Ann Granger has written 8 succesful crime novels involving Fran Varady as her amateur sleuth.
Fran Varady is a twenty-three year old unemployed Actress. Who in between jobs helps out at the Duke Detective Agency. She is a character it easy to associate with. She cares about people. And having ... Read review
Advantages: Weel written and thoughly likable sleuth Disadvantages: plot a little weak
Ann Granger has written 8 succesful crime novels involving Fran Varady as her amateur sleuth.
Fran Varady is a twenty-three year old unemployed Actress. Who in between jobs helps out at the Duke Detective Agency. She is a character it easy to associate with. She cares about people. And having lived rough herself has an affinity with Homeless people.
She is just walking through Camden one day, when she see 'mad Edna' ... ...bargained for.
Ann Granger has created a character in Fran Varady who is both likeable and easy to believe in. Her simple aim is to protect an old lady who doesn't have anyone else to look out for her.
The book is extremely well written and I found it hard not to want Fran to solve the case and find out the truth. The author has a great insight into people's characters as she sees to what lengths people will go to to ... more
Ann Granger has written 8 succesful crime novels involving Fran Varady as her amateur sleuth.
Fran Varady is a twenty-three year old unemployed Actress. Who in between jobs helps out at the Duke Detective Agency. She is a character it easy to associate with. She cares about people. And having lived rough herself has an affinity with Homeless people.
She is just walking through Camden one day, when she see 'mad Edna' a bag lady she knew when they were neighbours in a squat a few years before. She seems very agitated and quickly scurries away. Fran nottices a young man following her and she follows him. Wondering why Eden would be of any interest to anyone.
He easily gives her the slip but Fran's curiousity is aroused. After some detective work of her own she finds her old friend is staying at a hostel. She follows her and discovers the same man following her again. And after confronting him finds out his name is Duane Gardner and he is also a Private Detective from Teddington. He will not say who he is working for, so Fran must try and find this out for herself.
However, next morning she discovers his body in the Duke Detective Agency office.From here she feels she must uncover the truth. Why is someone trying to find Eden this harmless old lady? Why was Gardner been murdered?
To do this she has to dig into the past and a the tragic love story and family quarrel come to light. As her detective work uncovers more than she expects or indeed bargained for.
Ann Granger has created a character in Fran Varady who is both likeable and easy to believe in. Her simple aim is to protect an old lady who doesn't have anyone else to look out for her.
The book is extremely well written and I found it hard not to want Fran to solve the case and find out the truth. The author has a great insight into people's characters as she sees to what lengths people will go to to protect their own interests.
The plot while interesting and full of well written twists and turns. Was not an exciting or as innoative as I would have liked. But because of the great characterisation it didn't seem to matter. The book flows well and is and easy one to read.
All the characters in the book are rounded and touchingly credible with a humerous undercurrent running through the book.
I would recommend this book at any fan of crime fiction as Fran Varady is a great and very unique amateur detective.
Advantages: Realistic and well told story Disadvantages: none, but the book did fall apart in my hands!!
Background:
I was freezing the other day looking round the local Car Boot Sale when I discovered this book. It was in a large box of unwanted and generally tatty novels, and while fishing around in it I pulled out this one. I read the introduction and was impressed and when the seller told me I could have it for just 10p I knew I was onto a winner.
About the author:
AnnGranger has been writing suspense/thriller novels for many years. In that time she has built up a moderate fan base. The book I am reviewing features Fran Varady as a Private Investigator. The author was born in 1939 and had travelled extensively and worked in the foreign office.
About the book:
Fran Varady is an unemployed actress; at 23 she is still waiting for her first big break. While waiting for this she tries her hand at being ...
Advantages: Amusing, easy to read, surprising ending Disadvantages: Too many coincidences, slightly annoying main character
at Mickey's club. Confused, she is interviewed by the police, but is unable to shed any light on the death, although she is secretly convinced that Lisa had something to do with it. Can she find the murderer and return Lisa to Mickey before something happens to her dog?
I've read a couple of books by AnnGranger before, although not any in the Fran Varady series. AnnGranger writes another series featuring police detetives Mitchell and Markby, which are very much in the cosy traditional English village style of crime fiction. This series is quite different; Fran is from London and frequently mixes with London's low-life. The types of crimes that she deals with tend to be slightly less cosy as well.
As a character, I took a fairly instant dislike to Fran. She has had a hard life and for the last few years, has had to look after herself ...
Advantages: Enjoyable story with great characters Disadvantages: Slow start
Background:
I bought this book several years ago and read it soon after that. The other day I was cleaning my book shelves and I noticed the book again and thought I would re-read it as I couldn't remember much about. I thought it would be a good read as I usually enjoy AnnGranger's novels.
About the author:
Patricia AnnGranger was born in England in 1939. She is an accomplished and in my view very under rated crime author. She has written for three totally separate series. The first features Alan Markby as a Detective Inspector in the Cotswolds, she has written 15 novels in this series. The second features Lizzie Martin and she has written two. The last entails seven books and features Fran Vardy; it is one if these I am reviewing here.
Synopsis of the book:
Fran Varady is a determined and caring 23 year old lady ...
