Book #3 in the Inspector Alan Grant series.

"You must be careful what you say, especially in this world of ours, where you can be found guilty even before being tried."

In a quiet English village, Marion Sharpe and her mother, two seemingly ordinary women, find their lives upturned when a young girl named Betty Kane accuses them of kidnapping and abuse. As the allegations escalate, the women become embroiled in a sensational legal battle that captures the attention of the public and the media.

When even Inspector Alan Grant is baffled, Marion enlists the help of savvy barrister Robert Blair to clear their names. Together, they confront the disturbing truths lurking beneath the surface of their community and navigate the complicated the complicated landscape of perception and reality. As they uncover more details of Betty’s life, the question remains: is Betty genuinely a victim, or is there more to her story?

A taut narrative filled with suspense and revelations, The Franchise Affair also serves as a commentary on the societal tensions of post-war England, featuring a diverse cast of characters who illustrate the social climate of the time, and takes a very relevant look at the way media sensationalism often overshadows truth in the public arena.

Josephine Tey (1896-1952) was a renowned author and one of the most celebrated figures in detective fiction. Tey initially pursued a career in theatre, writing plays before shifting her focus to novels, and her writing is characterised by psychological depth, strong character development, and a subversion of traditional crime fiction norms. Her most notable works include The Daughter of Time, Brat Farrar, and The Franchise Affair, and despite her relatively small output, her influence is significant, inspiring future generations of mystery writers.

In 2015, Val McDermid argued that Tey "cracked open the door" for later writers such as Patricia Highsmith and Ruth Rendell to explore the darker side of humanity, creating a bridge between the Golden Age of Detective Fiction and contemporary crime novels