Anne Granger: Biography and Bibliography

Anne Granger is a well-known English writer who works in the genre of a detective. Not so long ago, literally 6-7 years ago, her books were translated into Russian. Then it became known in Russia, gaining recognition here and new fans. About the work and biography of this continuer of the traditions of Agatha Christie we will talk further.

Biography: childhood and adolescence

Born Anne Granger July 12, 1939 in the English town of Portsmouth. In her childhood, the future writer wanted to become a veterinarian. But in the middle of the 20th century, only men were trained in England to train this profession. Therefore, young Anne had to go to the University of London, where she studied the modern languages of Europe, among them German and French. After graduating, Granger went to France to teach English.

However, she did not study for a long time and soon began to work in the British Embassy. During her career here she managed to change several consular departments, among them Austria, Yugoslavia, Czech Republic, Prague. Working in the latter, she married another employee of the British Embassy, her colleague. After that, they worked together first in Zambia, and then in Germany.

First book

Soon the English couple had two children. In one of the interviews, Anne recalls that for the first time the idea to sit down for the writing of the novel appeared in her snow-covered Munich, when she sat with the children on long evenings. This first work was a love story, published in 1979 under the name A Poor Relation. The book was not published under the real name of the writer. Ann signed to Ann Hulme. But this first publication was the beginning of a whole series of romance novels, the events of which occurred in different epochs and in different countries of the world. A number of these works were later reprinted in Germany.

New genre

In 1990, Granger Ann and her family returned to England. Here she settled near Oxford in the small town of Bikester. This time coincides with the changes in the literary career of the writer. She breaks the contract with her former publisher, who published 16 of her historical romance novels, and develops a new genre for herself. Granger undertakes to write detectives cosy mystery ("cozy"). The heroes of these books are the diplomat Maridith Mitchell and her close friend Alan Markby, senior inspector of Scotland Yard.

In his novels, Granger retains the basic traditions of the classic English detective. The main of them are: the unexpectedness and dramatic nature of the denouement; Very limited range of suspects. Also in the books you can find many interesting and detailed descriptions of life and life of the English province.

A series about Marydith and Alan

However, critics and readers note that the series of books dedicated to Maridith and Alan gradually loses its dynamism and brightness, and their detective content is getting smaller. Gradually, the personal relationships between the protagonists, developing gradually from friendship to love, come to the fore. As for the last 15 books, it is all about their relationship and ends with a wedding, and the detective component is pushed into the background.

Nevertheless, this series of Anne Granger is very popular. Books have often held leading positions in the bestseller lists of Germany and England. In addition, the novels have been translated into other languages, including Estonian, French, Japanese, Czech, Russian, etc. The series continues to be published today, and its circulation exceeds several million copies.

Other works

In addition to the above cycle, Ann Granger has a series of books about the adventures of Fran Varadi, a former actress who, thanks to the occasion, becomes a private detective. The first novel was published in 1997, only 7 books were included in the series. To date, the cycle is considered to be over.

In 2005, at the request of her publisher, the writer is taken to write a series of historical detectives, the events of which unfold during the time of Victorian England. Their main character was Lizzie Martin, a young girl who, after her father's death, was compelled to join a wealthy lady as a companion. Inspector of the London police Ben Ross helps in the investigations of the young person. Today in the series there are already 5 novels, some of them have already been translated into Russian. The cycle about Lizzy is not finished.

In addition to detectives, the writer works in the genre of a mystical thriller and writes stories. In 2004, a collection of these non-verbal stories was awarded a literary prize in the genre of fantasy.

In 1999, Granger took the English "Detective Club", founded in 1930. Its members at different times were A. Christie, G. Chesterton, N. Marsh, D. Carr, and others.

Bibliography

Now we present to your attention the bibliography of Anne Granger. The books you see below are not all of the writer's works, but only those that were translated into Russian. The full list of Granger's novels includes more than 50 works, and their number increases every year.

So, with which of Granger's works can a Russian reader meet?

First of all, this is a series called "Campbell and Carter", which includes only 2 books: "Death on an Abandoned Farm" and "Shadows of Past Sins."

The second cycle, translated into Russian, is "Meredith Mitchell and Alan Marcby." It includes the following novels:

• "Sinister mystery of Westerfield";
• "How cold it is in the earth";
• "A good time to kill";
• "The murderer is among us";
• "A great place to die";
• "Where the old bones lie";
• "Candle for the corpse";
• "Flowers for his funeral";
• "The posthumous word";
• "Remember that you are mortal";
• "Under this sim";
• "Hail the Dead";
• "Restless evil";
• "Shadows of Murder";
• "The road to murder."

"Death on an Abandoned Farm"

Detectives Anne Granger for good reason are incredibly popular among readers. The writer really manages to create really exciting novels full of mysteries, dangers and unexpected plot twists.

One of her best detectives is "Death on the farm". The action of the novel, as it is easy to guess, occurs on an old abandoned farm where murder was committed for a long time. Here again they discover the body, this time it is a strangled young girl. Detective Jess Campbell is now to find her killer.

"The sinister secret of Westerfield," Anne Granger

This is the first novel of the cycle about Maridith and Alan, so he begins with acquaintance with the main characters. Maridith comes to the wedding of her relative, the famous actress Eva. But the triumph is overshadowed by the unexpected death of Philip Lorrimer, a young potter. Although there is no direct evidence that this is murder, intuition tells Maridith that there is something wrong with this death. The girl takes on the answer to this mystery. And in this it helps the police inspector Alan Marcby, who began his investigation.

"Murder in the old house," Anne Granger

This detective is the first in the series about Lizzie Martin. It tells how the main character comes to London to take the position of the companion wife of her godfather. On the way to a new home Lizzie discovers a corpse. Soon it turns out that the murdered woman is the former companion of her new employer. The girl sieves independently to find out who is guilty of the death of her predecessor. In this it helps Inspector Ross, who knew his father Lizzy.