Frances Brody Books

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Frances Brody is an English author that writes mystery novels and sagas. Born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Brody did not harbor publishing dreams when she was young. Even though she wrote a lot, Brody never thought she would make a career out of telling stories in her adult years.

The author was eighteen when she started writing her novel. After spending her evenings working as a barmaid, she had finally saved enough money to buy a portable typewriter. Her mother took an interest in the author’s publishing goals after finding a page she had typed and left at the kitchen table.

She was impressed with Brody’s talents and couldn’t wait to tell her how good her writing was. Of course, the woman had no idea that the author had simply copied the first page of ‘A Tale of Two Cities.’

The family had a copy of the Charles Dickens volume, but it had a missing page. Brody typed the page after finding a copy of ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ at the library. Brody is confident that her mother would have loved the ‘Kate Shackleton’ series for which she is best known.

It took a while for Brody to find her footing as a writer. She abandoned her first novel after 30 pages because she was easily bored. The author took a detour to the United States after stumbling upon a secretarial agency that wanted to send girls to America.

Brody submitted her application and began a romantic adventure that took her to Manhattan. She joined Ruskin College (Oxford) after returning home. She also attended York University (History and English Literature).

But her desire to write fiction never faded, and she continued to pursue her dream. She started by selling stories and plays to entities like the BBC. Then she contributed her talents to various touring theater companies.

‘Dying in the Wool’ was her first crime novel. The concept came to her after she concocted a mystery surrounding a man behind a high wall. The author tried to imagine a sleuth capable of solving the puzzle, and Kate Shackleton came to her, inspired by a picture in a family album.

The character was an elegant woman from a previous era, a combination of the many women Brody knew while growing up. The heroine was a welcome introduction to the author’s imagination.

She has enjoyed exploring Kate’s life, walking in her shoes, and gaining a better understanding of what makes her tick. Brody chose the 1920s as a fitting setting for Kate’s adventures because she was well-acquainted with the era.

The author had already written sagas set between 1914 and the 1930s. After listening to stories and reading books about the period, she grew to appreciate the storytelling potential of the 1920s. It was a time of great change, during which society struggled to recover from the consequences of the Great War. Brody couldn’t think of a more fitting setting.

Frances Brody Awards

Brody’s accolades include the Harper Collins Elizabeth Elgin award and nominations for a Mary Higgins Clark and a Time Out award.

Best Frances Brody Books

‘Frances Brody’ is a pen name for Frances McNeil. Brody’s best books include:

Dying in the Wool: Nothing of note ever happened in Bridgestead. The village was quiet, remote, and, most importantly, peaceful. But then Joshua Braithwaite went missing, and questions arose. What happened to him? Did he run off with his mistress? Was he even alive?

These were the questions that occupied her daughter’s thoughts. And now that she was getting married, the woman was determined to find answers. Fortunately for her, kate Shackleton had an affinity for mysteries. She would continue sticking her nose where it did not belong until she found the truth.

A Medal For Murder: Many men went missing during the war. Kate Shackleton did what she could to help the women they left behind find the answers they sorely desired. Kate understood their plight because her husband had also disappeared. She never found him.

These days, Kate uses her skills to solve more straightforward puzzles. The private investigator works for an ex-police officer who pays her to catch the many criminals lurking in the shadows. When Kate takes on a pawn shop robbery, she doesn’t expect the investigation to tie into a kidnapping and murder case.

When Does The Next Frances Brody book come out?

Frances Brody doesn't seem to have an upcoming book. Their newest book is A Mansion for Murder and was released on October, 20th 2022. It is the newest book in the Kate Shackleton Series.

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