munich and Lusaka. They had two children.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
In 1991, Granger made the decision to switch to crime novels, saying, "Basically, there is only one plot in love stories: You can describe it in different ways, but you always come back to the subject of man and woman. Crime fiction opens up a world of possibilities for the writer. It lets you tackle deep and difficult issues." Her first crime novel, Say it with Poison, centred on the protagonists Meredith Mitchell, a consular clerk, and police officer Alan Markby. The book proved popular and Granger wrote 14 more Mitchell & Markby novels between 1991 and 2004.
Granger also wrote other crime novel series & in 2021, in recognition of thirty years of crime novels, Granger released a collection of eighteen short stories, Mystery in the Making.
On 24 September 2025, her publisher Headline announced that Granger had died at the age of 86
This autobiography was added to with information from Wikipedia & Encyclopedia.com.
Her first novels were historical romances published under the nom de plume Ann Hulme.
In 1991, Granger made the decision to switch to crime novels, saying, "Basically, there is only one plot in love stories: You can describe it in different ways, but you always come back to the subject of man and woman. Crime fiction opens up a world of possibilities for the writer. It lets you tackle deep and difficult issues." Her first crime novel, Say it with Poison, centred on the protagonists Meredith Mitchell, a consular clerk, and police officer Alan Markby. The book proved popular and Granger wrote 14 more Mitchell & Markby novels between 1991 and 2004.
Granger also wrote other crime novel series & in 2021, in recognition of thirty years of crime novels, Granger released a collection of eighteen short stories, Mystery in the Making.
On 24 September 2025, her publisher Headline announced that Granger had died at the age of 86
This autobiography was added to with information from Wikipedia & Encyclopedia.com.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 21, 2023
Der dritte Band rund um die Hobby-Detektivin Fran Varady ist wieder deutlich spannender und auch von der menschlichen Seite her tiefer gehender als der von mir zuvor gelesene zweite Band. Fran versucht wieder mal alle zu helfen. Ihre Neugier lässt sie mehr als einmal zum Ziel von Unterweltmitgliedern werden. Auch das Kümmern um ihre ehemalige Wohnungskollegin im Abbruchhaus führt zu einem nichtvorhersehbaren Ausgang dieses Falles.
January 12, 2025
As usual, trouble finds Fran pretty quickly. She’s help Gan at the newsstand when a stranger with a bloody nose comes in. His problem, of course, becomes Fran’s. Another scary adventure for the street-smart Fran.
January 6, 2020
An enjoyable read lacking in thrilling twists & turns however.
April 15, 2022
I have become a big fan of this series. The mysteries are good, the characters are great and interesting. The entire book gets heard in the same day three times now!
August 19, 2024
Boring af
June 25, 2025
Fran is outwitting the police and the villians
July 20, 2012
Originally published on my blog here in May 2000.
The third Fran Varady novel continues with the themes which shaped the first two. Fran is currently working with her friend Ganesh in his uncle's corner shop. She becomes involved with crime once again when a man staggers into the shop, having managed to escape from a car in which he was being abducted. She does not immediately connect the discovery of an envelope containing a set of photographic negatives with this man, until his body turns up on the doorstep of her flat. Then she realises that this envelope is what the kidnappers were after, and that she and Ganesh are in a lot of danger.
With the discovery of the body, the police of necessity become involved, and the distrustful relationship between them and Fran has not changed. She continues to have friends among the homeless, and the them the police have always been objects of fear.
Fran is an interesting character, and the background of these novels is rather different from the vast majority of detective novels. I suspect that the series will continue to entertain for some time to come.
The third Fran Varady novel continues with the themes which shaped the first two. Fran is currently working with her friend Ganesh in his uncle's corner shop. She becomes involved with crime once again when a man staggers into the shop, having managed to escape from a car in which he was being abducted. She does not immediately connect the discovery of an envelope containing a set of photographic negatives with this man, until his body turns up on the doorstep of her flat. Then she realises that this envelope is what the kidnappers were after, and that she and Ganesh are in a lot of danger.
With the discovery of the body, the police of necessity become involved, and the distrustful relationship between them and Fran has not changed. She continues to have friends among the homeless, and the them the police have always been objects of fear.
Fran is an interesting character, and the background of these novels is rather different from the vast majority of detective novels. I suspect that the series will continue to entertain for some time to come.
January 3, 2026
🍷🍷
This series just does it for me. Main character Francesca Varady is young, alone, and living by her wits in London. This doesn’t preclude her scratching the itch her curiosity gives her, nor from the trouble it often brings her way…
The books are interestingly plotted, with a cast of characters definitely not from the buttered side of the bread - giving us a very different look at the world than much of today’s more popular fiction, but quite believable.
Fran is helping her friend Ganesh operate his uncle’s newsagent’s shop when a man staggers through the door, bleeding, and ultimately sliding to the floor. After a prolonged visit to the loo, he submits to their first aid ministrations and then leaves. Very shortly thereafter Fran finds him at the bottom of the steps to her basement apartment, quite dead. Meat and potatoes for our girl! She’s quickly investigating, and putting herself in danger. Like a bulldog with a stick, Fran doesn’t stop until the case is broken wide open. Good stuff!
This series just does it for me. Main character Francesca Varady is young, alone, and living by her wits in London. This doesn’t preclude her scratching the itch her curiosity gives her, nor from the trouble it often brings her way…
The books are interestingly plotted, with a cast of characters definitely not from the buttered side of the bread - giving us a very different look at the world than much of today’s more popular fiction, but quite believable.
Fran is helping her friend Ganesh operate his uncle’s newsagent’s shop when a man staggers through the door, bleeding, and ultimately sliding to the floor. After a prolonged visit to the loo, he submits to their first aid ministrations and then leaves. Very shortly thereafter Fran finds him at the bottom of the steps to her basement apartment, quite dead. Meat and potatoes for our girl! She’s quickly investigating, and putting herself in danger. Like a bulldog with a stick, Fran doesn’t stop until the case is broken wide open. Good stuff!
May 3, 2016
I have been reading this series in a totally non linear manner.
It doesn't matter, it's still great.
I appreciate that the heroine (Fran Varady) in this series is poor, doesn't always have the necessities of life.
She scrambles, but she's very realistic, smart, canny, and persistent.
I really like this series.
It doesn't matter, it's still great.
I appreciate that the heroine (Fran Varady) in this series is poor, doesn't always have the necessities of life.
She scrambles, but she's very realistic, smart, canny, and persistent.
I really like this series.
February 23, 2008
This is one of a rather different series from the author of the Meredith and Markby series. Set in London with a protagonist who's young and, at times, nearly homeless. I've read a couple of them so I want to complete the series.
April 10, 2012
This is my first Ann Granger. I loved the sazzy heroine detective and the way she solved the mystery involving a dead man, a roll of films and a harassed land lady. I would look out for more books involving this heroine.
March 24, 2015
As usual a great book with Fran :)
November 15, 2009
I like Ann Granger's stories. She always has a different take on things.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews