The Last Word - Elly Griffiths

Elly Griffiths is one of my favorite authors. And though I'll never stop missing the Ruth Galloway books, I have found some new favorites. You can meet some of them in Elly Griffiths' new book - The Last Word.

DS Harbinder Kaur from The Postscript Murders is back - but in a supporting role this time around. Instead we're with the two owners of the K and F Detective Agency - eight four year old Edwin and Natalka, who also runs a carer business. Oh, and her boyfriend Benedict steps in when needed as well. Amateur sleuths? Yes - but they're very clever and dogged in their search for answers and results. Griffiths has created a set of new players that I really, really like. I must admit to having a favorite already with Edwin. As readers, we are privy to their inner dialogue and that really rounds out the characters. 

The case itself is a murder. Or a possible murder. It's hard to say. So that's where the sleuthing starts. But Benedict sees a possible connection to something he's found. And the answers may be found at a creative writing weekend. There are many, many choices for the whodunit. I must admit to losing track as to who was who at times. But, there are updated clue lists as the investigation progresses that help.

Everything is tied up nicely be the end of the book. But the door is open for more of this crew - and I'll be watching for the next book. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Last Word.

The publisher's blurb "Perfect for fans of Richard Osman and the Thursday Murder Club is spot on."  

Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect - Benjamin Stevenson

You might be thinking that the title of Benjamin Stevenson's new novel - Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect - is somewhat familiar. And you'd be right. Stevenson's last book was Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, featuring Ernest Cunningham. He's the lead character from that first book. If you've not read that first book (And why not!?) I'm not going to spoil it for you. 

Ernest has penned a book about what went down. But he's still surprised to find that he's on a train with six other authors for the Australian Mystery Writers Society festival. And I'm sure you can guess what happens next...

I love how the book is presented. Ern speaks to the reader in the opening prologue,  setting things up, and giving out clues as to how the book will unfold - and why. Will you remember those clues as the plot unfolds? I love 'locked room' plots and this is an excellent one! Ernest checks up on the reader as the book progresses.

Stevenson is a clever, clever writer. I laughed out loud more than once as I read. And the final aha moment? Stevenson kept me guessing all the way. Didn't see that coming at all. 

See for yourself - read an excerpt of Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect.

A Good House for Children - Kate Collins

One of my favorite genres to read is gothic fiction. After reading the synopsis, I happily picked up Kate Collins' debut novel - A Good House for Children.

All the right elements are there - an isolated, large old house outside of a small village, a house the villagers whisper about, one that has been home to 'outsiders' who don't know the history of the house. What else? Women left alone in the house with the children while the husband is away for work. And....small glimpses of something? someone? on the steps, at the end of the hallway, in the garden by the pond...and who are the children talking to?

All of this and more is told in a now and then timeline - the current residents of the house - and the family before.

Orla is our protagonist in the present and Lydia is from four decades back. I always enjoy this style of storytelling. I can't help but read one more chapter 'til late in the night. Lydia's situation seems more dire to me. As readers, we're privy to those past events and can only hope Orla can see what's happening before....

"Orla invited herself in, and the house woke up." (I live in quite an old house and this gave me the shivers...)

The house is both a character and setting in A Good House for Children. Collins does a wonderful job of ramping up the danger with a slow burning, insidiously clever plot. Collins does a great job writing the two timelines and weaving them together. Also wound into the tale is a dissection of motherhood. And the ending is perfect.

A satisfying read and a really good debut! See for yourself - read an excerpt of A Good House for Children.

The Last Remains - Elly Griffiths

Elly Griffiths is hands down one of my favorite authors. She has written more than one series, but the Ruth Galloway books are dear to me. The Last Remains is the fifteenth book - and from what I've read - the last in the series. At least for now. Fingers crossed.

When a skeleton is found behind a bricked up wall, Dr. Ruth Galloway is called in to again help the local police. As always, the plot is wonderfully constructed and enjoyably solved. There's more than one candidate for the whodunit and I was kept guessing until the final pages. 

The setting of this series is the Norfolk area of England. It's rich in history, both tangible and verbal. I've enjoyed learning more about this setting over the years. It sounds so very beautiful. I've often thought that I would be quite happy living on the moors by the sea in Ruth's little cottage. 

Sitting down with the latest book is like sitting down with old friends. Their lives move forward with every entry and I'm always curious to see what's going on with them all. And those of you who have followed this series from book one will know what I'm talking about...Nelson and Ruth. The back and forth 'Will they or won't they' has been the question with every book. And one that is never fully answered - until now. No worries! I'm not telling! I must admit that my favorite supporting character has always been Cathbad, the self proclaimed Druid. His outlook on life is unique and well, mystical. And has been right in many ways in many situations over the years. He is again involved in this latest case.

Ruth herself has been a great protagonist - true to herself, intelligent and talented. Her inner dialogue reveals her insecurities and doubts which only make her more realistic. You will be missed Ruth. 

Read an excerpt of The Last Remains. 

If you haven't discovered this series yet, I encourage you to start with the first book, The Crossing Places.

Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone - Benjamin Stevenson

Oh my gosh...if you're a fan of "Clue" style mysteries, a clever narrator with a dark sense of humour, a dangerous, dysfunctional family and a plot like no other,  you need to pick up Benjamin Stevenson's new book, Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone!

I was hooked before I even read the first chapters. The prologue includes the membership oath of a secret society of mystery writers (Including Christie) from 1930, as well as the 1929 Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction from Ronald Knox. Our narrator uses these in the telling of this tale. 

Reluctantly, the members of the Cunningham family have gathered together at a remote lodge. In the winter with a storm on the way. With bad cell phone coverage. Old hurts, wrongs, clashes of personalities and secrets soon rear their ugly heads. And then a body is found....

Ernest Cunningham is the narrator and defacto lead sleuth. Ern's voice is full of dark humour, keen observations and questionable actions. Just wait until you meet his family...

"Everyone in my family has killed someone: my brother, my stepsister, my wife, my father, my mother, my mother-in-law, my uncle, my stepfather and me."

You'll need to be on your toes as there are many characters to keep track of. Ern details what is going on, sharing his observations and some of his theories. Are you be keen enough to see what and who the final 'ah hah' moment might be? I certainly wasn't!

Stevenson has written a elaborate plot, one that will keep you guessing. For this reader, it was Ern and the dark humour that kept me up late. Stevenson is an award winning stand-up comedian. I'd say his sense of humour translates well to the written page. 

#BooksofHCC   @harpercollins.ca   #Ad   I received a review copy of this title from Harper Collins Canada. This in no way affects my honest review. 

Bleeding Heart Yard - Elly Griffiths

Bleeding Heart Yard is the third book in Elly Griffiths' Harbinder Kaur series. 

For me, it is Griffiths' characters that that have made me such a fan. Yes, Ruth Galloway is my fave, but Harbinder is a close second. She too, is not a cookie cutter character. She's 'real'and her personal life has been moving forward. I really like her inner dialogue. Her professional life is moving forward as well.  She's landed in London with her own squad as a Detective Inspector. The squad is a mixed bag of new players - that I hope will become regulars.

Harbinder's first 'in charge' case is a puzzle for sure. A MP is found dead at his school's twenty-first reunion. There are a number of suspects to choose from for the whodunit. But the focus ends up on the members of 'The Group' - an 'elite' group of students.  It took me a few chapters to solidify who was who in the group, specifically the women. 

Bleeding Heart is written from a number of viewpoints - Harbinder's and group members Anna and Cassie. Anna and Cassie's past entries give the reader background, memories and motives - for each and every player. They're all hiding something. Present day chapters let us see how the investigation is proceeding, even as events from the past take on more of a motive for the current day crime. I did find the numerous interviews a bit repetitive.

The settings descriptions are well drawn and I quite liked the lore behind some of them - especially Bleeding Heart Yard. I think Harbinder's change of locale will open up a lot of opportunities for future cases and plots. And for Harbinder's personal life!

 

All in all, Bleeding Heart Yard is another great entry in this series. A little bit slower than the previous two books but still a very entertaining read. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Bleeding Heart Yard. And a quick P.S. - that cover is fantastic!

The Midnight Hour - Elly Griffiths

Elly Griffiths is hands down one of my favorite authors. Now, while her Ruth Galloway series is near and dear to me, The Brighton Mysteries run a very close second. The sixth entry - The Midnight Hour - has just released. 

What makes these series so delightful? For me, it's the characters. They're warm and funny, wry and witty and eminently likable. In this latest, former Brighton DS Emma Holmes has joined forces with reporter Sam Collins and opened a Private Eye business. They've been hired by a high profile widow to look into her husband's death. It's a big case for the two, but the Brighton police are also on the job. It's more than a bit awkward as Emma is also married to Police Superintendent Edgar Stephens. "She was honest enough to know she also wanted to get ahead of the police, to present them with the solution to the case with all the loose ends tied up in a bow."

There's continuity to this series as Griffiths moves the lives of her characters along. I'm always curious to see what's next for this cast of players. And it is indeed a large cast. Faithful readers will recognize and welcome back recurring characters. New readers, you can absolutely read this latest without having read previous titles, but it might take you a beat or two to sort out who's who. I have to say that Emma and young Constable Meg Connolly are my favorites. Emma's young son Jonathan also makes many appearances that are endearing.

So, great characters...and great plotting. There are many choices for the whodunit. Griffiths gives the reader a lovely winding road, littered with red herrings on the way to the final whodunit. I truly had no idea who the murderer was going to be in the end. 

I like the time frame being the 1960's. Cases are solved with lots of footwork, interviews, intuition and deductions rather than CSI-like methods. It's a more satisfying and intimate read somehow. Women's roles are changing and that too is woven into the story. 

Griffiths just has an easy way with words. I'm always drawn into the story. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Midnight Hour.

Closing Costs - Bracken MacLeod

Bracken MacLeod's new novel, Closing Costs, has just released. If you like thrillers, then this is a book for you!

Nelle and Evan have just closed on their 'forever' home. It's perfect - there's only one neighbor they can't see and their property backs onto a state forest. Uh huh....you're getting an inkling aren't you...? Nelle is alone when a man invades her home...

MacLeod uses one of my favorite devices, writing a past and present narrative from two points of view - Elle and Mack, the invader. The pivot point is the sale of the house. Where did Elle and Evan get the money for such a house? Who is Mack and what does he want? You'll be quite surprised by the answers to both questions. MacLeod throws in a nice turn I hadn't expected.

Closing Costs reads like a movie in the vein of Bruce Willis. Nelle and Mack just keep getting up again and again, going far beyond what you would think the human body could tolerate. But, like those movies, suspend your disbelief and keep turning pages. The action is non stop and the tension is really high! And you've just got to know how it all turns out. 

I'm not sure I liked Elle very much, even though I was behind her need to best or escape Mack. Mack is, as my gran used to say, a piece of work - a violent misogynist. MacLeod's depiction of him gave me the shivers. 

Closing Costs could perhaps shortened up a bit - the escapes, near misses and more started to lose their impact after so many times. See for yourself - here's an excerpt of Closing Costs.  And make sure your doors are locked. 

(Gentle readers, this one's probably not for you - there are definitely trigger situations.)