The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths

Summary:

The death of a ninety-year-old woman with a heart condition should absolutely not be suspicious. DS Harbinder Kaur certainly sees nothing to concern her in carer Natalka’s account of Peggy Smith’s death.

But when Natalka reveals that Peggy lied about her heart condition and that she had been sure someone was following her…

And that Peggy Smith had been a ‘murder consultant’ who plotted deaths for authors, and knew more about murder than anyone has any right to…

And when clearing out Peggy’s flat ends in Natalka being held at gunpoint by a masked figure…

Well then DS Harbinder Kaur thinks that maybe there is no such thing as an unsuspicious death after all.

My Review:

We head off to quiet town of Shoreham on the coast of West Sussex for a murder mystery that really is an entertaining read. The Postscript Murders (Quercus) by Elly Griffiths focuses on the sudden death of a ninety-year-old woman in her sheltered accommodation flat. The police do not believe foul play as Peggy Smith had a heart condition.

Carer Natalka Kolisnyk finds arrives at Peggy’s flat and finds her dead sitting in her favourite chair by the window. This is where Peggy would sit with a pair of binoculars and she would enjoy the view and would also note passers-by. DS Harbinder Kaur arrives and believes it is natural causes but it is not long before Natalka has cause for some suspicions about how Peggy died.

Peggy Smith had an interesting background as a ‘murder consultant’ for crime writers and she would plot murders for writers. Her bookshelves are full of thrillers and many would contain written acknowledgments for Peggy’s involvement in writing of the book. But what would this have to do with Peggy’s death?

When Natalka talks to some of Peggy’s friends that include Edwin Fitzgerald who is an ex-BBC Radio Three presenter, Benedict Cole who a former monk but now runs a café that she believes that there was more to Peggy’s death than the police believe. But they need to come up with some evidence.

When Natalka and Benedict are in Peggy Smith’s flat sorting through some of her books they are held up at gun point and now they know something more sinister is going on and now DS Harbinder Kaur starts to take Natalka’s theory that Peggy was in fact murdered.

A wonderfully entertaining mystery novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy a crime novel with a few laughs along the way. I really enjoyed Elly Griffiths writing as she is strong on characters and adds a few red herrings along the way to keep the reader guessing. I have a feeling The Postscript Murders will be under many peoples Christmas trees this year. I am already looking forward to Elly Griffiths next novel due out in February.

352Pages.

The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths was published by Quercus Books and was published on1st October 2020 and is available through Waterstones, Amazon and through your local independent bookshop or through Bookshop.org that supports your local independent bookshop. UK Bookshop.org