This is a cosy simplistic ( thriller) I’m a fan of this author so was pleased to be given the chance to read a new book by her! I enjoyed it, but didn’t have me gripped like her others... Some lovely characters and twists, which did keep me guessing!

When I finished my review of The Stranger Diaries, I added, "The book is a stand-alone, but I'd like to see Elly Griffiths continue this Gothic mystery style or at least give DS Harbinder Kaur another case."

Happily, I got the second part because The Postscript Murders is Harbinder Kaur #2. But the book isn't Gothic at all, it's a cozy. I'm not especially fond of the cozy genre, but I found The Postscript Murders delightful!

A cast of characters you'll fall in love with, crime writers who acknowledge the contributions of a ninety-year-old "murder consultant" (with cards to prove it), murders, a literary festival in Aberdeen, and the inimitable Sikh DS Harbinder Kaur.

In conclusion, this time I want more Natalka, Benedict, and Edwin.

Read in September. Blog review scheduled for Feb. 15, 2021

NetGalley/Houghton-Mifflin
Cozy Mystery. March 2, 2021. Print length: 368 pages.

Elly Griffiths is one of my all-time favorite authors. I was so excited to get the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of her latest stand-alone book, The Postscript Murders. As typical when reading her books, I LOVED the book and read it in a day. I always try to savor reading her books, but I end up getting completely absorbed in the mystery and find myself unable to put the book down. I felt that the book is a very clever mystery with a great, well-developed cast of characters and an intriguing plot. I enjoyed the insights about the lives of authors and their dealings with the publishing industry. I was happy to see the return of Detective Harbinder Kaur from The Stranger Diaries. Here's hoping to see her in future books. I highly recommend this book and am already anticipating the next book!

I would like to thank Elly Griffiths, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

“‘Of course, plot is overrated,’ says Lance. ‘I try to get beyond describing what happens next.’
Edwin reminds himself never to read Lance’s book.”

The Post Script Murders is the second book by British author, Elly Griffiths, to feature DS Harbinder Kaur. When Natalka Kolisnyk finds one of her elderly clients dead in her home, she quickly begins to suspect that Peggy Smith, a fit and lively ninety-year-old, did not die of natural causes. Peggy’s near neighbour in Seaview Court, Edwin Fitzgerald agrees, and their beachside barista at The Shack, Benedict Cole, doesn’t take long to convince: both men recall Peggy’s mention of feeling she was being watched.

At Nigel Smith’s direction, Natalka begins packing up his mother’s books, and notes most have either a dedication: “To Peggy, Without whom…”; or mention her in their acknowledgements: “Thanks for the murders.” But the uncorrected proof that Edwin takes as a memento, Dex Challoner’s new book, has a postcard slipped between the pages “We are coming for you”. Sounds ominous…

Natalka takes her suspicion to DS Harbinder Kaur, who is willing to consider her concerns, moreso when a masked individual takes a book from Peggy’s flat at gunpoint. But she’s less than impressed when, after a popular author is murdered, this amateur detective trio treks to Aberdeen to warn other potential victims at a writers’ festival. Are they dealing with Ukrainian assassins? Polish spies? Plagiarising writers? Thieving descendants?

As well as her gay detective of south Asian extraction, and several crime writers, Griffiths populates this novel with a cast of quirky characters: a Ukrainian carer with cryptocurrency expertise, an ancient TV producer and an ex-monk-turned-coffee-shop-owner, all determined to solve the murder of the woman described as having “the soul of a killer hidden in the body of a sweet old lady.” Oh, and a few more murders that occur along the way.

As always, Griffiths captures her settings with ease, manages to insert plenty of black humour, and her plot is clever: there are red herrings and not a few surprises, and even the most astute reader is likely to be kept guessing until the final chapters. This is another entertaining dose of British crime fiction and more of Harbinder Kaur will definitely be welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and the publishers.

Terrific mystery with very distinct and enjoyable characters., particularly the lead detective. A complex mystery with a sense of humor, I couldn’t put it down and read it in one day!

Elly Griffiths certainly works magic with words!

Peggy, 90 years old, likes to watch and analyze people she sees from her seaside window, the perfect vantage point. When carer Natalka discovers her dead, she is surprised and horrified, especially when she finds mysterious book dedications inside books by various authors to Peggy. Surely there is something unnatural about it. Natalka and friends Edwin and Bernie enlist the help of Detective Kaur and find themselves enmeshed in a plethora of puzzles and adventures. This unlikely team of four combine their unique skills and personalities, sometimes getting on each other's nerves, to navigate quirky crimes.

This book is good. Really good. My favourite aspects were the murder consultant idea, wit, people-watching notes, writing and publishing information, band of friends' sleuthing and unique unpredictable crimes/resolutions.

Expect the unexpected by this author, a great place to be as a mystery reader. Hunker down!

My sincere thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this delightful book. Much appreciated.

A thoroughly entertains mystery. Some humor, a cast of unlikely individuals who ban together to solve the murders of mystery authors. It was a mystery that made you laugh-just right for these tumultuous times.

Elly Griffiths is one of my favorite authors, and I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read an advance copy of her latest stand-alone book, The Postscript Murders. As always, I loved the book and flew through it within 24 hours. Even though I wanted to savor reading it, I was completely absorbed in the mystery and had to race to see what would happen. I'm tempted to re-read it right away to focus more on the parts about the publishing industry which are probably about the author's own experiences to some extent.

I found the book to be a clever mystery with a great cast of characters and a unique premise. As a bonus, I appreciated the insights about the lives of authors and the publishing industry. I was happy to see the detective from The Stranger Diaries and hope she'll be included in future books. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next.

A cosy mystery that discusses other cosy mysteries. The characters were well written and I appreciated that all of the loose ends were tied up at the end.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was a very enjoyable read, with likeable characters, although the plot doesn't bear examining in any detail. There is a huge discrepancy between the blurb and what one of the characters says on the one hand (that the author of the book stolen by the gunman was then murdered) and what actually happens (the author of the book was some one completely different) which is confusing. The motive for the theft of the book is illogical, its effects counterproductive, and why steal it just when there happen to be people in the flat?

Anyway, a fun read if you just go along for the ride.