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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
In this sixth instalment of The Brighton Mysteries (previously the Magic Men series), The Midnight Hour, former showgirl Verity Malone engages former WDS Emma Stephens and journalist Sam Collins, whom have launched a private investigation firm, when she is implicated in the poisoning death of her husband, theater impresario, Bert Billington.
As it happens, Verity isn’t the only one who had reason to dislike Bert. A notorious narcissist and philanderer, he had a number of enemies, and Emma is excited by the opportunity to investigate, even though the situation may make things awkward for her husband, Superintendent Edgar Stephens.
Griffiths offers several red herrings as suspicion swirls around Verity, her long term housekeeper, Alma, the women’s adult children, a nosy neighbour and a mystery woman (or man) in a long brown coat. Max Mephisto, coincidently filming a movie co-starring Verity’s middle son, also becomes entangled in the case when it’s revealed he once had an affair with Verity.
WPC Meg Connolly, introduced in Now You See Them, plays a large role this novel, proving to be an eager, intuitive police officer, just as Emma was before being forced to retire upon her marriage. Griffiths continues to explore the lot of women in society during the era through the fates of Billingham’s carnal victims, the limits placed on Meg’s career, and Emma’s desire to be more than just a mother.
With its satisfying resolution to an interesting mystery, and engaging characters I enjoyed The Midnight Hour as much as previous instalments, and I look forward to the next.
As it happens, Verity isn’t the only one who had reason to dislike Bert. A notorious narcissist and philanderer, he had a number of enemies, and Emma is excited by the opportunity to investigate, even though the situation may make things awkward for her husband, Superintendent Edgar Stephens.
Griffiths offers several red herrings as suspicion swirls around Verity, her long term housekeeper, Alma, the women’s adult children, a nosy neighbour and a mystery woman (or man) in a long brown coat. Max Mephisto, coincidently filming a movie co-starring Verity’s middle son, also becomes entangled in the case when it’s revealed he once had an affair with Verity.
WPC Meg Connolly, introduced in Now You See Them, plays a large role this novel, proving to be an eager, intuitive police officer, just as Emma was before being forced to retire upon her marriage. Griffiths continues to explore the lot of women in society during the era through the fates of Billingham’s carnal victims, the limits placed on Meg’s career, and Emma’s desire to be more than just a mother.
With its satisfying resolution to an interesting mystery, and engaging characters I enjoyed The Midnight Hour as much as previous instalments, and I look forward to the next.
This was a good mystery, although I think I would have enjoyed it more had I read the rest of the series first. This book is the latest in the DI Stephens and Max Mephisto series.
The Midnight Hour begins with the death of Bert Billington, former actor and producer. Bert was poisoned, and his wife Verity hires the new detective agency of Emma Holmes and Sam Collins to find out who killed him. However, that puts Emma in direct "competition" with her husband, Edgar Stephens, with the Brighton Police force, who also is trying to solve the case.
Novice police officer Meg Connolly is excited to be involved in the case; women police officers were rarely assigned anything more than traffic duty in the 1960s, when this book is set. When Meg and the other police officers investigate the case, they find out that Bert was a serial cheater who wasn't well-liked by anyone, other than his youngest son. There are plenty of people from his past who could have committed the crime, especially since Bert once played the Rat King and was poisoned with rat poison. Emma and Meg team up to investigate the suspects, and find out much more than they want to about the lives of Verity and her sons, Max Mephisto, and Max's wife Lydia.
As I said at the beginning of this review, I wish I had read the others in this series before.I began this book. However, even without the background on the characters, I could enjoy solving the mystery along with the characters.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance reader's copy of this fun mystery.
The Midnight Hour begins with the death of Bert Billington, former actor and producer. Bert was poisoned, and his wife Verity hires the new detective agency of Emma Holmes and Sam Collins to find out who killed him. However, that puts Emma in direct "competition" with her husband, Edgar Stephens, with the Brighton Police force, who also is trying to solve the case.
Novice police officer Meg Connolly is excited to be involved in the case; women police officers were rarely assigned anything more than traffic duty in the 1960s, when this book is set. When Meg and the other police officers investigate the case, they find out that Bert was a serial cheater who wasn't well-liked by anyone, other than his youngest son. There are plenty of people from his past who could have committed the crime, especially since Bert once played the Rat King and was poisoned with rat poison. Emma and Meg team up to investigate the suspects, and find out much more than they want to about the lives of Verity and her sons, Max Mephisto, and Max's wife Lydia.
As I said at the beginning of this review, I wish I had read the others in this series before.I began this book. However, even without the background on the characters, I could enjoy solving the mystery along with the characters.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance reader's copy of this fun mystery.
adventurous
mysterious
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No