The Postscript Murders: A Mystery Paperback – April 5, 2022

It took a while before my husband believed me when I told him that an Amazon gift card is wonderful gift for me. And here is a perfect example: I had a lovely surprise when a new book by Elly Griffiths appeared on my Kindle! Elly Griffiths is on my short list of incredibly special authors. I redeem my gift card and pre-order her books. And promptly forget when it will be released. (Which is why I pre-order.) Surprise! Happy Birthday to me! Elly Griffiths knows how to write a great story. This book is the second book featuring Harbinder Kaur as a police detective in Brighton. The first book with Harbinder was the Stranger Diaries, a spooky mystery with ghost stories and main character Clare. Clare may have been featured in that book, but the introduction of Harbinder was enough to establish her as a character that can carry a series. So far, this series is loosely connected and either of these books could be read as a standalone. (Elly Griffith’s wonderful Ruth Galloway series includes so much of the lives of the characters that it really should be read in order.) Harbinder is a great character. She is an excellent police detective, and a single gay Sikh woman in her thirties who still lives with her parents. The story is told from multiple points of view: Harbinder, Natalka (a caregiver who works with elderly clients), Edwin (a resident of a sheltered living facility for the elderly in Shoreham), and Benedict (an ex-monk who runs a coffee shack in Shoreham). The story begins with the death of Peggy Smith in that same sheltered living facility. Despite the lack of any obvious evidence, Natalka believes that Peggy’s death was unnatural. Peggy is an interesting character even though she dies in the opening pages. Her “business” cards say Murder Consultant. She has given advice to authors about their plots and ingenious ways to kill. Suspects abound as the investigation begins without much concrete evidence of murder. The list of suspects gets shorter as the list of murder victims grows. The amateur team is entertaining. There are humorous moments, especially on their road trip to Aberdeen following some of the writers who have dedicated their books to Peggy or included her in their acknowledgments. It is best to let the story unfold as intended by the author so I will not summarize the plot. But I will encourage you to read any book by Elly Griffiths. I prefer the Ruth Galloway series just because I am so vested in the lives of the continuing characters. In this Brighton series, the “civilian” characters such as Clare in the Stranger Diaries and the trio in this book seem likely to appear in their episode and then move along. If you are a sensitive reader: there are murders, but no gruesome details: the language is nothing you haven’t heard on television (at least as I recall); and there is small amount of romance, but no detailed sex scenes. A mystery story by Elly Griffiths is literary mystery that stands above most of the genre. If you enjoy a well-written mystery with a strong sense of place, you might also enjoy books by Paul Doiron (Maine), Martin Walker (the Perigord), Jane Harper (Australia), Cay Rademacher’s Roger Blanc books (Provence), Louise Penny (Canada), Anne Cleeves (several different series set in the Shetland Islands, Northumberland, and coastal England), and Jean-Luc Bannalec (Brittany). These authors have nothing in common except talent and the stories are quite different.

I love Ella Griffith. I started with her Ruth Galloway series, which I was so sad she ended. If you haven’t read them they are fantastic.She found a new heroine in a gay, Indian detective. Her character development is superb. You fall in love with them in all her books. She also has a wry sense of humor. this one was fun, although it was a bit detailed I can usually figure it out but not this one. Too many moving parts.

Murders solved by acknowledgment in books. Old ladies consulting on murders. Romance, murder and a road trip to a crime writers conference which ends in another murder.Thoroughly enjoyable characters and a plot Christie would have envied. Griffiths books are a pleaser to read.

The Postscript Murders is Book #2 in Elly Griffiths Harbinder Kaur mystery series.“The death of a ninety year old woman with a heart condition should not be suspicious. DS Harbinder Kaur certainly sees nothing out of the ordinary when Peggy’s caretaker, Natalka, begins to recounts Peggy’s passing.”I like this series very much.I like the main characters, especially Harbinder Krau. One thing about Harbinder is that she always notices shoes.The characters are all very personal and engaging. (even the ones who are murdered.)I like that the story is told from different characters’ points of view/memory rather than a time line or running commentary.The plot lines, the locations - all very interesting.And I like all the quotes and references from other literature sources.A great series. ****

This is my first Elly book and it was delightful! Great characters and story and I read it almost straight through. I’m glad I ordered many more of her books. A wonderful writer!

I tried to decide if Griffith herself was trying to write in the style of the Golden Age writers so often mentioned in this book. It does share certain Agatha traits, but it's set in modern days so difficult to compare to 1920-30's crime fiction. Still, it's rather quaint, and these murders are also not gory or even violent. Quiet death as with earlier novels. I found it slow moving and filled with the non-essential but still interesting. Mainly what it did was send me on a quest for those Golden Age books just to read a few. And yes, I looked for Sheila Atkins but don't think she existed. Good joke on readers. Well done but far from Griffiths best

This is the first non Ruth Galloway book of Elly Griffiths’ that I’ve read and I love it. The characters are the best aspects of all her novels and there’s no disappointment here. They will enchant you just as much as Ruth and Cathbad and Nelson. The use of the sea to help set the mood is also similar. I can’t wait to read the rest of her books.

This is my favorite so far of the Harbinder Kaur books. It’s actually the first one that features the Shoreham group of Natalka, Benedict and Edwin. I’ve read the other two (or is it one, I’ve lost track) and enjoyed those so much I realized I hadn’t read the first.What I enjoyed was the reason behind the mysterious deaths. Only revealed at the very end but there are pointers all through the book so that at the end, those who like a whodunnit to flow and the solution to make sense, are happy. But there are also a few very good twists. When you think it’s all tied up but you know there are 25 more pages . . . There’s a twist! And it’s a good one.This is a cozy mystery in many ways because the characters are cozy. I like them. I want to hear more about them.