“The Postscript Murders” is another solid police procedural by Elly Griffins. DC Harbinder Kaur is a fantastic character and I adore her voice. This book is very reminiscent of Agatha Christie. Thanks to publisher for this ARC.

The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths was full of fun and quirky characters and kept me guessing “whodunnit”!

When an ninety year old woman with a heart condition dies, her caretaker, Natalka, is the only one who suspects it may have been murder. We soon have a fun and quirky crew on the hunt however (led by DS Kaur) searching for a killer.

I really enjoyed the literary elements of this — Peggy, the victim, was a “murder consultant” for mystery authors so we got a behind the scenes look at the writers life that was engaging and interesting. The actual mystery however fell a little flat for me. It got a little convoluted and was a bit hard to follow, especially as the cast of characters played a larger role in the story.

Overall this wasn’t my favorite mystery but I did enjoy the characters and do still want to read the first book in the series, and any that might be released in the future.

Thank you NetGalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and the author for the digital e-ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Elly Griffiths and this novel did not disappoint! A mash up of Thursday Night Murder Club and Anthony Horowitz combined with Griffiths signature character development. The plot itself was alright but the characters were absolutely delightful – an ex monk coffee shop owner, retired 90s BBC correspondent, a care giver from the Ukraine with a mysterious background, an elderly ”murder consultant”, and an officer trying to climb up the ranks with her bland, but loyal partner. This is technically the second in the Harbinder Kaur series but one could easily read it without having read the first. Thank you to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
#netgalley #postscriptmurders

I am a sucker for a book that references other books. The first in this series did the same- this followed along with crime novels. Swoon.
Peggy enjoys noting the comings and goings on her street- number of dog walkers, cyclists.
That's where her carer, Natalka, finds her.
The son, Nigel, and his wife swoop diwn to clean out her flat. Natalka helps. Only to find many of the crime novels dedicated or acknowledging Peggy. She even has a businesses card - murder consultant.
Harbinder is made aware of the possibility of Peggy's death actually being a homicide. She remains unconvinced until Natalka and Benedict, a former monk turned coffee shack owner, are held at gunpoint.
Humor. Lovely people. Characters. Very enjoyable read.

3.5 stars, rounded up
The second book in the Harbinder Kaur series is deliberately paced and enjoyable. It wasn't a book that I devoured in a day, it unfolded slowly, but that allowed me to get to know the cast of characters and appreciate their nuances.
As with the first book in the series (which doesn't need to be read in order, the books stand alone, but I'd recommend so you can get familiar with the characters) there are literary references galore as the mystery is set within the crime writing community. I thought I had it figured out, but in the end I was pleasantly surprised with the explanations for the murders.
There's a great deal of humor, particularly dry humor from Natalka, that is particularly appealing. I will definitely be picking up the next in the series and hopefully Harbinder will find love at some point. I know it's a mystery series and that isn't the focus, but it would be a great side story.

This was my first book by author Elly Griffiths. The main character, Detective Sargeant Harbinder Kaur is working on a multiple murder case. In spite of the murders, there is quite a bit of humor to this story which I enjoyed plus a little romance. It’s a great mix of characters too. They are unique, fun and well developed . There’s a few twists to this one and over all I really enjoyed reading it and recommend it.
Thank you the publisher and netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion. .

When a blurb on a book says fans of Agatha Christie and Anthony Horowitz would love a book I have to request it. And when it's Elly Griffiths I just know it will be a book I will enjoy. This book marks the return of Harbinder Kaur that begins with the death of a 90 year old woman. With help from her care giver and a few others we are off to solve this murder. I love that this has such a cozy mystery feel. DS Kaur is also a unique character that I hope to see again.

Another exciting read from Elly Griffiths. The Postscript Murders marks the return of Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur in a complex tale of unexplained death and outright murder and crime fiction. It begins with the death of a healthy 90 year old woman who is somehow linked to the world of mystery writers. How and why did she die?

The cast of characters is wonderful and various chapters are presented from four points of view: Harbinder, as investigating officer; Natalka, emigre from Ukraine and caregiver of the 90 year old woman and friend to the next two men; Edwin, an 80 year old man also residing in the sheltered dwellings; and Benedict, former monk who now owns a seaside coffee cafe and muses about his future. There are more characters but these are the center of the story.

I truly enjoyed this tale so much and recommend it, as I do all of Griffiths’ work. I do believe that this book could be enjoyed as a standalone though there is one book preceding it about Harbinder Kaur. I will definitely read the next one.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A murder mystery for mystery lovers, <i> The Postscript Murders </i> is full of publishing and book references particularly as they relate to all things crime related. A cast of interesting characters, including Detective Harbinder Kaur, contribute their observations as they follow the clues related to the suspicious death of Peggy Smith. Found dead by her caregiver, Peggy was a 90-year-old armchair sleuth who lived at the Seaview Court, a sheltered accommodation in Shoreham, West Sussex.

This entry in the series had all of the earmarks of a cozy including a much slower pace than the gothic tension of the first, <i>The Stranger Diaries.</i> For that reason, it was a bit of a surprise but still a pleasant read which can be enjoyed as a standalone.




FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What I think I loved most about this book is that Griffiths has managed to create a mystery that feels cozy but also has a lot of thriller elements. There are small country inns, and cups of tea, and lots of books, but there are also masked gunmen and threatening postcards. It's the kind of book that has been perfect for the current weather here, rainy and overcast and gloomy, just the kind of story you want to curl up with under a blanket and have a cup of tea yourself.

The main premise is the death of an elderly woman who, it turns out, has been thanked by numerous mystery and thriller novelists in their dedications or postscripts. When a masked gunman then appears in her apartment to steal a book, and authors start turning up dead themselves, a small group of unlikely friends deem themselves amateur sleuths and begin working closely with a local police woman.

The cast of characters is such a great group. The main three "amateur detectives" are a wonderfully eclectic found family: a former monk who now runs a cafe, a young woman from Ukraine who now works as a carer for the elderly, and an elderly man who dresses impecably and used to work for the BBC. The police woman is complex and funny, and makes a great addition to the group with the three others.

I love Griffiths playing with the idea of people who read and write murder mysteries suddenly being pulled into one of their own that has a very direct impact on their lives (and in some cases, deaths). This is a really clever fun book with great locations, great characters, and lots of surprises.

Thank you to both #NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with a copy of Elly Griffiths’s latest mystery novel, The Postscript Murders, in exchange for an honest review.

Murder mystery? Blockchain/Crypto? Spontaneous Latin phrases? All contained in one novel that was written by an award-winning author? From a superficial perspective, #ThePostscriptMurders could have shown up on my doorstep and demanded to live rent-free in my NYC apartment. I guess that’s why the quote, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” exists.

There was something extremely disorienting about this novel. Imagine my surprise when a book I swore was set in the early to mid-1900s suddenly mentions a microwave in chapter seven, or a character whom I thought was in his thirties/early forties is actually 80 years old. I don’t want to blame the author’s writing style because there are definitely some well-written passages and smirk-inducting quotes, but it was confusing to say the least. Either that or it was extremely boring; I can’t tell.

It didn’t help that many of the characters were oddly named. So peculiar, in fact, that even one of the characters asks, “What kind of name is that?” For instance, Natalka is the Ukrainian equivalent of Natalie. Okay, simple enough, but Harbinder? Harbinder is a Sikh name traditionally reserved for males, not females like the character in this book. For ignorant Americans such as myself apparently, Harbinder also sounds as if it should be a surname, not a first one as it is used here.

By the time the reader can determine who is who and what is what, they will most likely have no clue what is happening in the story because all of that energy was expended on separating characters and subplots. There were some very strange descriptions as well. For example, “Jelli gives her a look that could also be described as old-fashion.” Still scratching my head over wtf that means.

Additionally, for the record, if anyone is having trouble finding the author Sheila Atkins, cancel your search because she does not exist. All of Atkins’ book titles are references to Shakespeare. You’re welcome in advance.

The nicest comment I can offer about this novel is that it is reminiscent of one of the drier Agatha Christie novels or one of the less popular books in the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. I’m stopping this review right here lest I say something that offends or ruins someone else’s otherwise pleasurable reading experience.

A 90 year old dying in a care home should not be considered suspicious. Detective Harbinder Kaur does not think so, until Peggy's carer Natalka uncovers whilst clearing out the room a lot of information which seems slightly askew for a ninety year old.

Apart from heaps of crime novels and detective stories, she discovers cards indicating that Peggy was a "murder consultant" and that many of the books in her room had acknowledgements and recommendations to Peggy, who apparently helped with ideas and suggestions to many authors re murder.

The idea that Peggy was murdered is without foundation until Natalka and Edward another inmate are confronted by a masked gunman who only takes a single book from them and disappears. This has to be taken into account, and Harbinder reluctantly joins forces with Natalya and Edward, especially since an author was also found shot dead. He was one of Peggy's admirers and now several links pop up.

The story told in a series of unconnected links all gradually link up to form a cohesive whole, giving the whole thing an unrealistic air. Harbinder's personal story linked with Natalka along with Edward's adds so much added interest to all

I am sorry to say but this Elly Griffiths book has disappointed me so much I gave up at around 40 % into it.
A very slow-burn murder (or not even murder) mystery set in a quite small beachside town and beachside retirement village turned out to be my undoing. It was too slow, too uneventful, too boring.
I found the characters are so very hard to identify with. Some of the backstories were quite unbelievable even for a work of fiction (poor parents don't send kids to English Universities, etc.) Plus, when the narrative started diving too much into unsubstantiated political claims, I became bored. Bored to the point of giving up.
I read crime. I read crime a lot, all the time. I love the mystery and suspense, However, what I find equally important are characters, their relationships and backstory. I enjoy identifying with characters, going on the journey with them, liking, hating and even loving them.
It did not happen this time. I could not make up my mind about the main character Indian-English detective Harbinder Kaur. I found her too gray. I definitely could not identify with the character of Natalka (she is made up of many stereotypes rather than real people). The rest... I rest my case.

When Peggy Smith, a 90-year-old woman, is found dead, no one believes foul play had a role in her death….that is no one but her Ukrainian carer, Natalka. Peggy was a murder consultant, thinking up unique ways for characters to die for popular authors, I do wish we had gotten to know Peggy a bit more, she sounded like an amazing character. Natalka teams up with Edwin, an 80-year-old former TV producer, and Benedict a former monk now coffee shop owner to investigate Peggy’s death. And she takes her story to the police, bringing Detective Harbinder Kaur into the group.

This is a character-driven mystery. Natalka, Edwin, and Benedict are fully developed and each truly likable, and they work together so well. The investigation and friendships change all their lives, in good ways. It’s an eccentric group of characters, and each has their own viewpoint and reasons for joining the inquiry. I love Harbinder and how she both befriends and accepts the trio’s help and is exasperated by their actions. Harbinder is unique. She’s intelligtent and hard-working. She is a gay Sikh, in her thirties, who lives with her parents. All those aspects come into play, both in how she views the world and how this particular mystery plays out.

The Postscript Murders is a book for mystery lovers. The plot revolves around books, authors, and the publishing industry. It’s also a neat mix between cozy and police procedural. The amateurs get to meet people and ask questions, but they don’t have a badge to make people talk to them. Harbinder has authority behind her when she interviews people, which is good and bad, but she can’t follow whims as easily.

It’s a smart book and the mystery itself was well done. There were just enough suspects and clues. There were also a few twists that I didn’t see coming. Even though it’s the second in the series, it can definitely be read as a stand alone. You might get more of a feel for Harbinder by reading the first, but I don’t think you’ll miss all that much.

The Postscript Murders was a satisfying murder mystery. This is the second in the Harbinder Kaur series.

An older woman, Peggy Smith, sits at her window, recording what happens outside her window. When she is found dead, it is assumed that she died a natural death, just heart failure. But several people who knew her aren't so sure. Her carer, Natalka, her neighbor, Edwin, her neighbor, and Benedict, who runs the coffee shop across the street, are suspicious, especially as they clean up her flat, and someone with a gun steals one of her mystery novels. Peggy was a murder consultant, helping mystery novelists come up with creative ways to kill off their characters.

Natalka goes to the police station and talks to Harbinder, but Harbinder doesn't begin investigating until Dex Challoner, one of the mystery authors Peggy worked with, is killed. Meanwhile, Natalka, Edwin and Benedict decide to go to a mystery conference to meet some of Peggy's other author friends. As another person is killed, Harbinder comes to the conference, and joins the amateur sleuths in trying to figure out what is going on.

I really enjoyed the character's relationships, as well as the mystery. And I love the idea of someone being a "murder consultant!" This is a fun book to read.

Many of you will already set out to buy a copy of The Postscript Murders when you read the following: those of you who enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club will love this book. If you haven’t already read The Thursday Monday Club (you should) let me give you some other reasons why the latest book from Elly Griffiths is wonderful.

The characters sold The Postscript Murders to me. Natalka, Benjamin, and Edwin, are a bunch of mismatched individuals that somehow mesh wonderfully together. Quirky and smart, they make the hunt for Peggy’s killer a whirlwind ride full of intrigue and plenty of comedic scenes. However, it is what this unlikely friendship means to each of them is what endeared the characters to me. Each is a lonely figure, somewhat of an outcast in everyday society, just trying to make it in life. Their journey towards becoming true friends is as wonderful as their journey as amateur detectives. Edwin particularly tugged on my heartstrings. The author did a fantastic job portraying what it is like to be alone as an 80-year-old man, in a society that often looks right through the older generation.

The story itself is also excellent. It is very intriguing, especially in relation to finding out Peggy’s backstory. The chapters jump between the main characters, offering a number of unique perspectives, and are also short and sweet, so easy to consume. While it may be hinging more on the side of a cozy mystery rather than a dark thriller, it has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing the outcome. For literary lovers, it also has a great number of references to crime fiction, which just adds to the fun of reading The Postscript Murders.

I was shocked to find that The Postscript Murders is the second book on the DS Kaur series. This is by far the best standalone book in a series that I have ever read. No feeling of missing information or an attempt to fill the gap by the author that feels simply out of place. That is a hard feat to achieve!

**N.B. This is my second review of this title. I first read and reviewed it in 2020, but have re-read it in advance of its US release in March 2021.**
As a devotee of her Dr. Ruth Galloway series, I thoroughly enjoyed this second instalment in Elly Griffiths' D.S. Harbinder Kaur series. As in its series predecessor, The Stranger Diaries, Harbinder features as one of an ensemble cast of characters, with a major part of the storyline told from the perspective of non-police characters. We do learn more about Harbinder's personal and professional life in this book though, and she is a delightful, complex and engaging character.
The book opens with sprightly 90-year-old Peggy Smith observing and documenting the goings-on outside her Shoreham-by-Sea (southern coast of England) bay window. Later that evening, Peggy is found dead, still sitting in her chair, by her agency carer, Ukrainian-born Natalka Kolisnyk. Natalka isn't satisfied that Peggy's death was natural, despite her advanced age, and contacts local police, speaking to D.S. Harbinder Kaur to report her suspicions. It transpires that Peggy was a "murder consultant", and had assisted numerous successful crime writers by devising ingenious methods of murder, garnering her numerous dedications and acknowledgements. Kaur is initially dubious about Natalka's story, but becomes intrigued as additional unusual details emerge and another suspicious death occurs.
From here, the book takes the form of two interconnected storylines, following both Kaur's official police investigation and the activity of Natalka, who teams up with two unlikely confederates to uncover the truth - Benedict Cole, a diffident former monk turned seaside barista and Edwin Fitzgerald, a snappily-dressed octogenarian, who was Peggy's neighbour. Together, and parallel to Kaur's investigation, they probe the details of Peggy's life in and around Shoreham, before setting off on a road trip adventure to the Aberdeen Crime Writers' Festival in Scotland.
This is the second book I've read that has used a crime writing festival as a setting (the other being The Royal Baths Murder by J.R. Ellis, which took place at a thinly-veiled facsimile of the Theakston's Old Peculier festival in Harrogate), and I love that both authors have drawn on their own experience as a crime writer at large in depicting the curious mix of excitement, networking opportunities, resentment and one-upmanship that these events entail.
The Postscript Murders takes a lighter approach to crime than Elly Griffiths' well-established and excellent Ruth Galloway Series, although in a literary sense it sits above the majority of books in the "cosy mystery" genre. As always with Griffiths, her characters are complex and well-developed over the course of the novel. I particularly loved the quirkiness of the "amateur detective" trio in The Postscript Murders and the relationships that blossomed between them. The plot is enthralling, taking many twists and turns and containing many surprise developments for the reader to savour. The conclusion is fitting and satisfying, tying up many (but not all) loose ends that the story has thrown up. Via the late Peggy's dedication to and encyclopaedic knowledge of the crime genre, Griffiths makes a fitting homage, both to the great writers of the "golden age" and to modern writers pushing the boundaries into new and exciting sub-genres of crime fiction. I'm really looking forward to reading future outings for D.S. Harbinder Kaur.
Highly recommended, both to existing readers of Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway Series and to those yet to discover her excellent crime-mystery books.
My thanks to Elly Griffiths, publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful title.

I love the Ruth Galloway mysteries so I thought I would like Postscript Murders, but I didn’t connect at all with main character Harbinder Kaur.
This book felt like it plodded along. I kept wanting to care about any of the characters, but the most interesting of the cast was the older lady who was murdered.
I’ll admit I gave up about half way through. This may be the cup of tea for some people but it didn’t work for me. Give me more Ruth Galloway any day.

A diverse collection of quirky characters united by patronage of “The Shack”, a coffee place in West Sussex, band together to solve an escalating series of murders. The first victim is Peggy Smith, a so-called murder consultant whose clients are mystery writers at a loss for a murder method. As Peggy’s clients begin to die, her amateur detective friends join DS Harbinder Kaur (of “The Strranger Diaries”) to figure out what links them and why (and if) they are being killed. I enjoy this amateur detective genre, and recommend it to fans of The Thursday Murder Club and Anthony Horowitz’s Susan Ryeland novels.

The Postscript Murders is the second book in the DS Harbinder Kaur series and follows on with the introduction of a new murder case which DS Kaur is assigned to. This time, an elderly woman is murdered and the circumstances surrounding her murder become more and more suspicious.

I thoroughly enjoyed the return of DS Harbinder Kaur and the confidence she built throughout this book. Her intuition always points her in the right direction and her determination to succeed and solve each case are a commendable aspect of her personality and work as a detective. I also liked the hints of the characters from the first book and this blended in nicely to showcase Harbinder’s character development.

The plot flowed seamlessly from one setting to another and I was invested in both Harbinder’s storyline and the other characters’ trip to Scotland. The pace was steady throughout although it picked up somewhat during the murders. I also really enjoyed how the ending developed with one murder reveal after another.

My main issue with this book was mostly with the unrealistic events surrounding the three characters who were too involved in the investigation despite not forming part of the detective team. Travelling across the country to attempt to solve a murder for someone who they did not know too well before she died seemed too improbable and forced.

Although some parts seemed too farfetched, I enjoyed the cozy mystery feel and would gladly read the next book in the series. This is an overall solid addition to the DS Harbinder Kaur series who is molding into a respectable main character with a lot of great qualities.