The postscript murders

Griffiths, author of the long-running Ruth Galloway series, follows the success of her first stand-alone, The Stranger Diaries (2019), winner of the 2020 Edgar for Best Novel, with another irresistible thriller. When the death of a woman in a senior home comes under investigation, a peculiar group of amateur detectives--including a rumpled ex-monk, a suspiciously well-dressed eldercare giver, and an octogenarian BBC retiree in a cravat--join forces with a somewhat reluctant DS Harbinder Kaur. The victim, Peggy Smith, had a huge collection of crime fiction, each book containing this postscript: PS: for PS. Smith had business cards that listed her profession as "Murder Consultant"--what she actually did was help crime writers come up with new ways to kill off their characters. Now, however, following Peggy's death, it is crime writers that are being killed off, sending our sleuths to the Aberdeen literary festival, looking for answers. Unfortunately, the mystery only deepens, and the body count begins to rise. Bibliophile genre fans will enjoy the insider's look at publishing and relish the intoxicating, often intoxicated, milieu of the festival. All readers will devour the cleverly constructed story, replete with Griffiths' trademark engaging prose, well-placed humor, and always-endearing characters.

"We are coming for you" is the ominous message to a potential murder victim confronting Det. Sgt. Harbinder Kaur in Edgar winner Griffiths's clever follow-up to 2019's The Stranger Diaries. The death of elderly Peggy Smith in Shoreham-by-Sea, England, looks unremarkable on the surface, but her devoted associates--home healthcare worker Natalka, café owner and ex-monk Benedict, and former broadcaster Edwin--suspect foul play when they find mystery novels dedicated to Peggy, references to her as a "murder consultant," and a postcard with a disturbing note that has been sent to the novelists as well. Peggy's son, Nigel, who seems too eager to dispose of his mother's belongings, also is of interest. Much to Kaur's unease, the trio head to a literary festival in Aberdeen to buttonhole the postcard recipients and learn more about Peggy's relationship to them. Soon writers wind up dead, and Kaur is forced to continue her investigation alongside the enthusiastic amateur sleuths in Scotland. Complex characters, hidden histories, and adept twists enrich the narrative. Readers will be enthralled. Agent: Kirby Kim, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc. (Mar.)

When Peggy Smith dies, her carer Natalka is convinced that something is amiss. Detective Harbinder Kaur is less sure--the woman was 90 years old, after all--though she's given pause by Peggy's unofficial position as "murder consultant" to best-selling authors. To investigate, Natalka teams up with Peggy's 80-year-old neighbor Edwin, and Benedict, a former monk who owns the local coffee shop. While they're looking for clues in Peggy's apartment, someone breaks in, holds them at gunpoint, and steals a single book. Natalka, Edwin, and Benedict head to a literary festival in Aberdeen to interview the authors Peggy worked with, and other suspicious deaths follow. Griffiths (The Stranger Diaries) weaves details about publishing into the plot, which will tickle listeners familiar with the industry (those who don't give much thought to blurbs or comps might learn a little bit). Nina Wadia ably voices a variety of characters with a wide range of accents. VERDICT Reminiscent of the work of Golden Age writers like Agatha Christie or Dorothy L. Sayers, Griffiths's latest will be a hit with listeners who enjoyed Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club or Anthony Horowitz's Magpie Murders.--Stephanie Klose, Library Journal