Having read and enjoyed numerous Elly Griffiths books, especially those involving Dr Ruth Galloway, I was more than grateful to have the opportunity to read 'The Postscript Murders'. Although far removed from the Galloway series, it was still an enjoyable read, with a number of vivid and interesting characters along with a few nice twists and turns along the way..
Wonder if we will see more of DS Harbinder Kaur in the future?

As the sequel to a meta-/puzzle-type mystery that I really enjoyed, The Stranger Diaries, this one was just a bit over the top for me in terms of this unlikely crew - made up of a young Eastern European home care worker, elderly man, and former monk - that gets involved trying to "help" the police uncover a killer, in a case where their friend, an elderly lady, was ruled as a natural death. Loved the return of detective Harbinder Kaur from the previous book, but she's only a small part of the story here, with this the cast of characters that while being quirky and enjoyable makes the story much more about them than it is about the mystery. Very little tension at all - kind of like a Frederik Backman romp with a detective involved - so I was a bit disappointed having expected more of a mystery. Pick it up if you want something in the "cozy" mystery category with visits to literary conferences and a few dead bodies (not gory in the least) on the side, but otherwise read the first one, which was much more satisfying as an actual mystery/crime novel.

The Postscript Murders starts off in a promising way to me, generally not a regular reader of cozy mysteries. I've read Elly Griffiths before, and seem to recall it wasn't entirely unpleasant, so I decided to have a shot at another.

Natalka, a carer for 90-year old Peggy, is cleaning out Peggy's room after Peggy appears to have died of natural causes. But, Natalka is suspicious after finding dedications in books from authors to Peggy, who styled herself as a "murder consultant". She presents her suspicions to the police, and away we go.

The problem, for me, is that I was far more interested in Peggy's living story, not the story of the investigation of her death by Harbinder Kaur. Don't get me wrong: the story is perfectly fine. When writers start getting killed, Kaur gets the idea that perhaps Peggy's death was not by natural causes after all and that there's something larger going on. There are twists and turns, an arrest, and a final twist/informational item that I was a bit meh on, but if you like cozies and you like intricately plotted novels that are meta and feature other mystery novels and writers, you'll find this to be agreeable. It's just a periodic reminder that while I am willing to read cozies, they are often not my favorite things.

I'll give it a solid four out of five stars. If Ms. Griffiths would like to write about Peggy, I'll snap that up in an instant.

Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for the review copy.

This was a well-plotted mystery with a very interesting (and diverse) cast of characters DS Harbinder Kaur ends up with more than she bargained for when investigating the death of an elderly woman. What appears to be a natural death suddenly seems not so natural. With a lot of unsolicited help from neighbors and friends of the deceased, DS Kaur's investigation becomes quite an adventure. I hope we see more of this detective in the future!

All of the Elly Griffiths' books I have read are engaging and this one kept me straight through to the end in one sitting.

I just couldn't get into this book. It is quite different than other books I have read. I am not a fan.

If you enjoy Agatha Christie and other classic mystery writers, then you need to give Elly Griffiths a try. The plot this time revolves around an unlikely trio of amateur detectives who are determined to solve the mystery surrounding the death of their friend Peggy - even though the coroner and police think it was a natural death. Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur listens to their concerns, but isn't convinced that there has been any foul play. The sleuths themselves are an unlikely mix. Natalka works for a company that provides in-home care for the elderly. Benedict is a former monk who now runs a coffee shop. And Edwin is a resident at the sheltered housing complex where the deceased had lived. How do a caregiver, a barista, and a retired octogenarian solve a crime that the police aren't even sure happened?

Readers will enjoy the twist that Peggy's death seems to be related somehow to mystery novels. Several mystery writers who knew the deceased become involved in the group's investigation. The group even attends a literary festival to follow up on some leads and make some new contacts, which also offers a change of scenery for readers to enjoy. The main characters are fleshed out - and plenty of those they encounter seem to have suspicious behavior of one sort or another. There are subplots that keep things lively even when the inquiries hit a snag. And there are romantic possibilities between a couple of the characters, just to add a bit more to the action.

Without giving away too many details, I just want to add that there are still surprises left, even when an arrest is made.

This is Book #2 in the Harbinder Kaur series.
I have read several of the Ruth Galloway stories and enjoyed them so was willing to give a new character a try… as I just love her name!
Story starts when a ninety-year old woman named Peggy Smith dies. It appears to be of natural causes. Mrs. Smith is found by Natalka Kolisnyk, a caretaker and .has an open mystery novel on her lap, binoculars on the table near her chair along with her pills.

Natalka is asked to clean up and clear out her things; as she is going through her many mystery novels and notices that several novels have been dedicated to Mrs. Smith. Additionally she is given credit in the Acknowledgment session mentioned her as a ‘murder consultant’ (I love to reads the author’s note and acknowledgements so was cheering that Natalka was reading this often overlooked section of novels.)
It turns out that sweet mystery fan Peggy Smith helps authors find unusual ways of “killing off characters’! Hmmm

Detective DS Harbinder Kaur has been assigned to investigate the case, she and ‘helpful new friends’ set out to solve the case and find out if Mrs. Smith is a victim of a “unique situation” murder. (These helpful ‘new’ friends ~ Natalka Kolisnyk, and Benedict Cole a former monk and caring neighbor~ also Edwin Fitzgerald, Mrs. Smith’s friend who does crossword puzzles with her and found a postcard in one of her books ~ “We are coming for you”. Needless to say, these are all great characters!)

Aww totally my kind of book… I just love this!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐ + Stars!

Additionally……. You bet… I read the author’s acknowledgements!
Thank you Ms. Griffith!!

Want to thank NetGalley and Haughton Mifflin Harcourt for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for professional review purposes only. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 2, 2021

Natalka is a carer who finds one of her elderly clients, Peggy, dead and begins to think there was something suspicious about her death. It turns out Peggy was what she somewhat jokingly called "a murder consultant," and was thanked in the acknowledgements of several crime novels. Then one of those authors is also killed. It's kind of a convoluted story and a little cutesy on top of being hard to believe, but it was a good read and I enjoyed it. This was actually the second in a series about the detective involved, and I will probably go back and check out the first one. 3.5 stars rounded to 4

I enjoyed this book, especially when I realized that it was written in a style reminiscent of Rex Stout. In this book, Detective Sergeant Kaur is a gifted detective who frequently arrives at an understanding of where the clues are leading before the amateur group who is determined to “help” her. In addition, at least some of the time she has already begun the next legal step, leaving the group of sleuths to stand and watch as the solution plays out when, moments before, they thought they would be delivering important information.
In addition to DS Kaur and her partner, there are three amateurs who have large parts to play in the story. There is Natalka, a beautiful, blonde from Ukraine, Edwin, a gay retiree from the BBC, and Benjamin, a former monk who has reinvented himself as a coffee shack owner.
The book is written in short chapters that rotate among the main characters, giving the reader an opportunity to see the story from different points of view. The chapters are short and well labeled, so it is easy to keep up with which character is telling the story at any given point. At the same time, Griffiths occasionally inserts a sentence or two that reflects the character’s inner thoughts. These sentences go a long way toward helping the reader understand the characters and develop a mental image of them.
The character’s behavior and emphasis are well developed and fully formed, the story itself is tight and an excellent mystery. I would suggest reading in large chunks of time so that the reader can get a good sense of the overall book as they are reading as opposed to how the reader might approach a beach read, putting the book down frequently between chapters.
While Griffiths has another book featuring DS Kaur, the two are completely independent of each other and there is no need to have read the other book first. In fact, they could easily be read in either order as the stories are unrelated.
A full review of this book will be published on January 9, 2021 in the on-line magazine:https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/

Elly Griffith's standalones continue to delight. A recommended first purchase for collections where mysteries and thrillers are popular.

This character driven mystery is perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club. It’s book two in a series about Harinder Kaur, a gay, 36 year old Sikh, female DS. A ninety year old “murder consultant” dies of an apparent heart attack. But Natalka , her caregiver, has misgivings and shares them with Harinder.
Griffiths’ sense of humor is still intact. When Natalka and Benedict, coffee shop owner and ex-monk, decide to investigate, they are confronted by a gun wielding masked man. “But he can’t deny it’s the most interesting thing to have happened to him since Brother Giles forgot the doxology in Matins.”
Each character is given a chance to narrate the story. Everyone is well developed, engaging and likable. They are people you would love to enjoy a cocktail with.
Peggy, the “murder consultant”, helped novelists find new and interesting ways of murdering their victims. As those novelists feature in the story, Griffiths is given even more opportunities to turn her wit to writers and their methods.
This isn’t a fast paced book. But I just found it very enjoyable entertainment. Griffiths harkens back to the “golden age” of crime stories, and the story definitely has a cozy, old fashioned feel to it despite the characters being distinctly modern.
It can easily be read as a standalone.
Kudos to Griffiths for having three different series, each of which I love.
My thanks to netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for an advance copy of this book.

PS: Thanks for the murders.

We just finished the stranger diaries (which we LOVED) and were lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of the sequel - and it was a fantastic read!

When ninety-year-old Peggy dies it shouldn’t seem suspicious, until DS Harbinder Kaur that Peggy had been a ‘murder consultant’ who helped authors come up with deaths. Why does she know so much about murder? Why did she think she was being followed before she died? And why are the deaths continuing? An unlikely group of amateur detectives join Kaur in trying to solve this mystery.

This book was delightful and perfect for mystery fans.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing us with this copy.

I loved the idea of a "murder consultant", someone who comes up with interesting ways for authors to murder someone in their books. I know it sounds morbid, but the idea of one person with a mysterious past having all of these books dedicated to her (Peggy Smith) is fun, intriguing and suspenseful.

I really liked this book, couldn't put it down. It's filled with intrigue, inclusivity, and a gung-ho spirit from all involved. DS Harbinder Kaur has more patience than I would have after finding out Natalka, Benny, and Edwin go on their own to help solve Peggy's murder. Each character has distinct personalities, and are a great reminder to never judge a book by their cover... also, a reminder that age doesn't mean you are worth less than those younger than you. I did have one confusing moment near the end when Sally suggests everyone honors Peggy before the new tenant moves in... it seemed out of place, maybe that is just me.

This is the second novel I've read of Elly Griffiths and it won't be the last. I highly recommend!

In book two of the Harbinder Kaur series, I was expecting a read similar to the first book, "The Stranger Diaries", a gothic-influenced suspense novel. Boy was I ever wrong. This book is full of characters who are, well, characters. Infused with humor and suspense, this book is more of a cozy mystery. Indeed, the television shows "Murder, She Wrote", is mentioned often and is the very definition of a cozy mystery. I don't usually put labels on books, however, this book had so much in common with "Murder, She Wrote", I couldn't help it.

Set in a small seaside town similar to Cabot Cove, Maine in "Murder, She Wrote", the book opens with the three main characters, Natalka, Edwin and Benedict trying to come to terms with the death of their friend, 90-year-old Peggy Smith. They soon discover that Peggy has been mentioned in the acknowledgements of many of the crime novels she reads and has a card reading "M. Smith, Murder Consultant". Trying to ascertain what a Murder Consultant could be, they befriend a famous crime writer who is killed right after meeting with them. Enter DS Harbinder Kaur. On top of trying to solve the murder and investigate other mysterious deaths, she must try and contain this self-described "crime-fighting unit" from trampling on her investigations or becoming victims themselves.

This is a wonderfully witty book ("If I'm every killed, my TBR pile will be the murder weapon") while at the same time effectively maintaining the suspense of a whodunit. I rooted for Natalka, Edwin and Benedict to solve the crimes and marveled at the restraint Harbindeer showed in dealing with them. Between this book, "The Stranger Diaries", and Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series, Elly Griffiths continually demonstrates her ability to write a range of suspense novels. This is an excellent read and I look forward to whatever Griffiths' writes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin for an Advance Reader's Copy of this book. It will be published in March, 2021.

I love books that involve books into the plot. This novel is surrounding mysterious crime novels and the role they play in the authors live and in a possible murder. I loved the author's writing style and their ability to infuse some suspense throughout the story!

This is the 2nd book in the DS Harbinder Kaur series by Elly Griffiths. Crime novelists are turning up dead in this literary mystery and the death of Peggy Smith, a 90 year-old woman with a heart condition, should not be suspicious. But when DS Kaur finds a mysterious postscript in a novel dedicated to Peggy, she begins to wonder if the murders are related.
I love Elly Griffiths' books as I have read all of her Ruth Galloway and Brighton Mystery books. I find her characters to be believable and her plots unique. I found all the information about writers and publishing very interesting. The book had some humor which I thoroughly enjoyed and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I would recommend this book to those who love mystery thrillers. I would like to thank NetGalley and Quercus Publishers for a free copy for an honest review.

The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths is the second book in the Harbinder Kaur mystery series. I really enjoyed The Stranger Diaries, so I had high hopes for this book. I enjoyed the premise of the book: a "murder consultant" might have been murdered. Ninety-year-old Peggy loved reading mysteries and enjoyed coming up with new ways for authors to write murders. Then, she is found dead. Was she murdered? Natalka, Edwin, and Benedict try to solve the mystery together. I really loved this trio of characters. What I didn't love so much was all the extra plot lines and that the solution to the mystery/mysteries was a little confusing because of the extra story lines. This was still a fun read, though, and I would recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

‘But now I’m wondering. I mean, how do you know what’s suspicious and what isn’t?’

On the sleepy shores of Shoreham, UK, no-one would expect anything suspicious in the death of a ninety-year-old woman. After all, Peggy Smith did have a heart condition. But Peggy’s carer Natalka is concerned. Peggy had told Natalka that she was sure that someone was following her. And then, when Natalka is helping clear out Peggy’s flat, she is held at gunpoint by a masked figure. What on earth is going on?
Peggy Smith had been a ‘murder consultant’ and had plotted deaths for several authors, many of whom acknowledged her in their novels. Could Peggy have been killed? And if so, by whom and why?

Natalka approaches DS Harbinder Kaur who initially sees nothing of concern. But Natalka, who teams up with Peggy’s friends Edwin, once a television producer, and Benedict, a coffee shop owner who was once a monk, is determined. DS Kaur, who is dealing with some a few issues of her own, becomes part of the investigation.
What a great murder mystery! Full of interesting characters, each with a different perspective, with layers of information to examine. There are clues to investigate, and red herrings to sift and sort.

This is my first Elly Griffiths novel, but it will not be the last.

If you enjoy well-plotted mysteries, then I can recommend this!

‘PS : thanks for the murders. ‘

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

If you’re a fan of Elly Griffith—and who isn’t?—you’ll love The Postscript Murders. DS Harbinder Kaur is an extremely relatable protagonist. Like regular people, she has a host of insecurities , family problems, and career issues that she juggles along with looking for love, nurturing friendships, and solving unique and perfectly plotted crimes. This one, like The Stranger Diaries, has a unique plot that will keep you guessing to the very end. Great characters in a fun setting that gives an insider look at publishing and the author life. I can’t recommend this book too highl. I LOVED it.