Frances Brody Books In Order

Publication Order of Kate Shackleton Books

Publication Order of Brackerley Prison Mysteries Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Cozy Case Files Mystery Sampler Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

Frances McNeil is an English writer, playwright and has written tremendously for radio. She also writes as Frances Brody were she writes a series of 1920’s crime novels that feature Kate Shackleton. The author has also published three books under her name which were republished in 2016 under the pen name Frances Brody. Sisters on Bread Street is loosely based on the story of her biological mother who lived in Bread Street in Leeds as a child. The novel was published in a limited edition immediately after her mother’s hundredth birthday. Later it was released as an expanded edition under the title Somewhere Behind the Morning and then republished in 2016 under its original title.

Sixpence in her Shoe is partly focused on the Leeds Children Holiday Camp Association based at Silverdale, Lancashire. This novel focuses on factual history; Now I am a Swimmer. The third book which was originally published under the author’s real name is Sisters of Fortune which is a tale of two girls with distinct financial backgrounds growing up in Leeds. The novel was later republished as Halfpenny Dreams.

Several plays written by Frances Brody include Tressell which is about Robert Tressell, the renowned author of The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.

Dying in the Wool

Bridgestead is a peaceful and one of the quiet Yorkshire villages; rolling hills, babbling brook and a mill at its heart, it a beautiful and remote and nothing exceptional happens. Until the day when Master of the Mill Joshua Braithwaite is reported missing in some dramatic circumstances and never to be heard again.

Now Joshua’s daughter has decided to get married and wants one final attempt at finding her beloved father. Could her father run off with his mistress? Alternatively, could he have been murdered?

Meet Kate Shackleton, an amateur sleuth who is passionate about solving complex puzzles. As she dives in to investigate Joshua’s mysterious disappearance, she taps into the lives of the peaceful people of Bridgestead and the crack that she discovers is highly dangerous such that some would kill to keep it closed forever. Will she give in to the efforts of those willing to kill to maintain the truth from surfacing or will she soldier on with her mission and bring the criminals to justice?

Dying in the Wool in an interesting book to read and a delightful series debut that features everything you would seek for in a cozy mystery. You will love the authors writing style, the setting (the 1920’s) and the vivid description of the small village of Bridgestead.

The main character Kate Shackleton is a great protagonist and reading the novel you will connect with her almost immediately. She is a determined lady given that she lived in an era when women were despised and regarded as second class citizens. She is a widow pursuing her great love for photography as well as solving murders. She is assertive and yet sweet and even though she trembles internally at a conflict she outwardly glows assurance and confidence. Like any person, she has got her flaws, insecurities but a fact is that she is a strong woman. Reading further, you will get to know of Kate’s troubled past, she is hurting, she lost her husband to the war, but since his body was never found, he cannot believe that he is indeed dead. You will love the underlying story; it will help you as the reader get to know more about Kate as a character, her fears, and hopes.

Aside from the underlying story, Dying in the Wool has its unique mystery to solve after the disappearance of Joshua Braithwaite. Kate takes her first as a sleuth when she is hired to find Joshua by her friend and Joshua’s daughter Tabitha.

You will love Kate’s sleuthing tactics very entertaining; her private detective skills are one of the best in such a male dominated era. Besides Kate, you will like other characters that are well rounded, and each had a part to play in solving this mystery of Joshua Braithwaite. Dying in the Wool to the greater extent is told from Kate’s first person perspective, but however, there are some chapters in which the narrative is in third person point of view of other characters. The two perspectives are importance inclusion in the book because they will give you an understanding of characters way of lives.

A Medal For Murder

This is the second novel in Kate Shackleton series by Frances Brody. In this book, Kate is tasked with solving a robbery mystery at a pawnbroker. The pawns were highly priced, and the shop owner desperately wants them back for his client-secretly of course. Kate and Jim Sykes are tasked with speaking to the clients and solving the mystery as well. Kate’s assignment leads her to the spa town of Harrogate, where she becomes entangled with a local theater group.

Kate takes their promotional photos for her friend Meriel. The two stays at Captain Wolfendale home, an age campaigner from the Boer War. Later Meriel and Kate stumble upon the body of Mr. Milner, a lecher, and car salesman. Several moments later, Lucy, the captain’s granddaughter goes missing and the Captain requests for help from Kate. However, Kate feels that the old man should have reported the case to the police rather than asking for help, but Captain insists that she should help instead. Can the murder and the mystery of the missing girl be connected? If yes, what about the pawn shop robbery? Kate investigates deeper and finds herself drawn into the thespian society as she desperately searches for answers.

Book two in the series is a much more intriguing mystery than the first one. The puzzles featured in this book are fascinating and far much complex to solve. Like the first book in the series, you will find first person narration in some chapters while others are in third person perspective. The first person narration interchanges between Captain Wolfendale, Kate and Lucy Wolfendale. There are several new characters in this book, which are well crafted. Additionally, the plot is good and quite engaging, while the 1920 Yorkshire setting is vividly described.

If you love historical crime novels set in the 20th century, Frances Brody novels addition to your bookshelves will quench your thirst.