The Franchise Affair

By: Josephine Tey

Narrated by: Carole Boyd

Marion Sharpe and her mother seem an unlikely duo to be found on the wrong side of the law. Quiet and ordinary, they have led a peaceful and unremarkable life at their country home, The Franchise. Unremarkable that is, until the police turn up with a demure young woman on their doorstep.

Not only does Betty Kane accuse them of kidnap and abuse, she can back up her claim with a detailed description of the attic room in which she was kept, right down to the crack in its round window. But there’s something about Betty Kane’s story that doesn’t quite add up.

Inspector Alan Grant of Scotland Yard is stumped. It takes Robert Blair, solicitor turned amateur detective, to solve the mystery...

©1948 Josephine Tey (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

A Great Novel from A Master

The narrator, Carol Boyd, is fantastic. Josephine Tey is one of the great classic British mystery of manners writers.

In this original and charming story, an eccentric woman and her daughter are accused of kidnapping and abusing a girl they picked up at a bus stop. She arrives home full of bruises and with the clothes on her back.

The girl's story is compelling and, of course, the women swear they've never seen her much less held her prisoner. The plot has some holes as large as the Chunnel but it's still a fun listen made better by a terrific narrator

If she wasn't held captive in the women's attic, where had she been for the month she went missing?

What a pleasure, Carole Boyd and Josephine Tey

I read an audible review recently from someone who had listened to Tey’s Brat Farrar, a book I’d read years ago and forgotten. So I listened to Carole Boyd narrate Brat Farrrar and was entranced. I looked for more Carole Boyd’s narrations and saw another Tey that I didn’t know. Although I probably liked the novel Brat Farrar a bit more, both works made me wonder how what was obviously a crime could be proved so. The Franchise Affair relies more on coincidence than Brat Farrar, a reason for the latter’s superiority. But what was excellent in both was Boyd’s narration as she seems to be able to enter into the voice and nuances of all characters.

The Franchise Affair

An enjoyable mystery by Josephine Tey, one I will listen to again and again. When this book was written the usage of graphic descriptions to provide the reader with gut wrenching imaginings was not yet in vogue. This is my type of preferred reading, a mystery, a court case, without the need for overly debasing the victims or glorifying the horrific acts of the perpetrators. And the narration by Carole Boyd was perfect. With a lovely timbre to her voice she was able to keep my attention from chapter to chapter. Changing her rhythm, tone, and accents she delightfully enchanted my ears. If only Carole Boyd narrated all of Tey's books.

Love this Tey story

One of my favorite Josephine Tey stories. Watched the BBC movie, but wanted to listen to the original. Very much enjoyed the story and narration.

Great narration, great story.

Where does The Franchise Affair rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is just stellar, great British mystery and fabulous narrator. I usually prefer male narration but this was the best of all I have enjoyed. There was no character she was not able to bring to life.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Franchise Affair?

How contemporary a 1940's embedded context was to our own times.