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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
I think I like this series better than the Ruth Galloway ones overall. I like the way a historical series can zoom forward through time. Now we're up to the mid 1960s and everyone is getting a bit older (obviously) but Meg, a new young detective with Brighton police is a great addition to the feminist ranks of these books. Emma gets more of a chance to shine again here too. The theatrical/magical backgrounds to the plots could get all a bit repetitive but on the whole I think it's helped by the leaps through time. You can imagine that there have been any number of other cases in between the books that had no theatrical connections but we just drop in to get told about these interesting ones. And the leaps in time also make Max's appearance on the scene each time a bit more believable.
I realise I've said absolutely nothing about the plot there. Like many long running series it's the main characters lives that stick in my head and not the ins and outs of the cases they are solving. And this is the sixth installment of this series and I hope it'll stick around for at least a few more. I seem to think I found some of the plot in this one involved bringing in characters who had barely been mentioned, or just inferred, to take on major roles. Which isn't something I mind really, always having the culprit on the first page isn't a good thing either. And besides there were definitely interesting and fleshed out characters in the friends and family of the victim here.
Definitely one of my favourite series of the past few years.
I realise I've said absolutely nothing about the plot there. Like many long running series it's the main characters lives that stick in my head and not the ins and outs of the cases they are solving. And this is the sixth installment of this series and I hope it'll stick around for at least a few more. I seem to think I found some of the plot in this one involved bringing in characters who had barely been mentioned, or just inferred, to take on major roles. Which isn't something I mind really, always having the culprit on the first page isn't a good thing either. And besides there were definitely interesting and fleshed out characters in the friends and family of the victim here.
Definitely one of my favourite series of the past few years.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
'The Midnight Hour' is the sixth entry in the popular Stephens & Mephisto series by Elly Griffiths. i'm a fan of both the Ruth Galloway and Harbinder Kaur series and was excited to try 'The Midnight Hour' which is more of a historical series as this book is set in 1965.
The Stephens & Mephisto of the series (previously known as The Magic Men) are two former members of a shadowy team called The Magic Men who worked undercover during WWII. We are given little background to their previous lives, except to learn that Max's knowledge as a magician was invaluable to their wartime efforts. Previous novels in the series have focused on Max, now an actor and Edgar, a police officer, teaming up to investigate various crimes in and around Brighton. In this edition, Griffiths has expanded the world of Stephens & Mephisto, giving greater time to Emma and Sam, with their newly created detective agency. Emma is a former detective and also Edgar's wife. While Sam is a journalist. Both women are determined to use their exceptional range of skills to try and uncover the truth behind the death of Bert Billington. Also heavily involved in the case is WDC Meg Connolly. There is marked contract between the 'official' approach and that of the two private detectives, but even more so, there is a contract between the approach of the male and female characters. I enjoyed watching how the three women teamed up as much as possible to drive the case along.
There are great details about life in the police force at this time (1960s) and also the variety circuit back in the 1920s and onwards. Wonderful to read about the theatre world at that time. Not exactly a cozy mystery - a little too detailed on the murder in parts but a fantastic read and great fun.
The Stephens & Mephisto of the series (previously known as The Magic Men) are two former members of a shadowy team called The Magic Men who worked undercover during WWII. We are given little background to their previous lives, except to learn that Max's knowledge as a magician was invaluable to their wartime efforts. Previous novels in the series have focused on Max, now an actor and Edgar, a police officer, teaming up to investigate various crimes in and around Brighton. In this edition, Griffiths has expanded the world of Stephens & Mephisto, giving greater time to Emma and Sam, with their newly created detective agency. Emma is a former detective and also Edgar's wife. While Sam is a journalist. Both women are determined to use their exceptional range of skills to try and uncover the truth behind the death of Bert Billington. Also heavily involved in the case is WDC Meg Connolly. There is marked contract between the 'official' approach and that of the two private detectives, but even more so, there is a contract between the approach of the male and female characters. I enjoyed watching how the three women teamed up as much as possible to drive the case along.
There are great details about life in the police force at this time (1960s) and also the variety circuit back in the 1920s and onwards. Wonderful to read about the theatre world at that time. Not exactly a cozy mystery - a little too detailed on the murder in parts but a fantastic read and great fun.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Perhaps you are already familiar with books by Elly Griffiths- the Ruth Galloway or the Harbinder Kaur series? If so, you know to expect plenty of clues, motives, and misdirection as the mystery is investigated. There are always several suspects, but as more details are uncovered they may point the finger at a different character than first seemed guilty. Elly's books also feature strong women who are in the thick of the investigation. This time there are two female friends who have opened their own private investigator office, as well as Detective Constable Meg Connolly. The PIs are hired by the wife of the deceased, which is a bit uncomfortable for the police superintendent since one of the investigators is his wife. What if the PIs solve the case before the police?
Since this mystery is also historical fiction (set in 1965), there are no cellphones or video conferences, and female constables are not even allowed to drive the squad car. When inquiries are made, they must be made in person, even if it means an overnight drive to track down possible suspects or witnesses who can give background information on the background of the victim. As the hunt spreads through Brighton and questions delve up dark secrets from the victim's past, the list of potential suspects seems to be growing rather than having possibilities eliminated. There are motives for nearly everyone who knew the deceased - lovers, employees, his own family. Who will work out the solution first?
Note - The Brighton Mysteries have at times also been called Stephens & Mephisto Mysteries or the Magic Men Mysteries.
I read an advance copy provided by the publisher for review purposes.
Since this mystery is also historical fiction (set in 1965), there are no cellphones or video conferences, and female constables are not even allowed to drive the squad car. When inquiries are made, they must be made in person, even if it means an overnight drive to track down possible suspects or witnesses who can give background information on the background of the victim. As the hunt spreads through Brighton and questions delve up dark secrets from the victim's past, the list of potential suspects seems to be growing rather than having possibilities eliminated. There are motives for nearly everyone who knew the deceased - lovers, employees, his own family. Who will work out the solution first?
Note - The Brighton Mysteries have at times also been called Stephens & Mephisto Mysteries or the Magic Men Mysteries.
I read an advance copy provided by the publisher for review purposes.
lighthearted
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:
No
There are a series of murders that are being investigated by both a female detective and a female private investigator. For about the first half these two characters are not different enough to easily tell apart, or to make the story interesting. The story is trying to illustrate how hard it was to be a woman in the 1950s (and I believe it was) but also tell an interesting murder story, and I think trying to do both caused Griffiths to just miss the mark on both accounts.