From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives

The Franchise Affair
by
Start date
November 1, 2020
Finish date
November 30, 2020
Discussion
Group reads
Why we're reading this
Winner of the poll for our November group read.

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Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 330 topics — 11,893 comments total
+ Group reads
* November 2025 group read - Winner!
By Judy · 20 posts · 32 views
last updated Sep 17, 2025 08:43AM
* Sept 25: Lonesome Road (#3 Miss Silver Mysteries) by Patricia Wentworth
By Susan · 16 posts · 16 views
last updated Sep 19, 2025 01:03PM
showing 7 of 7 topics    view all »
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What Members Thought

Julie Durnell
Nov 04, 2024 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: mystery, england-uk
Cleverly plotted, so well written, another win from Josephine Tey!
Christine PNW
Feb 17, 2019 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: vintage-women
This is my edition:



This was really excellent. The mystery is riveting, and Tey maintains the tension throughout, while allowing things to unfold in a leisurely fashion. If I have one minor complaint, it's that it does move a little bit slowly. But that is just a tiny thing.

What a loss it was that she died so young. I've now read 3 of the 8 books that the author wrote as Josephine Tey (she also wrote as Gordon Daviot), and 2 of her Inspector Grant mysteries. I will keep buying her books as I
...more
Brenda
Nov 24, 2020 rated it really liked it
I believe this is the first book I’ve read by this author, aka Josephine Tey. The police investigation was pretty comical, they’d made up their mind ahead and pushed to have it all wrapped up. I thought it was a fun mystery. I had suspicions at times, but had an idea how it would end up. It was an enjoyable read though.
Gina Dalfonzo
I got this one because I liked "Brat Farrar" so much, but this turned out to be a weaker story. Too much was based on gut instincts and personal attractions. (view spoiler) ...more
P.
May 22, 2019 rated it liked it
Decent enough. Benefited from Grant's minimal presence, and real detecting by some talented hired guns. ...more
Shabbeer Hassan
Oct 07, 2021 rated it really liked it
Another corker of a mystery from Josephine Tey. Here she tackles an age-old question in whodunit lore - "the unreliable witness" and spins it around a bit to showcase a bit the travails of post-WWII UK. And mind you, it does end up in a nice happy ending!

My Rating - 4.5/5
...more
Jessica
Sep 14, 2022 marked it as to-read
Suggested in Close Reads podcast. One of P.D. James' favorite detective novels according to here. ...more
Joanne
May 08, 2015 rated it really liked it
Jan C
Jun 11, 2015 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Patti
May 23, 2016 rated it really liked it
Daniele
Jun 22, 2016 marked it as to-read
Ruth
Sep 03, 2016 marked it as to-read
Shelves: mystery
Rebecca Libersat
Dec 26, 2016 rated it liked it
Shelves: folio, mystery, reread
Laura
Feb 07, 2017 marked it as abandoned-books
Sam
Apr 13, 2017 added it
Nina
May 15, 2017 rated it really liked it
Robin
Mar 15, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: 2020
Jennifer
Nov 10, 2020 rated it really liked it
Fern
Jul 04, 2022 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: mysteries
Jill
Jul 17, 2022 marked it as to-read
Shelves: mystery, january
Gretchen Sidener
Apr 24, 2024 rated it really liked it
Kam
Jul 10, 2025 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: books-i-own