I’m a big fan of Elly Griffiths! I enjoyed the first of the Harbinder series, but I though this was even better. I look forward to getting to know the characters. I honk character development is one of Elly Griggs strengths.

There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn’t get into it. I found the synopsis intriguing, and was particularly interested in the sections set at Scottish literary festivals. But overall that wasn’t quite enough to keep me reading.

I have loved Elly Griffith books for a while now and I loved this stand alone book by her. Her writing is so detailed and never leaves you lost or hanging. I highly recommend this one.

In this second outing for DS Harbinder Kaur, she is tasked with solving the murder of a famous writer and pondering the death of an elderly Murder Consultant, Peggy. Are the deaths related? Friends of Peggy, an ex priest, carer and elderly neighbor, sure think so. While they galavant off to play private investigators at a literary festival in Aberdeen, DS Kaur begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Soon she finds herself in Aberdeen facing another murder of an author and mixed up with the motley crew.
This tale was a delightful read. The characters are witty and lovable. Their far fetched ideas are believable. And just when you think you have the crime solved, another twist is introduced and keeps you on the edge of your page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me an ARC of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When I read The Stranger Diaries, the first Harbinder Kaur book, I was totally enthralled. Ms. Griffiths has a real gift for writing compelling and fascinating mystery stories, but ones that do a great job of character development - you get to know her characters, and feel as if you understand them. At the time, I hoped for more about Harbinder Kaur, a fascinating character - well, ask and you shall be granted!

While this is #2 in the Harbinder Kaur series, you absolutely don't need to have read The Stranger Diaries. There are occasional references to her friendship with Clare, the main character in that book, but nothing important to understanding this book.

Peggy Smith, an elderly woman, is found dead by the woman hired to come in and care for her, Natalka, Natalka had noticed that there were numerous mystery books in Peggy's flat, thanking her for her assistance. She also finds a business card, identifying her as a "murder consultant." Natalka believes that Peggy's death is not natural, and decides to go to the police, where she is referred to DS Harbinder Kaur. Unlike the situation commonly found in books, DS Kaur doesn't just ignore her as a crank.

Natalka teams up with Benedict, the owner of a coffee shop across the street, and Edwin, Peggy's friend and neighbor. They begin trying to solve the murder. Their belief that Peggy's death is not normal is strongly reinforced, when they are going through Peggy's books, and a masked gunman enters the apartment and takes one of the books. They also find a postcard, saying "we are coming after you."

After an author with a working relationship with Peggy is murdered, their intensity increases. While they attempt to solve the murders on their own, they do keep DS Kaur informed - and although she does get exasperated by them, she doesn't dismiss them.

The plot continues to become even more complicated, and remains interesting right up to the end. An enjoyable series by Elly Griffiths, and I hope she continues it!

I was only introduced to Elly Griffiths by a fellow bookseller last year when I finally read one of her books - The Stranger Diaries, which I LOVED. This was a similar experience. Elly Griffiths is quickly becoming a favorite, and always keeps me guessing. What I love about her is that she doesn't seem to be outlandish with her stories, and there haven't been outrageous "twists and turns," which are a personal pet peeve of mine. If you have to create something totally unbelievable, you're doing it wrong (personal opinion of course). Absolutely recommend this (and Elly Griffiths) for mystery readers or readers who want a break from the tired tradition of outlandish twists and turns.

PS for PS. What does it mean? Read this entertaining and intriguing second book in the series about Harbinder to find out! You will be glad if you do.

Harbinder, a gay, Indian woman who grew up in England is a detective. She first became known to readers in this author’s The Stranger Diaries. She is back in fine form here. Harbinder is open about who she is and what it is like to be living with her parents (still) while she is in her 30s. Several characters lead her into the (possible) murder of Peggy Smith, a murder consultant. What is that, you ask? Again, read the novel to find out.

Those who lure Harbinder to investigate are:

Natalkya-She is beautiful, Ukranian and a person with a lot of hidden assets Where did they come from? Who is following her? Despite her education and money, she works as a carer. Peggy was one of her clients.

Edwin-He was Peggy’s neighbor in their seaside retirement community. Edwin grew up gay, worked for the BBC and feels some youth restored as he becomes involved in the investigation.

Benedict-He runs and owns the local coffee kiosk where he has served the others. Benedict had once been a monk. Why did he become one? Why did he leave his order?

Oh, by the way, Peggy’s death is just the first. Why is another popular author and several others receiving mysterious notes? How many will die?

How this cast of characters come together, have adventures and try to figure out what happened to Peggy makes for a well-told tale. Along the way, there are thoughts about the world of publishing, appearances at writer’s talks and festivals, a trip to Scotland and more.

I would (and do) read anything (and everything) by Ms. Griffiths. This includes the wonderful Ruth Galloway Series, her historical detective series and the stories about Harbinder. Please, please keep writing Ms. G. Give her books a read. You, too, will become a fan.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

This if I had to classify this, cozy procedural is the genre I'd opt for. A 90-year-old woman, Peggy, a "murder consultant", dies in her chair watching out the window. But did she die of natural causes? That's the question asked by her caregiver, Natalka. Natalka drags the policewoman (Harbinder Kaur) in, along with Edwin (Peggy's 80-year-old neighbor) and former monk Benedict. There are some extreme coincidences leading to red herrings, a trip to Aberdeen for a literary festival, and even the danger of being attacked by whomever the killer is. This is a good follow-up to The Stranger Diaries and I'm looking forward to seeing what case Harbinder gets to investigate next.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Postscript Murders is the second in the Harbinder Kaur series. Unlike the Ruth Galloway series (for which it is a necessity) I don’t think you necessarily need to read these two books in order. If you have read a few of my reviews you will know that I never give away plot details, especially with regard to mysteries, so please don’t be disappointed.

Elly Griffiths has several strengths as a successful mystery writer, but her strongest, in my opinion is her ability to create likable and interesting characters and make them the focus of the novel. Since I have read many reviews from readers just like me, I know that I am not alone in looking forward to each new Ruth Galloway novel so that I can see what is going on with the wonderful cast of characters that she has assembled, even more than the mystery itself. I have found the same to be true with her Harbinder Kaur series. The Postscript Murders has a great group of the interesting and the odd. With her trademark cutting yet not unkind humor, Elly Griffiths has a distinctive narrative voice that never grows old.

The novel spends quite a bit of time discussing famous mystery authors as well as giving us a glimpse into the world of writers and the pressures they feel, editors, agents, mystery writers conventions, and even beta readers and influencers. I wondered how much of Ms. Griffiths’ own experiences were set out on the page. I enjoyed the subplot involving golden age mystery writers, many of whom were women, and I thought that Ms. Griffiths and Agatha Christie are like two sides of a coin. Agatha Christie puts all mystery writers to shame with her unsurpassed (nobody is even close) ability to come up with ingenious plots and twists, but other than Poirot and Marple her supporting cast of suspects/characters were pretty much stock types that seemed to recur over and over. The young gold digger, the rich elderly patriarch who either refuses to die or disinherits family members and is murdered as a result, the brash young spendthrift, the elderly but observant character who notices everything, the dutiful secretary/nanny/assistant, the suspicious foreigner, the ex military man, and the ever present character with a dark past that they were trying to keep quiet. Ms. Griffiths (deliberately I think) puts several of these types into what I feel is an homage to golden age writers but she brings these characters alive in ways that Christie often didn’t. I realize that I read some writers for their ingenious plots and twists. Other than the unmatchable Dame Agatha, S. L. Bolton comes to mind as a modern example. Others I read for their characters. Elly Griffiths is one of the best of the latter and I have enjoyed every book of hers that I have ever read.

4 Fabulous Stars for this twisty mystery!

Thanks #EllyGriffiths and #Netgalley for this fun read that reminded me of those "Golden Age" mysteries referenced in this book and written by vintage crime writers like Agatha Christie & Dorothy Sayers! This book is my favorite style of mystery with multiple engaging characters, a twisty plot-line, lots of red herrings, more than one mystery happening at the same time, a little romance and a nicely plotted story-line!

The plot goes something like this. Peggy, an elderly woman who lives in an apartment facing the sea, is ultra observant and in fact IS a "murder consultant" helping authors plot fictional murder stories. Ironically, she is murdered and the story begins. Characters include her pretentious son Nigel and his wife Sally, elderly charming neighbor Edwin, local Coffee Shop owner and proprietor Benedict (formerly a monk), nursing carers Natlka and Maria who help care for the aging population, and several mystery authors all housed under the same publishing house. Natalka, who cares for Peggy is sure that Peggy's death is a murder, and reports this to the local police. More murders occur. Detective Harbinder Kaur (this is the second in a series) is a smart, no-nonsense female detective of Indian descent, who still lives with her parents. Her detective partner Neil is also lightly featured in this story.

Elly Griffiths is one of my favorite mystery writers these days. I started reading her Ruth Galloway Series years ago and enjoyed her smart female protagonist, Ruth Galloway, who is a PhD Anthropologist. Those books have no relation to this series, but Griffiths just keeps getting better at her craft of writing. If you just like a GOOD mystery, I HIGHLY recommend this book, this series and any book by Griffiths.

I just reviewed The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths. #ThePostscriptMurders #NetGalley
Thanks again to #NetGalley and #EllyGriffiths for the ARC!!

Really enjoyed Elly Griffiths’ new mystery series with DS Harbinder Kaur. Her characters in her book “The Postscript Murders” were funny and likable with real life characteristics. The plot deviated from the usual cozy mysteries of today. The book reminded me of the Golden Age writers. I do hope the author will continue with this series.

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for this ARC.

This is a very enjoyable book, a cosy murder crime mystery that races along. I particularly like the lead character - Detective Harbinder Kaur - the only lesbian Sikh detective in Shoreham. A great cast of characters and a twisty plot but no nastiness.or gore.
Thank you to the publishers and to Netgalley for an ARC and will continue to follow this author.

Elly Griffiths does it again with the sequel to The Stranger Diaries, How does she get me to care so deeply for her characters while racing through a tight plot and maintaining whimsy? I couldn’t put the book down.

The Postscript Murders is a fun read where I laughed out loud, cheered on the DS Harbinder Kaur ( I so love this character) and her helpers (not sure Harbinder thinks they are helpful) as they try and solve the suspicious death of Peggy.

Peggy herself is quite the character even though she is the one dead.

The 3 of them might be armchair detectives helping the police but they are clever and picked up the clues way before I did.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I did Book One in the Series and can't wait for Book 3.

Thanks to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for a clever and enjoyable read.

I didn't read Stranger Diaries, but I will now. This book was so much fun to read that I had a hard time putting it down. The characters were eccentric, the plot convoluted and the result was fantastic. Who knew book festivals could be so exciting? Looking forward to the next book.

I had so much fun reading this book! There is a 90 year old woman with a big collection of mystery and crime novels, many of them thanking her in dedications and notes. There are her casual friends/neighbors who form a "Scooby" gang to investigate her death. There is her not very nice son. There are her author friends who downplay her "helper" role in their books. There are threatening postcards. There are mysterious Ukrainians. And finally, DS Harbinder Kaur, who has to wade through all of it. The description of the mystery writers" conference in Aberdeen had me howling.

Having enjoyed The Stranger Diaries I was looking forward to the second DS Harbinder Kaur. When care worker Natalka visits Harbinder to say she believes her 90 year old client didn't die of a heart attack, Harbinder starts to investigate. When Natalka and her friends Benedict and Edwin decide to become amateur detectives they end up putting themselves in danger.

This was a really enjoyable murder mystery. The characters were very diverse but really well written and the plot very different and although it was not fast paced it was really well written and had me hooked throughout trying to guess the identity of the murderer, which I completely failed to do! I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview copy of this book.

Peggy is a lover of mysteries. Each day, she sits in her window and documents the things going on outside...always on the lookout for something suspicious. Until one day, she unexpectedly dies.
When her carer, Natalka, is packing up her things, a threatening note falls out of a book which makes her think maybe Peggy's death wasn't as natural as assumed. She takes her concerns to Detective Harbinder Kaur. When a second death occurs, of a famous author who used Peggy as her "murder consultant", it seems like it really is a case. Can Natalka and her friends and Detective Harbinder crack the case before more bodies turn up?

Griffiths has cemented herself on my bookshelves as an author of favor. This new entry in the Harbinder Kaur series is one of the best I’ve read in awhile. The plot is fascinating and just twisty enough that I did not see the final revelation coming. Griffiths loves quirky but endearing characters, and the trio of amateur detectives here is just a delight. Edwin, especially, made me laugh and admire his pluckiness despite his age; Natalka and Benny are sweet and salty - a winning combination.

I really, really, really want to see one of Griffiths’ series filmed for BBC, and Harbinder Kaur might just be it! I always recommend Elly Griffiths books for people looking for a not-too-gory but not-too-cozy mystery, and this one will be at the top of my recommendation lists in 2021.