FINDING FRAN

A novelist eschews romance while on a quest for self-discovery in Christie’s series entry.

Several years ago, after dozens of rejections, Fran Carter found an agent and a publisher who loved her manuscript, and Love in the Moonlight became a surprise romance bestseller. Now, after two follow-up novels, which didn’t sell as well as the first, the middle-aged author suffers from writer’s block. It’s difficult for her to tap into the thrill of romance ever since she discovered that her former partner was unfaithful—and he didn’t even stick around to discuss their relationship. A disconsolate Fran leaves her San Francisco home and takes to the road to find some artistic inspiration—looking for “work time, productive writing time, the kind of time that would make my agent and publisher happy and keep my mind off my personal disaster.” She finds an eccentric bed-and-breakfast, the Whale Inn, where she spends a week befriending the owner, connecting with townspeople at local events, and working on her next novel. During the week, she discovers a whole new Fran—one who’s more independent and confident. As she takes more control over her life, she finds the courage to embrace change and conjure a no-nonsense protagonist for her new book: the character is open to romantic love, but also happy and successful on her own. For Fran herself, though, there’s only chaste soul-searching. Overall, Fran’s journey of discovery results in a comforting narrative, featuring a main character whom readers are sure to find relatable. There’s nothing flashy about the prose, but it’s solid and evocative throughout, which makes for a satisfying read. Although the pace is sometimes slow and there’s a relative lack of drama, Fran’s authentic self-realizations manage to propel the story forward. There are scenes that feel clichéd (one section, in which Fran gets a makeover with a new haircut, a more flattering wardrobe, and stylish makeup feels especially familiar), but they could easily be interpreted as knowing winks for genre fans.

Readers will root for Fran to turn her life around in this cozy, accessible novel.