Where Is Francis by Richard Traher had a compelling premise that caught my attention, thanks to the intriguing cover and synopsis. However, the blend of memoir and fiction didn't quite work for me, and I found myself confused at times.
The writing style didn't resonate with me, and I would have loved to see more character development to help me connect with the story. Unfortunately, it didn't quite come together for me though it was an interesting read.

Thanking NetGalley and The Book Guild for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What is fact and what is fiction? It probably doesn’t matter but this book did make me wonder, as much of it is clearly based on experience. I liked the reflections of the time period and thought the story itself was quite gripping, although the characters were not as fully developed as I expected them to be.

I was given an advanced copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The synopsis of the book is -
A captivating blend of memoir and fiction, this story begins with the author's first job at a shirt factory in the 1970s. What starts as a true-life account soon takes a darker turn when an unusual delivery sparks an investigation that uncovers sinister secrets.

Personally I did enjoy this book and gave it 3 stars. This book left me wanting more from the story and character development. I did enjoy the story overall but I just wanted more. I was hoping for more character development that would have made me more invested. Sometimes the authors writing style felt disjointed.

I would recommend this book to someone who wants a good story, but overall it is middle of the road for me.

A captivating story based on a true story. It has great potential but fell short for me. I found it difficult to follow and the character development could have been better. 2.5 stars for me (but bumped it to a 3 because there is something intriguing about the story).

Where is Francis by Richard Trahair was an interesting read. The synopsis immediately caught my attention and pulled me in with intrigue. However, I found myself confused about whether the book was meant to be a memoir or a work of fiction. This ambiguity affected how I approached and interpreted the story.

I also struggled to connect with the writing style—it often felt disjointed, and I found myself rereading sections to grasp the narrative. The chapters felt a bit choppy, with abrupt transitions that made it hard to stay immersed. Rather than unfolding as a full and rounded story, the book sometimes read like a sequence of events: “this happened, then that happened,” without deeper development.

I would have appreciated more relationship-building and background into who Richard was as a character. That context would have helped me connect more emotionally and understand the motivations driving the plot.

That said, I did find the story itself intriguing. With a few structural and stylistic adjustments—and if it were marketed clearly as a fiction thriller rather than a memoir—I think it could resonate more strongly with readers.

Where is Francis? Had me unable to take a break from reading.

Part memoir, part mystery, it follows a much younger version of the author as he uncovers a salacious plot under his very nose.

It was a very interesting time capsule of the UK in the 70’s, with all references to now defunct stores, geopolitics and domestic tension in abundance.

It’d be very interesting to know exactly which is fact and which is fiction, but despite the want, I think I’d ruin a great part of the narrative.

Absolutely read this if you’re into your stories being non linear, as Richard breaks the fourth wall throughout to add extra context and comments.

I was given an advanced copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While the novel was a quick and accessible read, it ultimately fell short of expectations. I had anticipated a more plot-driven narrative, but the story leaned heavily on character exploration instead. As a result, the pacing felt uneven, and the ending lacked the impact I was hoping for. Though there were moments of interest, the overall experience left me wanting more in terms of narrative depth and resolution.