Another chance to meet Harbinder - this time she's investigating a series of deaths which may or may not be connected to a postscript and an elderly lady who is a murder consultant....
Elly Griffiths writes very good people - they're real and you do miss them when the story is over.
Having just read Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club I think we are moving into a new genre of geriatric crime novels - a new perspective on the elderly, who they have been and how we permit/deny them the right to retain their value in society.

Peggy was ninety and living in a retirement complex in Shoreham overlooking the sea. She takes a great interest in what is happening outside her window. She loves murders and is a murder consultant for several authors. But then Peggy is found dead? Was it her heart or was she murdered?
Her friends - her career, an ex monk and another resident - are determined to find out what happened to Peggy.
Will they suceed?

This was more of the cosy mystery genre, something which I am trying out for the first time.

When Peggy, a ninety-year-old client of Natalka’s is found dead in her chair, the police have no reason to suspect she has died from anything other than natural causes. But Natalka along with Peggy’s other friends decide to investigate suspecting foul play.

The concept of an elderly woman Peggy being a murder consultant who gives ideas to mystery and crime authors for their novels, was so interesting and unique.

It was a fun read thanks to all the diverse characters in the plot. The main detective DS Harbinder Kaur was unlike any other detective that I have read. The entire plot was so well written with sufficient twists that I was fully engaged in it and kept guessing till the end.

Looking forward to read more of DS Harbinder Kaur.

Thank You to NetGalley and Quercus Books for this ARC!

The Postscript Murders
I had read the first in the Harbinder Kaur series entitled The Stranger Diaries and so I was eagerly anticipating this novel. I think it was even better than that book and works very effectively as a stand-alone novel.
Elly Griffiths creates really believable but quirky characters. In this novel we have Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur who is a gay Sikh woman still living with her parents and dreaming of finding the woman of her dreams. Natalka, a Ukrainian carer, who dabbles in bitcoin deals on her evenings off. Benjamin who was has exchanged life in the monastery for running a coffee shop by the sea in Shoreham and Edwin who used to work for the BBC and now whiles away his time in what he terms “Preview Court”.
The novel opens with 90 year old Peggy observing life from the window of her flat in Seaview Court she is then found dead by Natalka who fears her death is not attributed to natural causes. For Peggy is no ordinary nonagenarian, she is a murder consultant who assists many writers with plotting deaths in their novels.
This unlikely group of people decide to investigate Peggy’s untimely demise and their exploits are entertaining and at times amusing. I found the book gripped me and I was very keen to discover the identity of the culprit. I would thoroughly recommend this novel to those who enjoy Golden Age crime but with a fresh and original twist. Many thanks to the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I think I could read Elly Griffiths' shopping list and love, I stil have to read one of her books and not loving it.
This one is excellent, gripping and highly entertaining. I read it in one setting even if I had to stop for some basic necessities.
It's a complex, gripping and well written mystery, full of read herrings and twists. It kept me guessing till the end and the solution came as a surprise.
i was happy to meet again Harbringer as I think she's strong, interesting and well thought characters. The plot of characters was likeable and I loved them.
The different POVs help to keep you focused on the story and learn what's happening from different angles.
Ms Griffith is an excellent storyteller and great at character and plot development.
I can't wait to read another book featuring Harbringer and can't wait to read another book by Ms Griffith.
This excellent story is highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

#ThePostscriptMurders #NetGalley This was a very light hearted easy to read "whodunnit" with an eclectic bunch of amateur sleuths working alongside DS Harbinder Kaur. In real life I'm not sure how accurate or even possible this would be but it gave a "Miss Marple" feel to the book! The sleuth characters were likeable and it was nice to see Harbinder's relationship with her family explored. If you are a fan of Elly Griffiths Ruth Galloway series (as I am) this is a much lighter and light hearted style of writing with plenty of humour. For me, I prefer the Ruth Galloway series but it did not stop me enjoying this little murder romp!

Not read this author before so I thought I would give it a go, and this novel did start off pretty well, but soon I realise that 3 people were playing at amatuer sleuthing, and a Dectective Sargeant Harbinder Kaur as the go between, now most police do not like amateurs trying to do their job but this was not the case here, first their was not a murder but then their was and a few more down the line. Would put this in as a cosy mystery more the Agatha Christie style but I don't think it's as good as Christie. The characters were well portrayed and the insight to the areas was described well whether true or fiction I don't know as I do not know the area of Shoreham, but it lacked bite to it, you knew who was going to get bumped off next, and that their was a start of a romance that was seen right at the very beginning. The plot was good but more could have been done with it to have made it a better thriller, don't really like to give negative reviews but the title was what grabbed my interest. I would like to thank Netgalley and Quercus books for a copy to read and review, and this is my honest take on this book.

A book about golden age crime novels that is a modern-day golden age crime novel! I took a while to get into this, found the characters rather wooden and the plot totally unrealistic at first - but it grew on me and I became genuinely fond of Natalka and Benny and Edwin and Harbinder. This is cosy crime, brought slightly up to date, with lots of red herrings and twists and turns and it is enjoyable. Think Midsomer Murders in Brighton with a sprinkle of KGB and a gay Sikh detective and a former monk. Suspend belief, don't question too hard, have a nice cup of coffee and enjoy.

I liked the concept here, of a retired lady acting as a murder consultant to authors. When Peggy is found murdered a bunch of her friends join forces to solve the mystery. I would describe this as more of a crime caper than a full-blown crime novel. I do love Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series which is at the lighter end of the crime genre - they are wryly amusing with a cast of strong characters and a striking archaeological background. Unfortunately I found the writing here much thinner and the plot too dependent on coincidence to really love it. However I think that if you like very light reading it is a fun outing up to Scotland with a few little digs at the crime writing conference scene.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love love love Elly Griffiths and have thoroughly enjoyed working my way through her Ruth Galloway books. This is the second book in a new series and I would say it’s more of a cosy mystery than psychological thriller. That didn’t make it any less enjoyable, the writing is brilliant as always, but the plot is a wee bit silly and the ending is a little bit far fetched. In saying that I will definitely be reading the next book in the series and would definitely recommend if your looking for some light hearted reading.

It's no secret that I am a big fan of this author. Her Ruth Galloway series as well as Stephens & Mephisto - loved every book! And now, here's a new series thrown into the delightful mix. Harbinder Kaur made her debut in The Stranger Diaries and, for completeness, background and character development, as always I do recommend you start with that one first.
Back to this, her second outing and she has a strange one on her hands. The death of a 90yo woman with a heart condition. Shouldn't be suspicious but her carer Natalka brings some rather interesting information to the door of the police which throws the case into a whole other light. Especially when someone holds her at gunpoint whilst she is clearing out her flat. And so begins a rather interesting and indeed intriguing case with a host of interesting characters trying to solve it along with the police.
It's always a delight when I get my hands on another book by this author. She has never let me down and this series looks like maintaining that record. In Harbinder, the author has created an interesting main character. Not without her flaws and difficult personal life, she's definitely no stereotype and that stuff only complements rather than distracts from the main story.
Supporting cast is just as well described and all play their parts very well indeed. They are an eclectic mix but, brought together by the extenuating circumstances, manage to rub along very well.
And the case in question kept me guessing pretty much all the way through. No mean feat considering the sheer volume of this genre book I devour in a year.
All in all, another winner from one of my favourite authors. Hanging for the next in this and the other series now. Or will it be a stand alone...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

The second book in the Harbinder Kaur series and it is an absolute delight!

The Postscript Murders is a murder mystery but it tends strongly towards cosy with several of the characters acting as amateur detectives and getting themselves into all kinds of difficulties. Luckily the police are involved and do actually maintain control of the investigations most of the time.

This is a book about books and their authors, publishers and literary agents. There are also retired wartime spies spending their time creating new ways for book characters to die, Ukrainian refugees out for revenge and an aged care nurse working the bitcoin market in her free time. All good fun and written so nicely it never becomes too over the top.

Elly Griffiths has a light touch in this book. There is plenty of humour, especially from Harbinder herself. She has her own wonderful ways of dealing internally with implied racism and with her partner's foibles. The three amateur detectives, Natalka, Edwin and Benedict are all beautifully drawn and make you cross your fingers that things will end well for them.

I know it was a good book because I found myself reading bits out loud to anyone who was listening. I thought it was good fun, very well written and totally entertaining.

This is a character driven murder mystery. An immensely likeable bunch of misfits go about looking in to the sudden death of their friend, not believing that she died naturally. This is a tale of their adventures in crime solving, uncovering plot twists as they go.

An altogether enjoyable read, reminiscent of golden-era cosy crime.

I hadn't realised this was the second in the Harbinder Kaur series & it works as a standalone, it has made me want to go & read the first & Elly Griffiths other novels.

Great traditional crime thriller with believable plot and characters, humour suspense and entertainment. A great holiday or lockdown read.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have liked everything this author has written and this was no exception, for me it is up there as one of her best. Great storyline, great characters. Loved it.

A nice, easy, escapist read. I like old style crime' fiction as is described in this book, and this was a nice casual read. I enjoyed the mixture of murders and characters. I was kept guessing until the end.. I have enjoyed all Ely’s books and this one was something different from her norm. Definitely look forward to her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

This was a nice little cosy mystery. I'd not read the first one that introduced DS Kaur, but that didn't detract from this story. The premise of the story is that an old lady dies, but her friends / neighbours believe she was murdered and are determined to solve the mystery. Another great read from this author.

Absolutely brilliant and a definite must for all readers of whodunnit novels.
Not sure that chilling and gripping used in the precis about the book are the correct adjectives to describe the content though
Only minus for me, has nothing to do with the book itself, is that I had only just finished reading The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman and both books are in the same amateur sleuth genre.
The characterisations are excellent and there are many touches of humour throughout.
As usual I had no idea who was to blame and why and the explanation is reached over several events so you have to ask - is there anything else?
Hopefully this book will get the success it deserves

Elly Griffiths's sequel to The Stranger Diaries featuring the gay, Sikh DS Harbinder Kaur, in her thirties, yet still living with her parents, is a rather different affair, but a winner nevertheless with murder and mayhem set in the world of a crime writers community, literary agents, murder consultants and publishers. In Shoreham by the Sea, a West Sussex coastal town, 90 year old Peggy Smith sits by her window, observing the world outside, making notes in her investigation book, such as the appearance of two suspicious men in a car outside. When Ukrainian care worker, Natalka Kolsnyk finds Peggy dead in her chair by the window, it seems a straightforward natural death of an elderly woman. However, a number of strange oddities make Natalka wonder if it could be murder.

There is the business card proclaiming Peggy as a murder consultant, and so many of her crime books have the authors thanking her for her help, acknowledging her contribution to their crime novels. Then there is the postcard with the ominous message 'We are coming for you'. Natalka, a mathematics graduate, gifted in algorithms in cryptocurrencies, takes her concerns to Harbinder whose interest is aroused and cemented when Natalka and Edwin are disturbed by a gunman in Peggy's flat. Unwilling to leave the investigation in the hands of the police, Natalka, the gay 80 year old Edwin Fitzgerald, a former researcher and religious radio broadcaster and an ex-monk, Benedict Cole, who runs The Shack cafe, form a tight knit group. Each has been lonely in their own way, now proving to be remarkably adept and skilled amateur detectives as crime authors begin to be murdered, not put off in the slightest by the danger they find themselves in.

Griffiths excels in the creation and development of quirky characters in her crime novels, and Natalka, Edwin and Benny make for a wonderfully interesting bunch, each bringing their own specific qualities as they dig deep to get to the truth of the murders and Peggy's mysterious history. Trying to rein them in and protect them, all to little effect as they take off to a literary crime festival in Aberdeen, is Harbinder, with her acute observations, yearning for a romantic relationship, trying to be there for her beloved mother when she suffers an injury that puts her out of action for a little while. This is a wonderfully entertaining crime read, humorous, engaging and just so much fun to read, leaving me looking forward to the next in the series. Fans of Griffiths will love this. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

A charming and cozy read with quirky characters. The plot is great, and I enjoy reading about writers and writing, and the mix of professional detective work and amateur sleuths. It is also nice that there are people of different ages, nationalities, and backgrounds. It’s an eclectic mix of for example an ex-monk, a Ukrainian immigrant, and a lesbian DS with an Indian heritage living with her parents.

90-year old Peggy is found dead, and her carer fears she was murdered. Peggy was a murder consultant, she helped crime authors come up with new ways to kill off characters. Many authors acknowledged her in the dedications. Peggy sounds like an old lady I’d like to know. We would probably discuss books for hours.

Elly Griffiths is a talented author, and I enjoy her books very much. This one did not disappoint. Looking forward to reading more books in this series. I received an advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.