The Crime Readers' Association

Frances BrodyFrances Brody

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Frances Brody has written twelve mystery novels set in 1920s Yorkshire, featuring First World War widow turned sleuth, Kate Shackleton and her sidekick, former policeman Jim Sykes. The books have been highly praised in the UK , the USA and Germany. (“Frances Brody has made it to the top rank of crime writers.” Daily Mail. “The traditional British mystery is alive and well.” Mystery Scene). Finalist 2016 Mary Higgins Clark Award for A Woman Unknown.

A Murder Inside (published 28 October 2021) marks the start of a new series featuring prison governor Nell Lewis, set in the 1960s in an open prison for women.

Frances lives in Leeds where she was born and grew up. She worked as a secretary, including spells in Washington, DC and New York. After being awarded a Literature Diploma by Ruskin College, Oxford and a York University honours degree in History and English, she taught at Bradford College while continuing to write. Her stories, scripts and plays have been broadcast on BBC radio and television and produced in theatres. Jehad was short-listed for a Time Out award. As Frances McNeil, she wrote historical novels set in working class Leeds in the early part of the last century. Somewhere Behind the Morning, re-published as a Frances Brody novel, Sisters on Bread Street, won the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin award. Frances is a member of the Writers’ Guild, Society of Authors and Sisters in Crime.

When not writing, reading, theatre-going or missing the yoga class, she likes to improve her less than brilliant map reading skills while walking in the Yorkshire Dales.

Also writes as Frances McNeil

Other Awards

HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin Award for the most regionally evocative debut saga of the millennium for Somewhere Behind the Morning.

Nominated for: Time Out Award for theatree play Jehad; Dagger in the Library; CWA Historical Dagger; Mary Higgins Clark Award.

Books by Frances Brody

  • A Snapshot of Murder A Snapshot of Murder

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  • Death and the Brewery Queen Death and the Brewery Queen

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  • The Body on the Train The Body on the Train

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  • A Murder Inside A Murder Inside

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  • Death in the Stars Death in the Stars

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  • A Death in the Dales A Death in the Dales

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  • Death at the Seaside Death at the Seaside

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  • A Medal for Murder A Medal for Murder

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  • Murder in the Afternoon Murder in the Afternoon

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  • A Woman Unknown A Woman Unknown

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  • Murder on a Summer’s Day Murder on a Summer’s Day

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  • Death of an Avid Reader Death of an Avid Reader

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  • Dying in the Wool Dying in the Wool

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