A Death Divided

by Clare Francis

A compelling crime novel from one of our best-loved and bestselling novelists.

Joe, struggling to survive his job in a high-powered law firm, is faced with the challenge of finding his childhood friend Jenna, who has been missing for four years. But has she disappeared through choice? Or is she under the influence of her husband, the restless troubled Chetwood?

For Joe, the search is a matter of duty, but also of conscience - for he introduced them to each other, he was enthralled by them both . . .

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

220 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2001

About the author

Clare Francis's first novel; Night Sky was published in 1983 to international success. It went to number one in the Sunday Times bestseller list, and spent six weeks in the New York Times top 10.

Three more thrillers followed, Red Crystal (1985), Wolf Winter (1987) and Requiem (1991), which was published in the U.S. as The Killing Winds. Her first crime novel, Deceit was published in 1993, and dramatised for television in 2000. Four other highly successful crime novels have followed, and a highly acclaimed literary novel, Homeland. Her latest crime novel Unforgotten has just been published. Her books have been translated into 20 languages and published in over 30 countries.

Clare was born in Thames Ditton, Surrey, the younger of two sisters. Christmas holidays were spent with her grandparents in a remote corner of the Yorkshire Dales where she developed the love of landscape that is a feature of so much of her fiction. Summer holidays were spent on the Isle of Wight, where she learnt to sail at the age of nine.

After five years at the Royal Ballet School she went to an A-level crammer in Oxford (where she appeared in the university revue Keep This to Yourself), then to University College London, where she obtained a degree in Economics. She worked in marketing for three years before taking a year out to travel and discover what she really wanted to do.

What began as a personal odyssey turned into what she terms her 'unplanned' five-year career in sailing. The odyssey was an unsponsored and unsung solo voyage across the Atlantic, during which she read, listened to music and tried her hand at writing. Soon after, Clare was offered sponsorship to take part in the Round Britain Race with Eve Bonham. This was followed by the Azores and Back Singlehanded Race, the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race, and, with a crew of eleven, the Whitbread Round the World Race. It was after writing three works of non-fiction about her adventures, Come Hell or High Water (1977), Come Wind or Weather (1978), and The Commanding Sea (1981) that Clare took the leap into fiction.

In 1977 she married Jaques Redon with whom she had a son, Tom, in 1978.

She is an MBE, a Fellow of University College London, and an Honorary Fellow of UMIST. She has served as Chairman of the Society of Authors (1997-99) and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Public Lending Right (2000-03).

For the past twenty years she has been commited to the charity Action for ME, of which she is President, a trustee and member of the Council of Management. She herself has had ME (also known as Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) for many years.

Clare Francis lives in London and the Isle of Wight, and loves opera and walking.

Reviews

[Bex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading one of Clare Francis' books and i must say i was comletely suprised. As this book rambled about, I became a bit bored and almost quit it, but the last chapters are so twisting & compelling, that I am very glad I finished it. Never think you have figured this one out. The ending is a big surprise, i never saw it coming.

[Baba · Rating 2 out of 5]

A compelling and clever crime tale. A lawyer is forced to become a detective, when family and friends ask him to find their daughter. Read in a day… pretty absorbing! 6 out of 12.

[Wendy Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a good read, I got it wrong who I thought did it which I always think is a good book but my big bug bear with it is using the term "lawyers". This is a book based in the Uk written by a British author but insisted in calling members of the legal profession "lawyers", this is basically a generic term - we have solicitors and barristers.
It was driving me mad when it said that they would need to instruct lawyers, that is so not the case you would be advised to contact a solicitor. I appreciate everything in the world is for the American market but please can we just keep some things that are relevant to the country it is based in. I would expect them to use Solicitors if based in the US or other countries that are similar so please get real and relevant.

[Oundle Crime · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in 2001 but it's a great story and well worth looking out for. Joe has a high-powered job in a legal firm and is challenged to find childhood friend and neighbour, Jenna, who has been missing for four years. Growing up, Joe’s family life had been chaotic and Jenna’s home had been his happy place; and he feels guilty because she disappeared with Chatwood, whom he introduced her to while at university. Now, with the help of his friend Sarah, Joe’s enquiries unlock a chain of events. I found the way Clare Francis explores the family dynamics in this really interesting and the characters were compelling. And I couldn't stop turning the pages because it was so well paced.
Review by Norfolk Gal, Oundle Crime

[Sara K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

The mistery was engaging in the story, but it felt like the characters lacked personality, especially Joe. The twist at the end was surprising though. Maybe because I am not a seasoned crime-reader, but i was not expecting the ending at all. I only wished we got more flashbacks of Jenna with other characters that established her personality and character better.

[Tiina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was rather interesting and the book was smooth enough to read. This would have got better rating from me if I hadn't figured out too soon who was guilty.

[Amanda Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge of the seat all the way. I just could not put this one down. Very talented writer.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time I’ve read from this author and was pleasantly surprised. I liked the story , it was a bit different and I never guessed the end .

[Anuja Pathak · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot is good but long winded . There are long and boring descriptions of a lot of unnecessary things due to which it was hard to continue the book. The premise was interesting enough that I continued reading just to know the ending. But was left with a lot of questions and unsatisfied with how it ended.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I kept on turning the pages. At times it moved slowly and I saw the ending coming from a mile off. But all in all it was an enjoyable read and I will read more by Clare Francis.

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gripping crime novel for the most part but I found it plodded in places and the ending, while a complete surprise, was a little unsatisfactory.

[David Portas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second best of the 6 clare francis novels i have re-read recently. Deceit is the best of her crime
Novels but this wasnt bad, kept me guessing right to the end. 7/10.

[Kim Johnstone · Rating 3 out of 5]

A diverting and interesting mystery with the odd surprise, although it palled a bit at the end and I found the denouement less than satisfying.

[Catherine Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fairly good read, poor ending though hence the 2 stars

[Jeromine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining enough for a holiday or weekend read. The accelerated pace of the last few pages were really enjoyable but the end left me a bit meh.

[Uhone Mutele · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot twist was totally unpredictable 😳 I was left speechless

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Death Divided follows Joe and his renewed search for his childhood best friend, Jenna, having been approached by her parents after four years to try again. However does Jenna want to be found?

This book was interesting and had my curiosity piqued throughout. I wouldn’t say I couldn’t put it down however I definitely looked forward to when I could next pick it up.

Joe was extremely likeable however I felt that when it came to Jenna, he had a bit of a blind spot. I didn’t like Jenna at all. I thought she was a bit of a spoilt brat before the accident and a martyr afterwards. I really liked Sarah despite everything. Chetwood was a mystery to me – I don’t know whether I liked him or not.

Although the book kept me interested, I did find that the pace was quite slow and that there was a lot of content for not that much story. However I don’t think that’s a fault necessarily as I wasn’t bored throughout and I wanted to keep reading.

The mystery was well written and it had me fooled right until the very end.

Overall I enjoyed the book and would recommend it those who like a slower paced mystery.

[Sorcha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joe, who is struggling with his job with a high powered legal firm in London is faced with the task of attempting to find his childhood friend who disappeared 4 years previously.[return][return]There were a couple of plot threads, such as the relationship with the father, which seemed to be rather intense at the beginning of the story, but petered out 2/3rds of the way through. Seemed rather a waste in energy for it to go nowhere.[return]And I couldnt understand why they would turn to a solicitor to search for her, as it didnt appear they had gotten an investigator at any point.[return][return]An average story at best

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a very nice read. I am always impressed with books that keep you interested and curious without a lot of action or drama. I think that because Clare Francis manages to arouse my curiosity with her stories I become an active reader. A participant in the story. I really do like her writing. I can not help but compare A Death Divided with what I think is her best book; Deceit. The only shortcomings of a Death Divided is again the male instead of female main character and that the story is perhaps a tiny bit complicated compared with Deceit.

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joe is asked to find Jenna, the childhood friend he practically grew up with. She married his college friend then disappeared over four years ago. Her parents need to find her to settle a legal matter. Joe does eventually track her down, but finds he has set in motion a chain of events that is going to lead to death. I thought I'd got it all worked out, but the twist at the end surprised me. A good thriller.

[TheCuriousDeer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that the book was well written and the author concealed the ending through a series of twists and turns that kept you guessing right until the very end. However, the reason I gave it 3 Stars rather than the 4 I would have liked is due to the time it took to get into the book, feel for the characters and for the plot to gain momentum. It wasn't until half way that the book really gave its all after the horrendously slow start.

[Alison Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joe is asked to help look for his childhood friend, Jenna, who married one of his college friends and later completely disappeared with him. He is helped by his slightly odd girlfriend. This is not as straightforward a thriller as it seems at first, and I was intrigued by the ending. Joe was a very believable, normal character, but Jenna turns out not to be as nice as he had thought. Not totally gripping, but OK.

[Vianno · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok, I didn't see that coming
my first to read one of Clare's, and I'm glad I did
it was hard to let it down even when I had lots of work to do
my mind kept rolling all throughout the chapters and every time I thought I got it, it turned out to be mistaken
and the end is overwhelming
dear Clare Francis, well done

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was the 4th Clare Francis I have read on the trot so the slightly samey story and personalities was starting to wear a bit thin - but I think I would have enjoyed it more if i had had a break from her novels for a while. Worth a go.

[Wencke Therese · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry - this is not the book by Claire Francis I liked the best.
The protagonist is a man - I am not convinced that this is a man's story!
And - the girl he is trying to find -is very strange - I don't feel any sympathy for her -
she seems to be selfish and imature.

[Windy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the beginning of this really intriguing but started to lose interest about halfway through and only kept on to the end because I wanted to see the outcome. .....which was disappointing.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit different from the usual psycholgical tale. Probably a touch longer than it needed to be but a good read nevertheless.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a bit of time to get into, but did not expect the ending

[Driekie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very nice book

[Annette · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't finish this one, didn't enjoy it