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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
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:
No
A really great first introductory book into the Brighton Mysteries, I love the characters and on to the second one I go.
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-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
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/10/06/review-2040-the-zig-zag-girl/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/10/06/review-2040-the-zig-zag-girl/
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
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:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While I have read and enjoyed all of the books in Elly Griffith's Ruth Galloway series, the Stephens and Mephisto series was new to me. The idea of a series based on a magician solving mysteries just didn't sound inviting. I realise now that I didn't have a very good sense at all of what the books were about.
We're in post-war Brighton - it's 1950. DI Edgar Stephens is investigating the murder of a young woman and he reaches out to his friend, the magician Max Mephisto, for professional advice. Max and Edgar were colleagues together during the war, in a camouflage unit that had the task of faking the appearance of weaponry to give the Germans the impression that Scotland was protected. (While the unit is imaginary, there was a similar Allied unit in Africa). It transpires that someone is targeting members of that wartime unit, putting both Edgar and Max in danger.
As a mystery the book is mildly diverting, although the tension levels never get particularly high.
There are a couple of good twists but there are some elements that are quite easy to predict. What I really enjoyed about it is the two central characters and also the post-war Brighton setting. It reminded me in some ways of Jacqueline Winspear's "Maisie Dobbs" series. The absence of graphic violence or a romantic interest gave it an oddly period feel which was appealing.
We're in post-war Brighton - it's 1950. DI Edgar Stephens is investigating the murder of a young woman and he reaches out to his friend, the magician Max Mephisto, for professional advice. Max and Edgar were colleagues together during the war, in a camouflage unit that had the task of faking the appearance of weaponry to give the Germans the impression that Scotland was protected. (While the unit is imaginary, there was a similar Allied unit in Africa). It transpires that someone is targeting members of that wartime unit, putting both Edgar and Max in danger.
As a mystery the book is mildly diverting, although the tension levels never get particularly high.
There are a couple of good twists but there are some elements that are quite easy to predict. What I really enjoyed about it is the two central characters and also the post-war Brighton setting. It reminded me in some ways of Jacqueline Winspear's "Maisie Dobbs" series. The absence of graphic violence or a romantic interest gave it an oddly period feel which was appealing.
Originally this was going to be 3 stars but it really peeked in the last third of the story and I liked the ending, so I'm rounding it up to four. Well, that and the characters, all of whom I found very likable.