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The Brighton Mysteries #6
The Midnight Hour
The sixth gripping Brighton-based cosy crime from the bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries – a twisty murder mystery full of Griffiths’ characteristic charm takes us back to the mid-1960s when the future looked bright and shiny!
Brighton, 1965
When theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead in his retirement home, no one suspects foul play. But when the postmortem reveals that he was poisoned, suspicion falls on his wife, eccentric ex-Music Hall star Verity Malone.
Frustrated by the police response to Bert’s death and determined to prove her innocence, Verity calls in private detective duo Emma Holmes and Sam Collins. This is their first real case, but as luck would have it they have a friend on the Max Mephisto is filming a remake of Dracula, starring Seth Billington, Bert’s son. But when they question Max, they feel he isn’t telling them the whole story.
Emma and Sam must vie with the police to untangle the case and bring the killer to justice. They’re sure the answers must lie in Bert’s dark past and in the glamorous, occasionally deadly, days of Music Hall. But the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they find themselves in…
Brighton, 1965
When theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead in his retirement home, no one suspects foul play. But when the postmortem reveals that he was poisoned, suspicion falls on his wife, eccentric ex-Music Hall star Verity Malone.
Frustrated by the police response to Bert’s death and determined to prove her innocence, Verity calls in private detective duo Emma Holmes and Sam Collins. This is their first real case, but as luck would have it they have a friend on the Max Mephisto is filming a remake of Dracula, starring Seth Billington, Bert’s son. But when they question Max, they feel he isn’t telling them the whole story.
Emma and Sam must vie with the police to untangle the case and bring the killer to justice. They’re sure the answers must lie in Bert’s dark past and in the glamorous, occasionally deadly, days of Music Hall. But the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they find themselves in…
349 pages, ebook
First published September 30, 2021
About the author
Elly Griffiths
67 books8,406 followersElly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly's husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area. Elly has two children and lives near Brighton. Though not her first novel, The Crossing Places is her first crime novel.
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December 22, 2021
“The future belonged to women like her.”
The Midnight Hour is a cozy mystery with an edge.
When 90-year-old theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead in his home in Brighton in 1965, natural causes are assumed. However, the postmortem reveals Bert’s death was murder! Who could have wanted to kill Bert? Apparently, everyone, including his wife, sons, and the many women he scorned.
To solve the crime Bert’s wife, Verity, hires private detectives Emma Holmes and Sam Collins. The duo joins forces with the police, and Emma develops a special bond with WDC Meg Connolly.
This is the sixth book of The Brighton Mystery series but a first for me. Although I have not read the other books in the series, Griffiths provides enough background information to make it easy to follow along.
The narrative shifts between many characters, but the primaries are Emma, Sam, Meg, and Max Mephisto, a once-famous magician now turned actor. I liked all of their voices, but I wanted more of Emma, Meg, and Sam. The one downfall is that there are so many characters to keep track of that I got lost from time to time.
The Midnight Hour was so much fun to read! I love Griffiths' writing style--it has a witty, whimsical rhythm that kept me turning the pages. Emma, Meg, and Sam have moxie. There is a slight lag in the middle, but overall I enjoyed spending time in 1965 Brighton, especially reading about the movie stars and their tawdry affairs. The mystery was compelling; especially intriguing was why so many women gave into Bert's charms? This question leads to many others, and what is revealed is that death should have come sooner to Bert. He was a vile man. Griffiths explores many themes in this novel, but gender norms and class are at the forefront.
When I finished reading this, I kept thinking about the characters, especially Emma and Meg, which is a sign of a good book! I look forward to catching up on this series in 2022.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Midnight Hour is a cozy mystery with an edge.
When 90-year-old theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead in his home in Brighton in 1965, natural causes are assumed. However, the postmortem reveals Bert’s death was murder! Who could have wanted to kill Bert? Apparently, everyone, including his wife, sons, and the many women he scorned.
To solve the crime Bert’s wife, Verity, hires private detectives Emma Holmes and Sam Collins. The duo joins forces with the police, and Emma develops a special bond with WDC Meg Connolly.
This is the sixth book of The Brighton Mystery series but a first for me. Although I have not read the other books in the series, Griffiths provides enough background information to make it easy to follow along.
The narrative shifts between many characters, but the primaries are Emma, Sam, Meg, and Max Mephisto, a once-famous magician now turned actor. I liked all of their voices, but I wanted more of Emma, Meg, and Sam. The one downfall is that there are so many characters to keep track of that I got lost from time to time.
The Midnight Hour was so much fun to read! I love Griffiths' writing style--it has a witty, whimsical rhythm that kept me turning the pages. Emma, Meg, and Sam have moxie. There is a slight lag in the middle, but overall I enjoyed spending time in 1965 Brighton, especially reading about the movie stars and their tawdry affairs. The mystery was compelling; especially intriguing was why so many women gave into Bert's charms? This question leads to many others, and what is revealed is that death should have come sooner to Bert. He was a vile man. Griffiths explores many themes in this novel, but gender norms and class are at the forefront.
When I finished reading this, I kept thinking about the characters, especially Emma and Meg, which is a sign of a good book! I look forward to catching up on this series in 2022.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2021
This is the latest in Elly Griffiths wonderful Brighton historical series, featuring now Superintendent Edgar Stephens and former stage magician, now a movie star Max Mephisto. However, here they take more minor roles, as Emma Holmes, now married to Edgar, and mother to 3 young children, has set up a Private Investigations Agency with local journalist, Sam Collins, and WDC Meg Connolly, following the pioneering path established by Emma as the first woman detective, take centre stage. It is 1965 and it is a man's world, married women cannot stay in the police force, and are not allowed to drive police cars. The sheen of love and marriage has worn off for Emma, as she is responsible for taking care of her lively and energy consuming children, making work difficult, she often has to take her youngest with her as she investigates.
90 year old former theatre impresario, Bert Billington, is found dead at home, murdered after ingesting rat poison. He was married to 75 year old Verity, a former show girl, and they have 3 sons, David, Seth, a heart throb movie star, and mechanic Aaron. Aaron is convinced Verity killed Bert, because she is far too interested in women rights and equality, reading feminists like Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique. This pushes Verity to hire Emma and Sam, giving them their first big case, and a huge impetus to prove themselves as they at first compete with and then co-operate with the police, with Emma and Meg forming a formidable partnership. As they pursue their inquiries, it soon becomes clear Bert was not a good man, constantly cheating on Verity, with a string of children as a result of liaisons with other women, and there is a whole host of suspects with a motive to want him dead.
Griffiths highlights the position of women in the 1960s, the social norms and attitudes that drove the sexism and the misogyny, the lot of married women and mothers, and she illustrates this by focusing on the ambitious Emma and Meg bucking the trend, the obstacles they face, and their determination to prove their abilities and solve the case. Max is part of the case as he knew both Bert and Verity, he is making a Dracula movie in Whitby with Seth, and Edgar takes a back seat to Emma, discovering just how challenging looking after his children is. This is a wonderfully engaging addition to the series, giving us a glimpse of Britain in the 196os, its culture, and Sam having to cover the notorious Moors Murders with the arrest of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
90 year old former theatre impresario, Bert Billington, is found dead at home, murdered after ingesting rat poison. He was married to 75 year old Verity, a former show girl, and they have 3 sons, David, Seth, a heart throb movie star, and mechanic Aaron. Aaron is convinced Verity killed Bert, because she is far too interested in women rights and equality, reading feminists like Betty Friedan and The Feminine Mystique. This pushes Verity to hire Emma and Sam, giving them their first big case, and a huge impetus to prove themselves as they at first compete with and then co-operate with the police, with Emma and Meg forming a formidable partnership. As they pursue their inquiries, it soon becomes clear Bert was not a good man, constantly cheating on Verity, with a string of children as a result of liaisons with other women, and there is a whole host of suspects with a motive to want him dead.
Griffiths highlights the position of women in the 1960s, the social norms and attitudes that drove the sexism and the misogyny, the lot of married women and mothers, and she illustrates this by focusing on the ambitious Emma and Meg bucking the trend, the obstacles they face, and their determination to prove their abilities and solve the case. Max is part of the case as he knew both Bert and Verity, he is making a Dracula movie in Whitby with Seth, and Edgar takes a back seat to Emma, discovering just how challenging looking after his children is. This is a wonderfully engaging addition to the series, giving us a glimpse of Britain in the 196os, its culture, and Sam having to cover the notorious Moors Murders with the arrest of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
December 16, 2021
EXCERPT: Meg's forehead bumped against the glass. She thought of the funeral that morning, of Leonard Holt saying, 'Lots of showbusiness folks buried in this graveyard.' She thought of Barbara Dodson dying alone in Hastings and of Aleister Crowley who had cursed the town. She thought of the Gillespies and the picture over their TV, the smiling blonde woman and her angelic baby. She thought of Whitby and the ruined abbey and the cloaked figure staring up at her. There was something about this case, she thought, that went beyond the usual domestic tragedy, wives killing husbands, husbands killing wives. This was about retribution, she was sure of it. She thought of the DI's strange quotation. Ellum she hateth mankind, and waiteth. The words of a song came into her head, a song that had been in the charts that summer. She couldn't remember much of it, just the chorus about waiting until the midnight hour. The lyrics were meant to be somewhat risque- some radio stations had refused to play the track - but now the phrase came back to Meg with another meaning. Bert could escape his crimes for years but there would come an hour, the midnight hour, when he would have to pay.
ABOUT 'THE MIDNIGHT HOUR': Brighton, 1965
When theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead in his retirement home, no one suspects foul play. But when the postmortem reveals that he was poisoned, suspicion falls on his wife, eccentric ex-Music Hall star Verity Malone.
Frustrated by the police response to Bert's death and determined to prove her innocence, Verity calls in private detective duo Emma Holmes and Sam Collins. This is their first real case, but as luck would have it they have a friend on the inside: Max Mephisto is filming a remake of Dracula, starring Seth Bellington, Bert's son. But when they question Max, they feel he isn't telling them the whole story.
Emma and Sam must vie with the police to untangle the case and bring the killer to justice. They're sure the answers must lie in Bert's dark past and in the glamorous, occasionally deadly, days of Music Hall. But the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they find themselves in...
MY THOUGHTS: #6 in the Brighton Mysteries, and I still can't get enough! Once I began The Midnight Hour, I ignored everything else and immersed myself totally in Brighton, 1965 and an intriguing murder mystery.
There shouldn't be anything suspicious about a 90 year old man dying in his chair after his Sunday lunch, but in this case there is, and accusations and allegations are soon flying about. It would seem that our Bert, beloved pantomime star, has not had a blameless past. There are plenty of skeletons emerging from closets . . . and leaving the closet doors open for more skeletons to follow. It seems that no one can escape unscathed from their pasts. Not even Max.
We have moved on in time just a year from where the previous book, Now You See Them, concluded. Max is now established as a movie star, is father to two small children, and has inherited his father's title of Lord Massingham and the family estate, which still doesn't sit easily on his shoulders. Emma, once the pioneering DS Holmes, is married - compulsory retirement from the police force - to Edgar, her old boss and police Superintendent, and they have three small children. But missing her work, Emma has started a PI firm with friend and freelance reporter, Sam Collins, and it is this duo that the murdered man's wife, Verity, a one time lover of Max's, calls on to investigate when she is accused of orchestrating her husband's death. Assisting in the police investigation is WDC Meg Connolly, because Verity won't talk to the men. Meg is determined to make the most of her opportunity, and the line between the police and private Investigators investigations becomes blurred as the women collaborate.
The Midnight Hour is a riveting and compelling murder mystery involving more than one death, in which we see the new guard begin to take over. The world is changing, although policewomen are still not allowed to drive panda cars, and are largely employed to make tea and do the filing.
To me, it really doesn't seem like the 1960's were that long ago; to others they will be ancient history. I had a lovely walk down memory lane, enjoying references to both the music and the fashions. At one point a receptionist is wearing 'an orange minidress held together by large gold hoops,' which was extremely fashionable at the time and which I would have loved to have owned.
This is a series that needs to be read in order from the beginning to fully appreciate character development and the complicated maze of relationships that exist. But believe me, it's worth every moment.
There is one particular paragraph that struck a chord with me and that I would like to share: When she'd looked at those old photographs of herself today it had been like looking at a deceased friend. Who was this radiant creature? Well, she didn't exist now.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.7
#TheMidnightHour #NetGalley
I: @ellygriffiths17 @marinerbooks
T: @ellygriffiths @MarinerBooks
#fivestarread #cozymystery #domesticdrama #historicalfiction #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly's husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area. Elly has two children and lives near Brighton.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Mariner Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT 'THE MIDNIGHT HOUR': Brighton, 1965
When theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead in his retirement home, no one suspects foul play. But when the postmortem reveals that he was poisoned, suspicion falls on his wife, eccentric ex-Music Hall star Verity Malone.
Frustrated by the police response to Bert's death and determined to prove her innocence, Verity calls in private detective duo Emma Holmes and Sam Collins. This is their first real case, but as luck would have it they have a friend on the inside: Max Mephisto is filming a remake of Dracula, starring Seth Bellington, Bert's son. But when they question Max, they feel he isn't telling them the whole story.
Emma and Sam must vie with the police to untangle the case and bring the killer to justice. They're sure the answers must lie in Bert's dark past and in the glamorous, occasionally deadly, days of Music Hall. But the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they find themselves in...
MY THOUGHTS: #6 in the Brighton Mysteries, and I still can't get enough! Once I began The Midnight Hour, I ignored everything else and immersed myself totally in Brighton, 1965 and an intriguing murder mystery.
There shouldn't be anything suspicious about a 90 year old man dying in his chair after his Sunday lunch, but in this case there is, and accusations and allegations are soon flying about. It would seem that our Bert, beloved pantomime star, has not had a blameless past. There are plenty of skeletons emerging from closets . . . and leaving the closet doors open for more skeletons to follow. It seems that no one can escape unscathed from their pasts. Not even Max.
We have moved on in time just a year from where the previous book, Now You See Them, concluded. Max is now established as a movie star, is father to two small children, and has inherited his father's title of Lord Massingham and the family estate, which still doesn't sit easily on his shoulders. Emma, once the pioneering DS Holmes, is married - compulsory retirement from the police force - to Edgar, her old boss and police Superintendent, and they have three small children. But missing her work, Emma has started a PI firm with friend and freelance reporter, Sam Collins, and it is this duo that the murdered man's wife, Verity, a one time lover of Max's, calls on to investigate when she is accused of orchestrating her husband's death. Assisting in the police investigation is WDC Meg Connolly, because Verity won't talk to the men. Meg is determined to make the most of her opportunity, and the line between the police and private Investigators investigations becomes blurred as the women collaborate.
The Midnight Hour is a riveting and compelling murder mystery involving more than one death, in which we see the new guard begin to take over. The world is changing, although policewomen are still not allowed to drive panda cars, and are largely employed to make tea and do the filing.
To me, it really doesn't seem like the 1960's were that long ago; to others they will be ancient history. I had a lovely walk down memory lane, enjoying references to both the music and the fashions. At one point a receptionist is wearing 'an orange minidress held together by large gold hoops,' which was extremely fashionable at the time and which I would have loved to have owned.
This is a series that needs to be read in order from the beginning to fully appreciate character development and the complicated maze of relationships that exist. But believe me, it's worth every moment.
There is one particular paragraph that struck a chord with me and that I would like to share: When she'd looked at those old photographs of herself today it had been like looking at a deceased friend. Who was this radiant creature? Well, she didn't exist now.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.7
#TheMidnightHour #NetGalley
I: @ellygriffiths17 @marinerbooks
T: @ellygriffiths @MarinerBooks
#fivestarread #cozymystery #domesticdrama #historicalfiction #murdermystery
THE AUTHOR: Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway novels take for their inspiration Elly's husband, who gave up a city job to train as an archaeologist, and her aunt who lives on the Norfolk coast and who filled her niece's head with the myths and legends of that area. Elly has two children and lives near Brighton.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Mariner Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
October 10, 2021
3.5 stars, rounded up
I’ve enjoyed this historical mystery series, especially the last book which really detailed the misogyny of the day and the beginnings of the women’s rights movement. That theme is again picked up here. Emma has her new detective agency, but is often forced to bring her two year old son on interviews when child care falls through. And Meg, the WDC, is still not allowed to drive a panda car or read a post mortem. ‘“Of course, women aren’t allowed to drive police cars’, said Emma, ‘what with us being such sensitive flowers and all that.”
When Bert Billington, a successful theatre impresario is found to have been poisoned, his wife, a suspect, hires Emma and Sam, to prove her innocence. She also insists that WDC Meg Connolly be part of the investigation because she only wants to deal with a female detective. Maybe because she’s recently read The Feminine Mystique?
Max and Edgar take supporting roles in this book. I did enjoy how Emma comes into her own, forcing Max to occasionally take on the child care so she can get on with her job.
I enjoyed this story, with quite a few red herrings to keep me guessing as to who ultimately had committed the murders. I find the characters interesting and hope that Griffiths continues to highlight the women as much as the men in the series.
This is considered a cozy mystery, but it’s got a little more grit than I usually credit cozy mysteries with having.
My thanks to Netgalley and Mariner Books for an advance copy of this book.
I’ve enjoyed this historical mystery series, especially the last book which really detailed the misogyny of the day and the beginnings of the women’s rights movement. That theme is again picked up here. Emma has her new detective agency, but is often forced to bring her two year old son on interviews when child care falls through. And Meg, the WDC, is still not allowed to drive a panda car or read a post mortem. ‘“Of course, women aren’t allowed to drive police cars’, said Emma, ‘what with us being such sensitive flowers and all that.”
When Bert Billington, a successful theatre impresario is found to have been poisoned, his wife, a suspect, hires Emma and Sam, to prove her innocence. She also insists that WDC Meg Connolly be part of the investigation because she only wants to deal with a female detective. Maybe because she’s recently read The Feminine Mystique?
Max and Edgar take supporting roles in this book. I did enjoy how Emma comes into her own, forcing Max to occasionally take on the child care so she can get on with her job.
I enjoyed this story, with quite a few red herrings to keep me guessing as to who ultimately had committed the murders. I find the characters interesting and hope that Griffiths continues to highlight the women as much as the men in the series.
This is considered a cozy mystery, but it’s got a little more grit than I usually credit cozy mysteries with having.
My thanks to Netgalley and Mariner Books for an advance copy of this book.
January 15, 2022
3.5 It is now 1965 in Brighton and the police force is confronted with another suspicious death. This book places women front and center. Things for women are changing slowly, they still cannot drive a police car but need to be accompanied by a male partner. Despite that there is a new up and coming female officer, and a women led investigation agency is hired by the murdered man's wife.
This is a very atmospheric series, with interesting characters investigating interesting cases. The author does not shirk from incorporating the obstacles women faced. The murdered man used his power to accumulate as many women as he could. One of our female characters must balance home, child raising as well as trying to have a career. Another has entered into an interracial relationship.
Actually it sounds like many of the same things women are dealing with today. Well, at least we can drive a police car.
A super series that superbly mixes a mystery with the serious issues of the time.
This is a very atmospheric series, with interesting characters investigating interesting cases. The author does not shirk from incorporating the obstacles women faced. The murdered man used his power to accumulate as many women as he could. One of our female characters must balance home, child raising as well as trying to have a career. Another has entered into an interracial relationship.
Actually it sounds like many of the same things women are dealing with today. Well, at least we can drive a police car.
A super series that superbly mixes a mystery with the serious issues of the time.
October 1, 2021
"The world seems full of good men, even if there are monsters in it." (Bram Stoker, Dracula)
The Midnight Hour appropriately cracks the door and beckons in Dracula, Prince of Darkness. Only this time the spotlight is on theater. And plenty of it in this one. Seth Billington, heartthrob of the stage, is fitfully decked out in cape and fangs as he plays the darkened figure for a new movie. Fellow actor and former magician, Max Mephisto, has a key role in this production as well. But instead of fang marks on the neck, there will be rat poison in the veins.
Seth's father, Bert, will be found dead in his library chair after lunch by his motorcycling other son, Aaron. Verity Malone, Bert's wife and former 1920's singer/dancer, is frozen in place. First appearances point to a stroke for the ninety year old. Stands to reason. Later tests reveal that aforementioned wine of the rat. But who would want the ol' theater impressario dead at this late date? Our Bert had quite a few other children out of wedlock and a long list of paramours even into his later years. A lot of activity, dear Bert, and now a lot of new suspects rolling out.
It's 1965 and Verity, true to women's rights, hires the team of Emma Holmes and Samantha Collins as private investigators. Emma is married to Superintendent Edgar Stephens. She's the mother of three children and often must take her wired youngest, Jonathan, along with her on the job. What a riot filled experience that can be! Emma is a former police officer and she can almost dance circles around her well-medaled husband. Emma and "Sam" put bloodhounds to shame. And this case is gonna be a challenge with so many suspects, young and old, male and female.
Elly Griffiths is a renowned writer. I've been a big fan of her Dr. Ruth Galloway series. Don't be taken aback by the #6 in this series. The Midnight Hour reads as a fine standalone and will wet your whistle into the writings of Griffith. There's chunks of humor here as well as twisty pathways. Be sure to check this one out.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and the talented Elly Griffiths for the opportunity.
The Midnight Hour appropriately cracks the door and beckons in Dracula, Prince of Darkness. Only this time the spotlight is on theater. And plenty of it in this one. Seth Billington, heartthrob of the stage, is fitfully decked out in cape and fangs as he plays the darkened figure for a new movie. Fellow actor and former magician, Max Mephisto, has a key role in this production as well. But instead of fang marks on the neck, there will be rat poison in the veins.
Seth's father, Bert, will be found dead in his library chair after lunch by his motorcycling other son, Aaron. Verity Malone, Bert's wife and former 1920's singer/dancer, is frozen in place. First appearances point to a stroke for the ninety year old. Stands to reason. Later tests reveal that aforementioned wine of the rat. But who would want the ol' theater impressario dead at this late date? Our Bert had quite a few other children out of wedlock and a long list of paramours even into his later years. A lot of activity, dear Bert, and now a lot of new suspects rolling out.
It's 1965 and Verity, true to women's rights, hires the team of Emma Holmes and Samantha Collins as private investigators. Emma is married to Superintendent Edgar Stephens. She's the mother of three children and often must take her wired youngest, Jonathan, along with her on the job. What a riot filled experience that can be! Emma is a former police officer and she can almost dance circles around her well-medaled husband. Emma and "Sam" put bloodhounds to shame. And this case is gonna be a challenge with so many suspects, young and old, male and female.
Elly Griffiths is a renowned writer. I've been a big fan of her Dr. Ruth Galloway series. Don't be taken aback by the #6 in this series. The Midnight Hour reads as a fine standalone and will wet your whistle into the writings of Griffith. There's chunks of humor here as well as twisty pathways. Be sure to check this one out.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and the talented Elly Griffiths for the opportunity.
November 22, 2021
This series has come a long way since "The Zig Zag Girl." All of our favorites are back in this sixth book of the series. Max, Ruby, Edgar and Emma are in the thick of it after the murder of a famous producer named Bert Billington. His widow (Verity Malone -- former showgirl) hires Emma and her detective partner Sam to investigate. Meanwhile we get to know WDC Meg Connolly better as she is hunting down the killer for the police. Since Edgar is the Superintendent of police and he is married to Emma, things get a little dysfunctional. Soon Emma and Meg are on a road trip to hunt down clues and even end up sharing notes. It is the mid-1960's and "The Feminine Mystique" is starting to make a splash. The women in this book are doing their best to help the cause while still enjoying their families. Nicely balanced and I look forward to seeing these characters develop further in the next book of the series. The Ruth Galloway books are still a stronger series, in my opinion, but the Brighton Mysteries are making strides.
Thank you to Mariner Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Mariner Books and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2022
I'm an avid reader of Elly Griffiths's Ruth Galloway and more recent D.S. Harbinder Kaur series, but this is my first excursion into her Brighton Mysteries (a.k.a. Stephens & Mephisto) series - and it was great!
It's 1965 and Emma Holmes and Sam Collins, who have recently opened their own private investigations agency, are called in to investigate after the sudden death of retired theatre impresario Bert Billington at his home in Rottingdean. Billington's death at first appears to have been by natural causes, but is subsequently determined by police investigators to be a poisoning. His widow, former show girl Verity, is keen to dispel suspicions that she's responsible, engaging Emma and Sam to find the real culprit.
I was delighted to discover that Tudor Court, Rottingdean, Sussex, UK, the setting for the murder of Bert Billington, exists in real life. In addition to providing a setting in The Midnight Hour, the house was also reputedly the inspiration for the board game Cluedo!
It doesn't take Emma and Sam long to determine that Bert wasn't a particularly nice man, and has left a number of shattered lives and illegitimate children in his lecherous wake over the years. Their investigations lead them to interview Bert and Verity's middle son, actor Seth Billington, who happens to be working with Max Mephisto in Whitby on a Dracula adaptation. Max, in turn, is a long-time acquaintance of both Bert and Verity, and a meeting between Emma and his glamorous wife, Hollywood star Lydia Lamont throws up some intriguing information about Max and Verity's shared past on the music hall circuit. As they sift through the evidence, including a few red herrings, and gradually untangle the complex web of relationships that exists between the various parties, Emma, Sam and Meg hurtle towards a dramatic climax.
There is an ever-present tension between the police investigation of Billington's murder (for which Superintendent Stephens is ultimately responsible) and Holmes and Collins' parallel private inquiries. It's the first time that Emma has found herself in competition, albeit indirect, with her husband to solve a crime. She frequently faces the dilemma of how much hard-won information she should share with police and when, but meanwhile builds a rapport with young but talented W.P.C. Meg Connolly as both investigations proceed.
This novel departs significantly from earlier instalments in the series, which featured Brighton CID detective (now Superintendent) Edgar Stephens and magician-actor Max Mephisto as central protagonists. In The Midnight Hour, it is Stephens' wife and former police officer Emma Holmes, together with her investigative partner Sam Collins and WPC Meg Connolly, who feature most prominently, with Stephens and Mephisto playing their roles as supporting characters. This change enables Elly Griffiths to explore the issues facing working women in the 1960s, and the embedded misogyny that existed in both the public and private spheres. The historical setting also allows Griffiths to draw in contemporaneous events, such as Sam's coverage of the arrests of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, perpetrators of the notorious "Moors Murders", adding verisimilitude to the narrative.
The Midnight Hour is an entertaining and engrossing mystery, somewhat lighter in tone than Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway books, but just as well-written in terms of plot and character development. I'd recommend it to any reader who enjoys traditional-style murder mysteries and engaging female protagonists.
My thanks to the author, the wonderful Elly Griffiths, publisher Mariner Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this excellent title.
It's 1965 and Emma Holmes and Sam Collins, who have recently opened their own private investigations agency, are called in to investigate after the sudden death of retired theatre impresario Bert Billington at his home in Rottingdean. Billington's death at first appears to have been by natural causes, but is subsequently determined by police investigators to be a poisoning. His widow, former show girl Verity, is keen to dispel suspicions that she's responsible, engaging Emma and Sam to find the real culprit.
I was delighted to discover that Tudor Court, Rottingdean, Sussex, UK, the setting for the murder of Bert Billington, exists in real life. In addition to providing a setting in The Midnight Hour, the house was also reputedly the inspiration for the board game Cluedo!
It doesn't take Emma and Sam long to determine that Bert wasn't a particularly nice man, and has left a number of shattered lives and illegitimate children in his lecherous wake over the years. Their investigations lead them to interview Bert and Verity's middle son, actor Seth Billington, who happens to be working with Max Mephisto in Whitby on a Dracula adaptation. Max, in turn, is a long-time acquaintance of both Bert and Verity, and a meeting between Emma and his glamorous wife, Hollywood star Lydia Lamont throws up some intriguing information about Max and Verity's shared past on the music hall circuit. As they sift through the evidence, including a few red herrings, and gradually untangle the complex web of relationships that exists between the various parties, Emma, Sam and Meg hurtle towards a dramatic climax.
There is an ever-present tension between the police investigation of Billington's murder (for which Superintendent Stephens is ultimately responsible) and Holmes and Collins' parallel private inquiries. It's the first time that Emma has found herself in competition, albeit indirect, with her husband to solve a crime. She frequently faces the dilemma of how much hard-won information she should share with police and when, but meanwhile builds a rapport with young but talented W.P.C. Meg Connolly as both investigations proceed.
This novel departs significantly from earlier instalments in the series, which featured Brighton CID detective (now Superintendent) Edgar Stephens and magician-actor Max Mephisto as central protagonists. In The Midnight Hour, it is Stephens' wife and former police officer Emma Holmes, together with her investigative partner Sam Collins and WPC Meg Connolly, who feature most prominently, with Stephens and Mephisto playing their roles as supporting characters. This change enables Elly Griffiths to explore the issues facing working women in the 1960s, and the embedded misogyny that existed in both the public and private spheres. The historical setting also allows Griffiths to draw in contemporaneous events, such as Sam's coverage of the arrests of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, perpetrators of the notorious "Moors Murders", adding verisimilitude to the narrative.
The Midnight Hour is an entertaining and engrossing mystery, somewhat lighter in tone than Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway books, but just as well-written in terms of plot and character development. I'd recommend it to any reader who enjoys traditional-style murder mysteries and engaging female protagonists.
My thanks to the author, the wonderful Elly Griffiths, publisher Mariner Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this excellent title.
January 22, 2022
The Midnight Hour is the sixth book in The Brighton Mysteries series by British author, Elly Griffiths. When elderly impresario Bert Billington’s youngest son, Aaron suggests to the Brighton Police that his mother, former variety dancer, Verity Malone poisoned her husband, she engages Holmes and Collins Detective Agency to investigate.
It’s a little awkward: the first time Emma Holmes is at odds with her husband, Superintendent Edgar Stephens, as his team tries to discover who fed Bert rat poison. Police and PIs question many of the same people for information, but sometimes their methods yield different results. What does come to light is that there are plenty of people with potential grudges against the old man, and that there was a mystery caller to the house in the hours before Bert died.
And then there is another murder: a different MO, but with certain common aspects, with the result that Emma and WDC Meg Connolly head to Liverpool to interview a couple with a historical bearing on the cases, and from there, unexpectedly to Whitby, where Bert and Verity’s middle son Seth and Max Mephisto are filming a Dracula movie.
Bert’s reputation as a philanderer swells the list of those with grievances to the families of used and discarded women, some of whose lives he ruined without qualm. Nor do all of his own family hold him in high esteem. But the second victim was a favourite with almost everyone: what could the motive be?
Griffiths certainly has the reader second-guessing themselves as they settle on a perpetrator, only to be pointed elsewhere as further facts come to light. There are a number of red herrings and plenty of misdirection, from both the characters and the author. At one stage Emma reminds herself that she is dealing with “Actors and acting. Costume and disguise.”
Once again, Griffiths uses multiple narrators to convey different parts of the story as well as to give different perspectives on events. The story plays out over about six weeks against a background of The Moors Murders. The mid-1960’s era ensures the absence of mobile phones, internet, DNA and even many personal vehicles; thus the detective work relies on heavily on legwork, and intelligent deduction.
Fans will be pleased to have another peek into the lives of this particular cast as the characters grow and develop and face the challenges of the changing world that was the nineteen-sixties. Despite the still-rampant sexual discrimination to which they are subject, Emma, Sam, Meg and Ruby are coming into their own, quietly taking charge of their lives and making their own decisions. This is addictive historical crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
It’s a little awkward: the first time Emma Holmes is at odds with her husband, Superintendent Edgar Stephens, as his team tries to discover who fed Bert rat poison. Police and PIs question many of the same people for information, but sometimes their methods yield different results. What does come to light is that there are plenty of people with potential grudges against the old man, and that there was a mystery caller to the house in the hours before Bert died.
And then there is another murder: a different MO, but with certain common aspects, with the result that Emma and WDC Meg Connolly head to Liverpool to interview a couple with a historical bearing on the cases, and from there, unexpectedly to Whitby, where Bert and Verity’s middle son Seth and Max Mephisto are filming a Dracula movie.
Bert’s reputation as a philanderer swells the list of those with grievances to the families of used and discarded women, some of whose lives he ruined without qualm. Nor do all of his own family hold him in high esteem. But the second victim was a favourite with almost everyone: what could the motive be?
Griffiths certainly has the reader second-guessing themselves as they settle on a perpetrator, only to be pointed elsewhere as further facts come to light. There are a number of red herrings and plenty of misdirection, from both the characters and the author. At one stage Emma reminds herself that she is dealing with “Actors and acting. Costume and disguise.”
Once again, Griffiths uses multiple narrators to convey different parts of the story as well as to give different perspectives on events. The story plays out over about six weeks against a background of The Moors Murders. The mid-1960’s era ensures the absence of mobile phones, internet, DNA and even many personal vehicles; thus the detective work relies on heavily on legwork, and intelligent deduction.
Fans will be pleased to have another peek into the lives of this particular cast as the characters grow and develop and face the challenges of the changing world that was the nineteen-sixties. Despite the still-rampant sexual discrimination to which they are subject, Emma, Sam, Meg and Ruby are coming into their own, quietly taking charge of their lives and making their own decisions. This is addictive historical crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
September 11, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Midnight Hour!
My rating is 3.5 Stars
Set in 1965, theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead in his home. When the postmortem reveals that he was poisoned, suspicion falls on his wife, eccentric ex-Music Hall star Verity Malone. Frustrated by the police response to Bert's death and determined to prove her innocence, Verity calls in private detective duo Emma Holmes and Sam Collins.
There was quite the cast of characters in The Midnight Hour but, hands down, my very favorites were Emma Holmes Stephens and WDC Meg Connolly. The descriptions of what it was like working in variety (or vaudeville, as we say on this side of the pond) in the early days sounded utterly grueling! For that matter, being a female police officer in the 1960s sounded pretty grueling, as well! (Can anyone say discrimination, silent contempt, and double standards??)
I enjoyed the mystery of the story very much but the identity of the murderer was a wee bit of a disappointment to me. All in all, it was a fun, light read!
My rating is 3.5 Stars
Set in 1965, theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead in his home. When the postmortem reveals that he was poisoned, suspicion falls on his wife, eccentric ex-Music Hall star Verity Malone. Frustrated by the police response to Bert's death and determined to prove her innocence, Verity calls in private detective duo Emma Holmes and Sam Collins.
There was quite the cast of characters in The Midnight Hour but, hands down, my very favorites were Emma Holmes Stephens and WDC Meg Connolly. The descriptions of what it was like working in variety (or vaudeville, as we say on this side of the pond) in the early days sounded utterly grueling! For that matter, being a female police officer in the 1960s sounded pretty grueling, as well! (Can anyone say discrimination, silent contempt, and double standards??)
I enjoyed the mystery of the story very much but the identity of the murderer was a wee bit of a disappointment to me. All in all, it was a fun, light read!
October 1, 2021
Emma Holmes, former police woman and now wife of the police chief and mother of three, has started a private detective agency with her friend, Sam. When Bert, an elderly retired theater impresario, is found dead and it is determined that he was poisoned, his wife hires Sam and Emma to find out who murdered him. Apparently Bert was liked by very few people, and had quite a few skeletons in his closet. Meg, a young police woman is also working on the case, as is Emma's husband. Elly Griffiths is always excellent at plotting and character development, and ranks with my favorite mystery authors, Donna Leon, Martin Walker, Louise Penny, and Anne Hillerman. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the opportunity to review this advance copy.
March 20, 2022
The latest episode of the Brighton Mysteries takes place in the mid-60s with war-time austerity a thing of the past and the Beatles at the height of their fame.
Once-famous theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead and the post-mortem reveals he was poisoned. It soon turns out he was a very unpleasant character and the list of suspects is long, including his wife, former music-hall start Verity Malone.
Former detective sergeant Emma Holmes is now married to Superintendent Edgar Stephens. Despite being a mother of three, Emma still feels the need of a career and has set up a detective agency with her friend, reporter Sam Collins. Emma and Sam are hired by Verity to investigate her husband’s death. This, of course, pits Emma against her former police colleagues, including her husband.
Of course, the series wouldn’t be complete with Max Mephisto; himself married and the father of two. Max has reluctantly abandoned his magic career and makes his living as an actor; a profession he considers somewhat beneath him. He is currently in Whitby, starring in a remake of Dracula with Bert and Verity’s middle son, Seth.
The overall outline of this story doesn’t vary much from previous ones, but still makes for a great read with the evocative period detail, clever plotting and well-drawn characters.
Once-famous theatrical impresario Bert Billington is found dead and the post-mortem reveals he was poisoned. It soon turns out he was a very unpleasant character and the list of suspects is long, including his wife, former music-hall start Verity Malone.
Former detective sergeant Emma Holmes is now married to Superintendent Edgar Stephens. Despite being a mother of three, Emma still feels the need of a career and has set up a detective agency with her friend, reporter Sam Collins. Emma and Sam are hired by Verity to investigate her husband’s death. This, of course, pits Emma against her former police colleagues, including her husband.
Of course, the series wouldn’t be complete with Max Mephisto; himself married and the father of two. Max has reluctantly abandoned his magic career and makes his living as an actor; a profession he considers somewhat beneath him. He is currently in Whitby, starring in a remake of Dracula with Bert and Verity’s middle son, Seth.
The overall outline of this story doesn’t vary much from previous ones, but still makes for a great read with the evocative period detail, clever plotting and well-drawn characters.
March 20, 2022
⭐
DNF @50%
Throwing in the towel with this one. I just wasn't feeling it. Too slow. Too many boring characters. What more can i say? Not every book can be a winner. 🤷🏻♀️
DNF @50%
Throwing in the towel with this one. I just wasn't feeling it. Too slow. Too many boring characters. What more can i say? Not every book can be a winner. 🤷🏻♀️
October 15, 2021
3.7 rounded up
This is listed as both (Brighton Mysteries) as well as (Stephens & Mephisto #6)
I have read several of Ms. Griffith’s Ruth Galloway novels but this is my first in this series.
I was fearful that I would need to ‘catch-up’!
However, this was a good one for a ‘First’ as Emma Holmes was the lead in this story. I found that I just love her and am sure (as well as hope) that she will be in the next Brighton Mysteries series!!!
Time period 1965: the beginning of the women’s movement.
This series has featured Superintendent Edgar Stephens and Movie star Max Mephisto. Now Edgar is married to Emma Holmes and although they have 3 young children, she has set up a Private Investigation Agency.
Story starts when ninety year old Bert Billington is found death. Since he was 90, everyone thought he died of natural causes. However, an autopsy reveals that he had been poisoned. Verity, his seventy-five year old, former show-girl wife is accused of killing him ~ the thinking is that perhaps due to her age it was a mistake and she didn’t realize what she was doing.
Aww but our Verity knows to get a team of female investigators to assist. Yes Emma takes the lead.
Story deals with women’s ambitions and the obstacles they face.
For example in this story the Police woman is not permit to drive the police car.
Side Bar: This reminded me of a talk given some years ago by the ~ First Female Chief of Police in our area. She said when she started her uniform was a skirt and she had to wear high heels. She asked ~ Can you imagine running after bad guys in a skirt and high heels? We laughed but I also remember when I was a freshman in college ~ females were not allowed to wear shorts on campus; after PE we wore a long coat to cover up that we had on gym shorts.
Back to story ~ this got very interesting. There was a lot going on. I was grateful for the Kindle ‘highlight and notes’ feature as it very helpful in keeping track of not just the characters but and who was whose off spring.
Love Ms. Griffiths “Acknowledgments” (true I always enjoy reading the Author’s Notes and/or Acknowledgments!)
Ms. Griffiths tells us her inspiration for the Brighton Series ~ yep we get the inside scoop!!
Want to thank NetGalley and Mariner Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 7, 2021
This is listed as both (Brighton Mysteries) as well as (Stephens & Mephisto #6)
I have read several of Ms. Griffith’s Ruth Galloway novels but this is my first in this series.
I was fearful that I would need to ‘catch-up’!
However, this was a good one for a ‘First’ as Emma Holmes was the lead in this story. I found that I just love her and am sure (as well as hope) that she will be in the next Brighton Mysteries series!!!
Time period 1965: the beginning of the women’s movement.
This series has featured Superintendent Edgar Stephens and Movie star Max Mephisto. Now Edgar is married to Emma Holmes and although they have 3 young children, she has set up a Private Investigation Agency.
Story starts when ninety year old Bert Billington is found death. Since he was 90, everyone thought he died of natural causes. However, an autopsy reveals that he had been poisoned. Verity, his seventy-five year old, former show-girl wife is accused of killing him ~ the thinking is that perhaps due to her age it was a mistake and she didn’t realize what she was doing.
Aww but our Verity knows to get a team of female investigators to assist. Yes Emma takes the lead.
Story deals with women’s ambitions and the obstacles they face.
For example in this story the Police woman is not permit to drive the police car.
Side Bar: This reminded me of a talk given some years ago by the ~ First Female Chief of Police in our area. She said when she started her uniform was a skirt and she had to wear high heels. She asked ~ Can you imagine running after bad guys in a skirt and high heels? We laughed but I also remember when I was a freshman in college ~ females were not allowed to wear shorts on campus; after PE we wore a long coat to cover up that we had on gym shorts.
Back to story ~ this got very interesting. There was a lot going on. I was grateful for the Kindle ‘highlight and notes’ feature as it very helpful in keeping track of not just the characters but and who was whose off spring.
Love Ms. Griffiths “Acknowledgments” (true I always enjoy reading the Author’s Notes and/or Acknowledgments!)
Ms. Griffiths tells us her inspiration for the Brighton Series ~ yep we get the inside scoop!!
Want to thank NetGalley and Mariner Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 7, 2021
November 7, 2022
The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths is the 6th in the Brighton Mysteries Series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Mariner Books and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Information: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
These books are set in Brighton in the 1950's and 60's. Edgar Stephens is the Superintendent for the Brighton police, his DI is Bob Willis, and the recently promoted Meg Connolly is now a DC. In addition to being a housewife, and looking after their 3 kids, Edgars' wife Emma is now a Private Investigator. She uses her maiden name Holmes. She and her journalist friend Samantha (Sam) Collins, started their own business. Max Mephisto served with Edgar during World War II in a special ops group created by MI5 called The Magic Men, where they used magic tricks to confuse the enemy. Max is now an actor, and married to American actress Lydia Lamont. They have two children. Max's older daughter Ruby, was once engaged to Edgar.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Verity Malone was once a singer and dancer. But that was a long time ago. She is now 75, and her 90 year old husband Bert (previously a theater impresario) was just poisoned. One of their sons thinks his mother is responsible, and so do the police.
Verity hired PI Emma Holmes and her partner Sam Collins to prove her innocence. This, of course, puts Emma on a collision course with the police, and in particular, her husband Edgar. She's not sure how much information she wants to share. Then, Lydia (Max's wife), decides she wants to help out with the case.
Max, of course, knew the deceased, and didn't think very highly of him. He's not the only one though. Max is currently in a movie with Bert's son Seth.
Meg, although a little intimidated by Emma, wants to solve this case.
My Opinions:
The series is just getting better in my opinion. I am starting to like the characters, although Ruby is still rather unlikeable, and Lydia has never grown on me. Edgar, Max, Emma and Sam are definite favorites. Both Meg and Astarte are fun.
Please read this series in order, because the characters have definitely aged since the first book, and a lot has happened to make them what they are today.
The plot was quite good, and I liked the way the story is told through both the police and the PI investigations. I did NOT guess the perpetrator.
The year is 1965, and there are a lot of "period" mentions regarding fashion, music, and feminism, all of which I found really interesting, and brought up some of my own memories.
I'm looking forward to the next one (didn't think I'd ever say that).....although I still prefer her Ruth Galloway series.
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
June 8, 2024
Always a pleasure to dip into an Elly Griffiths book. I cannot recommend this author highly enough.
Midnight Hour is a very clever book that is the sixth in this particular series but easily can be read as a standalone. There is a brief who’s who at the end which will help you want to hunt down the unread books in this magical selection of crime mysteries.
Paying great respect to music hall and variety acts, the writing is both inclusive and engaging reflecting an often forgotten time in the birth of entertainment.
This latest book is again set in Brighton but brilliantly segues between this developing place and other locations including the infamous Moors Murders.
Elly can do no wrong as her writing allows the reader time and consideration to process the unravelling mystery which rarely stays at one murder.
Full of well written characters but for me WPC Connolly (Meg) steps forward in this story and I liked her involvement best.
The clever bit is that Elly is also able to bring subliminal messages into her work. The difficulty for women in the police is again demonstrated but without any soap box the author is able to show the lack of opportunity for women in general and the violence, intimidation and abuse that often overlays relationships. I commend her writing for this dimension which is sensitively done and countered by introducing us to strong female characters at a time when prejudice, inequality and predetermined roles were often a woman’s lot.
Like I say this isn’t a Ptolemaic or a political pamphlet it is a story that works as a murder case but has this reflection on an earlier time in British social life that the author casts a subtle light on.
Long may Griffiths find inspiration and energy to write in her varied projects; as quickly as she writes them I shall read them as they bring me joy, comfort and a deep satisfaction of a resolved mystery.
I am old enough to imagine this period of time and we still have the joy of England winning the World Cup to look forward to.
Midnight Hour is a very clever book that is the sixth in this particular series but easily can be read as a standalone. There is a brief who’s who at the end which will help you want to hunt down the unread books in this magical selection of crime mysteries.
Paying great respect to music hall and variety acts, the writing is both inclusive and engaging reflecting an often forgotten time in the birth of entertainment.
This latest book is again set in Brighton but brilliantly segues between this developing place and other locations including the infamous Moors Murders.
Elly can do no wrong as her writing allows the reader time and consideration to process the unravelling mystery which rarely stays at one murder.
Full of well written characters but for me WPC Connolly (Meg) steps forward in this story and I liked her involvement best.
The clever bit is that Elly is also able to bring subliminal messages into her work. The difficulty for women in the police is again demonstrated but without any soap box the author is able to show the lack of opportunity for women in general and the violence, intimidation and abuse that often overlays relationships. I commend her writing for this dimension which is sensitively done and countered by introducing us to strong female characters at a time when prejudice, inequality and predetermined roles were often a woman’s lot.
Like I say this isn’t a Ptolemaic or a political pamphlet it is a story that works as a murder case but has this reflection on an earlier time in British social life that the author casts a subtle light on.
Long may Griffiths find inspiration and energy to write in her varied projects; as quickly as she writes them I shall read them as they bring me joy, comfort and a deep satisfaction of a resolved mystery.
I am old enough to imagine this period of time and we still have the joy of England winning the World Cup to look forward to.
December 21, 2021
The Midnight Hour was a slow read at the beginning but picked up with a surprised ending, Emma Holmes and her partner, Sam Collins are PI's and partners in their own company, Holmes and Collins Detective Agency. Emma is married to the police superintendent, Edgar Stephens of the Brighton Police Force.. Sam is single and loves to ride motorcycles. They are hired by Verity Malone, a retired actress, whose husband, Bert, Billington, a theatre impresario and womanizer, has been found in the living room murdered by poison. The rest of the supporting characters add to the story. Verity is suspected to had been the one to administer the poison hires Emma and Sam to find out who killed her husband. This is were the story takes hold and takes the reader on a journey with twists and turns, infidelity and a suicide finding out who the murderer is. Max Mephisto a main character is an actor/magician in the theatre along with his retired wife, Lydia have returned from America. He is a good friend of Edgar's. He is working on a movie production of "The Prince of Darkness" along with Verity's son, Seth who is an actor in the same film. Meg Connolly, a WDC Officer in the police force I would also consider her one of the main characters. Alma Saunders was Verity's dresser and now is her cleaner/friend. She is also murdered by strangulation.
I enjoyed this book but will leave the story to the reader as I don't want to spoil it for them.
Thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Corp. for the ARC.
I enjoyed this book but will leave the story to the reader as I don't want to spoil it for them.
Thank you NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Corp. for the ARC.
September 28, 2021
This is the 6th book in the Stephens and Mephisto series by author Elly Griffiths. I really enjoy the Ruth Galloway series by this author but have never really felt the same about this series until now. Not really sure why but this book felt so much better than the previous books I had read. The only thing I could possibly put it down to was that a lot of the book featured the two women investigators rather than Max Mephisto who is very prominent in previous books.
Private Investigator Emma Holmes and her partner Sam Collins have been assigned a case by retired music-hall star Verity Malone, who hires them to find out who poisoned her husband, a theatre impresario. Verity was herself accused of the crime by the Brighton police, putting Emma in direct competition with her husband, police superintendent Edgar Stephens.
Both Emma and Verity share a mutual connection to Max Mephisto, who has returned to England from America with his children and famous wife, Hollywood star Lydia Lamont. Now with the couple back on English soil, Lydia, has time on her hands and offers Emma and Sam her services.
The race is on to catch the killer and the evidence suggest they’re looking for a criminal targeting the old music-hall crew. The question is does Lydia know secrets that could help crack the case and will it lead back to Max Mephisto.
Enjoyable read with lots of interesting characters. A good plot written in the cosy crime style that works for Elly Griffiths.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Mariner books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Private Investigator Emma Holmes and her partner Sam Collins have been assigned a case by retired music-hall star Verity Malone, who hires them to find out who poisoned her husband, a theatre impresario. Verity was herself accused of the crime by the Brighton police, putting Emma in direct competition with her husband, police superintendent Edgar Stephens.
Both Emma and Verity share a mutual connection to Max Mephisto, who has returned to England from America with his children and famous wife, Hollywood star Lydia Lamont. Now with the couple back on English soil, Lydia, has time on her hands and offers Emma and Sam her services.
The race is on to catch the killer and the evidence suggest they’re looking for a criminal targeting the old music-hall crew. The question is does Lydia know secrets that could help crack the case and will it lead back to Max Mephisto.
Enjoyable read with lots of interesting characters. A good plot written in the cosy crime style that works for Elly Griffiths.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Mariner books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2021
Elly Griffiths does it again with a pitch perfect murder mystery set in and near 1950s Bristol. Emma Holmes has married her former supervisor,Edgar and is now working as a private investigator Emma, Edgar, and their colleagues are once again plunged into the past of 1940s show business when a retired impresario is found poisoned in a quiet Sunday afternoon. A convoluted web of suspects and motives quickly encompasses Max Mephistopheles, his new Hollywood actress wife, the gorgeous actress Ruby and other characters from earlier in the series. Solid plot, just enough historical detail to create an atmosphere without becoming pedantic and a sense of the eerie and uncanny that can never quite be brushed aside make this a welcome addition to the Magic Men series.
October 21, 2021
3.5 stars
June 1, 2022
Review to follow
January 4, 2022
Much as I enjoyed the latest of the Max Mephisto mysteries, I can't really say it's as good as the earlier books in the series. An ancient theatrical impresario is found poisoned in his house, and one of his three sons accuses his mother, the man's wife. DCS Meg Connolly rather likes the old woman, who has lived a lifetime with her husband's unfaithfulness. The man's middle son, Seth, is a film star who is in a movie with Max. Seth is convinced of his mother's innocence. A second murder seems to put Seth on the spot, but the author has more twists to come. The solution to the murder is a bit unsatisfying, although the characters are and background are, as usual, delightful.
November 29, 2021
Always enjoy all of EG’s books - this no exception. A quibble - and hence three stars only - I know this is fiction but at least try and avoid glaring anachronisms for the 1965 historical setting ….. such as references to ‘All You Need Is Love’ which was actually only released in 1967; nobody knew in 1965 about LBJ bombing Cambodia until 1969. Irritating sloppiness - another author who thinks trains from York terminate at St Pancras. Patronising projection onto the new ‘working class’ female character WDC Connolly - she’s a big fan of The Beatles but asks ‘is Liverpool near the sea’?
October 14, 2021
Book six for Stephens and Mephisto and enjoy this series as much as Ruth Galloway now. Although this really focuses on the women private detectives Sam and Emma, and WDC Meg, the men take a back seat.
July 25, 2021
I've read all of the Dr Ruth Galloway series from Elly Griffiths and have been meaning to read the Brighton series (they are on the shelves waiting to be read). When offered the chance to read number 6 in the series I thought why not, I usually have to read things in order but decided to jump in at number 6 to see if you can read it as a stand alone, and I would say yes you can, it didn't spoil my reading and in fact I will now be picking up the remainder of the series to read. And so to The Midnight Hour.......Set in the 1960's the Brighton Mystery series features Edgar Stephens and Max Mephisto who forged their friendship during the war, Stephens goes on to become Superintendant Stephens in the Brighton police force whilst Max is now working as a jobbing actor. There are a host of characters who are more prominent in this novel, Emma StephCens (wife to Edgar and private investigator), Sam Collins (reporter and private investigator), D.I. Bob Willis, WDC Meg Connolly to name but a few.
When a theatre impressario Bert Billington is found dead at home by his son, the son suggests his mother Verity (retired showgirl/dancer) has killed her husband. Verity engages Emma and Sam to investigate her husbands death which could be difficult as Emma's husband is also investigating the death. There are some great details about the what it was like to work in variety from the 20's to the late 50's, the type of acts and how it could be dangerous for women, who always needed their wits about them. There is always a humour in the writing of Elly Griffiths which makes her a joy to read. If you've never read this series dive in to book 6 and just enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for an early copy.
When a theatre impressario Bert Billington is found dead at home by his son, the son suggests his mother Verity (retired showgirl/dancer) has killed her husband. Verity engages Emma and Sam to investigate her husbands death which could be difficult as Emma's husband is also investigating the death. There are some great details about the what it was like to work in variety from the 20's to the late 50's, the type of acts and how it could be dangerous for women, who always needed their wits about them. There is always a humour in the writing of Elly Griffiths which makes her a joy to read. If you've never read this series dive in to book 6 and just enjoy.
Thanks to Netgalley and Quercus for an early copy.
May 4, 2024
I love Elly’s books and this series is just as good as previous ones I’ve read. I need to go back and read the rest now. This one is set in 1965 and so interesting to read of how women police officers were treated. Not even allowed to drive n case it harm their delicate sensibilities. We also have 2 female private detectives, one who has to drag her 2 year old everywhere as the nanny is in hospital.
Between them they are trying to solve the murder of Bert Billington, a man who has many enemies so they have plenty of suspects to choose from. There’s the usual humour running through the book along with the crime solving. I loved the social commentary, the supplementary characters and after a struggling a few weeks to read it’s been great to find a book I didn’t want to put down.
There are some serious points it also covers; the aforementioned way female officers were treated, bullying in the workplace and women’s equality fight in general and they are effortlessly woven through the story. Overall Elly is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I’m enjoying reading all her books
Between them they are trying to solve the murder of Bert Billington, a man who has many enemies so they have plenty of suspects to choose from. There’s the usual humour running through the book along with the crime solving. I loved the social commentary, the supplementary characters and after a struggling a few weeks to read it’s been great to find a book I didn’t want to put down.
There are some serious points it also covers; the aforementioned way female officers were treated, bullying in the workplace and women’s equality fight in general and they are effortlessly woven through the story. Overall Elly is fast becoming one of my favourite authors and I’m enjoying reading all her books
September 27, 2021
This was my first Elly Griffiths' and I enjoyed it very much!
The Midnight Hour could be read as a stand alone as there is a guide to the main characters and their back stories at the end of the book, but being number six of the series, I'm sure it would be even more enjoyable if read in the right order. So I'll definetly have a look at the first 5 instalment, now.
I've found this book very well written, I liked the strong female characters and especially enjoyed the insight into what it meant to be a woman in the sixties and trying to be independent.
Thank you Quercus Book for granting my wish!
Thank you to netGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Midnight Hour could be read as a stand alone as there is a guide to the main characters and their back stories at the end of the book, but being number six of the series, I'm sure it would be even more enjoyable if read in the right order. So I'll definetly have a look at the first 5 instalment, now.
I've found this book very well written, I liked the strong female characters and especially enjoyed the insight into what it meant to be a woman in the sixties and trying to be independent.
Thank you Quercus Book for granting my wish!
Thank you to netGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2021
Pretty good for a cozy, but I prefer her Ruth Galloway series.
December 9, 2021
In this sixth instalment of The Brighton Mysteries (previously the Magic Men series), The Midnight Hour, former showgirl Verity Malone engages former WDS Emma Stephens and journalist Sam Collins, whom have launched a private investigation firm, when she is implicated in the poisoning death of her husband, theater impresario, Bert Billington.
As it happens, Verity isn’t the only one who had reason to dislike Bert. A notorious narcissist and philanderer, he had a number of enemies, and Emma is excited by the opportunity to investigate, even though the situation may make things awkward for her husband, Superintendent Edgar Stephens.
Griffiths offers several red herrings as suspicion swirls around Verity, her long term housekeeper, Alma, the women’s adult children, a nosy neighbour and a mystery woman (or man) in a long brown coat. Max Mephisto, coincidently filming a movie co-starring Verity’s middle son, also becomes entangled in the case when it’s revealed he once had an affair with Verity.
WPC Meg Connolly, introduced in Now You See Them, plays a large role this novel, proving to be an eager, intuitive police officer, just as Emma was before being forced to retire upon her marriage. Griffiths continues to explore the lot of women in society during the era through the fates of Billingham’s carnal victims, the limits placed on Meg’s career, and Emma’s desire to be more than just a mother.
With its satisfying resolution to an interesting mystery, and engaging characters I enjoyed The Midnight Hour as much as previous instalments, and I look forward to the next.
As it happens, Verity isn’t the only one who had reason to dislike Bert. A notorious narcissist and philanderer, he had a number of enemies, and Emma is excited by the opportunity to investigate, even though the situation may make things awkward for her husband, Superintendent Edgar Stephens.
Griffiths offers several red herrings as suspicion swirls around Verity, her long term housekeeper, Alma, the women’s adult children, a nosy neighbour and a mystery woman (or man) in a long brown coat. Max Mephisto, coincidently filming a movie co-starring Verity’s middle son, also becomes entangled in the case when it’s revealed he once had an affair with Verity.
WPC Meg Connolly, introduced in Now You See Them, plays a large role this novel, proving to be an eager, intuitive police officer, just as Emma was before being forced to retire upon her marriage. Griffiths continues to explore the lot of women in society during the era through the fates of Billingham’s carnal victims, the limits placed on Meg’s career, and Emma’s desire to be more than just a mother.
With its satisfying resolution to an interesting mystery, and engaging characters I enjoyed The Midnight Hour as much as previous instalments, and I look forward to the next.
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