This is my first encounter reading Griffiths who I’ve long noted was greatly popular. And I really go for cosy crime novels. This is certainly that and the characters are enjoyable, even if sometimes overladen with description I’d read before - about Edwin being older, and Benedict being uncertain about himself - running a coffee shop - and hooked up with a stunning Ukrainian woman who has drawn him into amateur sleuthing after a successful case or so. I liked more that policewoman who I gather features in another series of Griffiths. We gradually get to know the other members of the crime writers group who have gathered at a professional retreat - where a murdered crime writer had attended. Edwin is convinced there are connections and they go undercover. Of course they’re right. And then they call on the policewoman again to finalise things. The other big issue is Natalka’s missing brother in Ukraine - which over-rides their concern about a murder at the retreat … but i got bogged down, and had to leap to the end - it was perhaps taking longer than i wanted it to unwind the plot! Mucho byplay which i know - from other reviewers - is one of the attractions of rendering Griffiths’ work. I admit it got a bit tedious for me. But i can certainly see the attraction, and the writing is deft, characterisations developed nicely. And the twist at the end is chillingly set out!

An enjoyable outing from the Kaur Crew, The Last Word is a pleasing literary whodunit centered around a writing retreat gone wrong, yet still finds time to develop the dynamics and relationships within our likeable bunch of sleuths.

Elly Griffiths is the queen of cosy crime but also characterisation. This book was brilliant and the characters completely compelling! Another fantastic read from an incredibly talented writer.

The Last Word is engaging, and very typical of Elly Griffiths' style should you have never picked up her books before. This one is billed as part of the Harbinder Kaur series, however, it focuses mainly on some of the peripheral characters of the series, which means it works well as a standalone.

A great read. It made a crime book a nice easy read. It’s a book that doesn’t take up too much head space but has enough twists and turns to keep you one edge and reading.

Another opportunity to spend time in the hugely enjoyable company of Elly’s amateur sleuths. We first met Natalka and eighty-year-old Edwin in 2021’s The Postscript Murders: the friends now run a Shoreham-based detective agency that keeps busy with domestic cases and cheating husbands, yet they both long for something more challenging to come their way. Natalka’s frustrations extend to the home she now shares with her boyfriend, coffee-shop owner and ex-monk Benedict, as Natalka’s mother has joined them from war-ravaged Ukraine and is taking up a lot of space in their lives, both literally and psychologically. So when local writer Melody Chambers dies in what appears to be unusual circumstances, quickly followed by another author’s demise, the suspicious sleuths jump at the chance to investigate - leading Benny and Edwin undercover into a sinister writing retreat where the truth turns out to be stranger than fiction. This is a bit of a crossover novel: the brilliant Sikh DI Harbinger Kaur, introduced in the The Stranger Diaries, makes a welcome passing appearance, but The Last Word is really about the superbly-written amateur detectives. A perfect cosy mystery to wrap up with over a long weekend: you don’t have to have read the previous books in the series to make sense of the action, but Elly’s books are always a complete delight – so why not dive in?

An easy holiday read. 84 year old Edgar, former monk Benedict and his Ukrainian girlfriend Natalka are on the trail again of a murder. This time someone appears to be killing off writers. Seemingly the link is that the deceased have all attended a writing retreat at Battle House- and so Edgar and Benedict decide to attend a retreat themselves, only to be confronted with another body. Whilst it's obvious from the start that this is not the first in a series of books about the trio, this is a stand alone read. I'm not sure I'd personally choose to read more from the series. It was ok but there was something about the trio that meant they're not my favourite detectives. Nonetheless still a good story, and I did enjoy the book. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to review this book.

This was moderately ok. Whilst not entirely abysmal, the mystery was lacklustre and I felt the characters weren’t all that well written. There was something missing that I can’t put my finger on but I wanted more. More from the plot, more from the characters, more suspense/mystery. It just wasn’t enough for me to keep interested fully

I am a huge fan of Elly Griffiths and I was delighted to get the opportunity to read her newest book The Last Word. This was one of the most gripping and thrilling books I have read in a long time. I read it over the course of a day as I simply couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read more from the author in the future.

This was something that did not capture my interest or imagination. It actually stalled my reading for a month! I don’t start another book until I have finished the current one and I kept putting this down for days/weeks and picking it up again. When I finally finished it was with relief that it was over. I can’t think it was a fault of the story as other reviewers have given it great reviews…it must be me.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

As always, Elly Griffiths does an excellent job with the return of familiar characters from The Postscript Murders. Ostensibly part of the Harbinder Kaur series, she is slightly removed from the action and Edwin, Natalia and Benedict completely own this story. Very much character driven, this is a charming mystery which I loved. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read and review this great book.

I’m a big fan of Ellie Griffiths and now we got her into cosy crime I couldn’t be happier. Hot on the heels of The Postscript Murders our mature would be detective, Edwin, is a partner in an agency set up by his Ukrainian friend Natalka. Her life partner is Benedict, ex-monk, who still runs the coffee shop but is used for field work.
The team are taken on by the daughters of Melody Chambers who has died unexpectedly. They believe she has been murdered. There’s a link with the death of an obituary writer whose work has posthumously been used a lot. This is when Benedict is roped in to attend a creative writing centre with Edwin. Benedict’s biggest fear is that he will have to admit he has already started writing a novel rather than the physical danger to all of them from an unstoppable murderer.
It’s a great combination and this is a very enjoyable mystery with just the right amount of ‘mild danger’ and humour for me to cope with. The likeable friends who become detectives have their foibles and they are joined by the real police in the form of Detective Harbinder Kaur (Bleeding heart Yard) who suffers their interference.
In this ever growing and popular genre I think Ellie Griffiths has pitched the team just right to get us on board and I look forward to future adventures.

I am delighted for the return of the dynamic trio of amateur detectives, Benedict, Edwin, and Natalka. You may remember them from The Postscript Murders where Benedict, a monk-turned-coffee-shop-owner, Natalka, a carer with high math and economic skills, and Edwin, a retired TV and radio host, got together to help the police solve the murder of their friend Peggy. Now, a few years later, Edwin and Natalka have opened their own investigative company, mostly working on divorce cases, while Benedict helps them on the side, while still working at his coffee shop. Their new case, however, could be much more interesting as they are asked to investigate the death of a local writer. The police thinks she died of natural causes, but her daughter is convinced she was murdered. They discover that other writers have seemingly died of natural causes in the last few months and they all have in common having attended the same writing retreat. And when another writer turns up dead at that same writing retreat where Edwin and Benedict are undercover, they ask detective Harbinder, now working in London, for help.

I loved the characters of Edwin, Natalka, and Benedict in The Postscript Murders and I was excited to see them solving yet another murder, using their skills and their deep knowledge of crime novels. Edwin and Natalka own a successful investigative company, while Natalka still works as a carer, managing the business side of it. Benedict is still struggling with his life choices, but he and Natalka are living together, although their relationship is sometimes strained by the presence of her mother sleeping on their couch. Detective Harbinder Kaur takes a more secondary role in this book as she lives and works in London, but she is always there to help her friends.

The suspense, the twists, and the cast of incredible characters make The Last Word a superb and gripping read and I enjoyed every single page of it!

I really quite enjoyed this novel, although it is not even nearly what I was expecting. Based purely on the cover (I know you shouldn’t) as I have not read any Elly Griffiths previously, I was expecting a serious, contemporary, gritty crime novel. However, what I got was much closer to Richard Osman than ‘contemporary’ crime fiction. Actually, maybe Osman owes more to Griffiths than the other way round… "The Last Word" is light and funny, with the odd murder of course, and a good plot and importantly (although verging on archetype or the fabulous) still believable, rounded characters.

This novel appears to be quite far into the series but other than a few remarks relating to older cases, I would have been none the wiser; the story is fresh and presented in a way that immediately welcomes the new reader rather than excluding them and making them feel they are trespassing on a members’ club, as can be the case for many similar writers. This is a great fun, modern crime novel. But really need to do something about those covers…

I love every mystery Elly Griffith wrote and will love the future ones. This is an excellent one that I loved and was happy to catch up with Edwin and Natalka
Well plotted, compelling, solid. It kept me guessing and turning pages
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Part of the Brighton Mysteries series of standalone novels this reintroduces Edwin (84), Natalka (Ukranian) and Benedict ( ex-monk and Natalka's parnter) a group of amateur detectives who featured in The Postscript Murders (which I am now retrospectively investigating).
This group come to the fore when asked to investigate the death of a romance novelist Melody Chambers, whose daughters feel her much younger husband has had a hand in her demise. After sterling investigative work by Edwin, who loves an obituary, links to other authors who have died suddenly and the obituary writer himself, become apparent. One of these links is a writer's retreat in local Battle House which Edwin and Benedict both attend as proto-authors (Benedict really is one) which introduces us to a whole new set of suspects and ends in tragedy.
The investigation tangentially brings in a previous character Harbinder Kaur who helped the trio in their previous investigation but now lives in London.
The story rattles along and having lived in West Sussex for ten years and working for the library service there, I loved the descriptions of the local area and the libraries I once knew. Would recommend and good for a holiday read.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to the ARC, all views are my own.

What a lovely book! My shorthand way of describing it would be to say that, if you enjoy Richard Osman's books then this is in a very similar vein. But to be honest, I think that would be selling this short because, as much as I do like Osman's mysteries, I feel that somehow Elly Griffiths' are slightly better.

The Last Word sees Natalka and Edwin, two private detectives, sucked into what seems to be a number of deaths linked to authors. These are fantastic characters. They appeared in Griffiths' novel The Postscript Murders, and while the series is officially the "Harbinder Kaur" series, it's these characters, plus Natalka's boyfriend Benedict, who I love the most.

The PIs are approached by the daughter of Melody Chambers, Minnie, who is convinced that her mother was killed by her stepdad Alan. Edwin notes that Melody's obituary was written by someone who is also, in fact, dead. They uncover links between the two, and others, and the eventual reveal is a surprise.

Like many 'crime' novels I've read recently, the main attraction isn't so much the plot but the characters and the more 'minor' plots going on in their own lives. This is not to say that the plot isn't good, it's just that the characters are so well written.

Natalka and Benedict are now sharing their one-bedroom flat with Natalka's mother, Valentyna, who has fled Ukraine. It's a somewhat fraught situation, not helped by constant anxiety over the whereabouts and safety of her brother, who is fighting in Ukraine.

The book makes well-observed comments on the attitudes of others towards refugees, with Natalka typically refusing to stand for any hypocrisy from others. There's also a lot of humour in the dialogue.

It's great to read about Benedict who, now running a coffee shack, feels his life has been pretty much a failure with the exception of his relationship with Natalka. The echoes of his judgemental family that run through his mind will probably be very relatable for lots of people.

Edwin is also a great character - an 84 year old who is still full of life. Detective Harbinder Kaur obviously appears, but for me the other three are more engaging.

This is quite a heartfelt, uplifting novel in lots of ways, with a lovely ending that had me in a few tears. I am very much looking forward to the next installment!

Edwin and Natalka have set up a detective agency following their previous success at solving crime and are approached to look into the suspicious death of a wealthy writer. At the same time Benedict is approached by a former colleague regarding the death of vicar with a sideline in romantic fiction. As they investigate the friends find that there is a link to these deaths, and several others, around a writers' retreat so Edwin and Benedict pose as aspiring authors and go along for a weekend.
Elly Griffiths is a favourite author of mine. I find her books both stimulating and also very easy to read. this is the second featuring a disparate group of characters based in Shoreham and it really showcases what cosy crime should be about. Gently humorous but with that edge of having a really great plot. It doesn't patronise, it educates and it entertains. Just a wonderful read.

While prolific British author Elly Griffiths has been delighting readers all over the world with her bestselling Ruth Galloway mysteries over the past fifteen years, she hasn’t been afraid to stray from the coastal Norwich setting or her beloved forensic archaeologist heroine. It was a then-standalone tale, The Stranger Diaries, which scooped the Edgar Award for Best Novel in 2020.

That book introduced DS Harbinder Kaur as a supporting character. Then in between further Ruth Galloway Mysteries, and some of Griffiths other series of Brighton Mysteries, Kaur returned in The Postscript Murders, a novel that was shortlisted for the Gold Dagger and saw the introduction of an unusual investigative trio: octogenarian Edwin, former monk Benedict, and carer Natalka, who is originally from the Ukraine. The amateurs help and hinder Kaur as she tries to uncover the truth behind the death of Natalka’s neighbour, and a potential spate of dying writers.

Now, The Last Word sees a welcome encore for the crew. After the events of the previous book, Benedict, now Natalka’s live-in beau, runs his coffee shop on the southern coast of England, while Natalka and elderly Edwin have opened an agency and dabble in minor investigations day-to-day. But with Natalka’s mother Valentyna having moved into their tiny flat from war-torn Ukraine, while her brother fights the Russians, tensions are high. What they need is a good murder to solve!

When local writer Melody Chambers is found dead and her family suspect foul play, the game is afoot. Especially after Edwin notices strange connections in the obituary pages. When Edwin and Benedict go undercover at a rural writers’ retreat, the body count rises. Are the clues on the page as well as off? Griffiths expertly reels us in, delivering a fabulous tale full of wit, intrigue, and wonderful characters. A thoroughly enjoyable read in a growing series, from a masterful storyteller.

The sleuthing trio of Natalka , Edwin and Benedict are back .
Edwin and Natalka are running a detective agency and they have an ally in the police force Harbinder Kaur , the only problem is there is seems to be a lack of interesting cases leading to Natalka becoming frustrated.
Her prayers seem to be answered when author Melody Chambers dies and her family believe it’s murder .
Benedict is still running his coffee shack but doesn’t hesitate to get involved in detective work.
The characters are likeable and the writing is excellent as you would expect from Elly Griffiths.
The story has humour and poignancy.
An enjoyable read and looking forward to the next case for the trio .
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books.