The postscript murders

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Average Rating
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Publisher
Varies, see individual formats and editions
Publication Date
2021.
Language
English

Description

"This droll romp is a latter-day Miss Marple.” Washington PostMurder leaps off the page when crime novelists begin to turn up dead in this intricate new novel by internationally best-selling author Elly Griffiths, a literary mystery perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Agatha Christie. The death of a ninety-year-old woman with a heart condition should not be suspicious. Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur certainly sees nothing out of the ordinary when Peggy’s caretaker, Natalka, begins to recount Peggy Smith’s passing. But Natalka had a reason to be at the police station: while clearing out Peggy’s flat, she noticed an unusual number of crime novels, all dedicated to Peggy. And each psychological thriller included a mysterious postscript: PS: for PS. When a gunman breaks into the flat to steal a book and its author is found dead shortly thereafter—Detective Kaur begins to think that perhaps there is no such thing as an unsuspicious death after all. And then things escalate: from an Aberdeen literary festival to the streets of Edinburgh, writers are being targeted. DS Kaur embarks on a road trip across Europe and reckons with how exactly authors can think up such realistic crimes . . .

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Contributors
Griffiths, Elly Author
Wadia, Nina Narrator
ISBN
9780358418610
9780358419181
9780358450412

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Also in this Series

  • The stranger diaries (Harbinder Kaur novels Volume 1) Cover
  • The postscript murders (Harbinder Kaur novels Volume 2) Cover
  • Bleeding heart yard (Harbinder Kaur novels Volume 3) Cover

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Similar Series From Novelist

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for series you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These suspenseful, intricately plotted mystery series follow the investigations of a homicide detective in close-knit English towns. -- CJ Connor
These series have the appeal factors atmospheric and intricately plotted, and they have the genre "mysteries"; and the subjects "murder investigation," "secrets," and "women detectives."
These series have the appeal factors intricately plotted and multiple perspectives, and they have the theme "small town police"; the subjects "women detectives," "policewomen," and "cold cases (criminal investigation)"; and characters that are "flawed characters" and "well-developed characters."
These series have the appeal factors atmospheric, intensifying, and intricately plotted, and they have the genre "mysteries"; and the subjects "secrets," "suspicion," and "women amateur detectives."
These series have the appeal factors intricately plotted and multiple perspectives, and they have the subjects "murder investigation," "women detectives," and "policewomen."
These series have the appeal factors atmospheric and intricately plotted, and they have the theme "small town police"; the genre "police procedurals"; the subjects "murder investigation," "secrets," and "women detectives"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
These series have the appeal factors atmospheric, strong sense of place, and intricately plotted, and they have the genre "thrillers and suspense"; and the subjects "murder investigation," "women detectives," and "policewomen."
These series have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "mysteries" and "thrillers and suspense"; and the subjects "murder investigation," "secrets," and "suspicion."
These series have the theme "small town police"; the genres "thrillers and suspense" and "police procedurals"; and the subjects "secrets," "women detectives," and "policewomen."

Similar Titles From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for titles you might like if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
These books have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genre "mysteries"; the subjects "women detectives," "murder victims," and "murder investigation"; and characters that are "well-developed characters" and "likeable characters."
These books have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "mysteries" and "adult books for young adults"; the subjects "amateur detectives," "murder investigation," and "secrets"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
These books have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the subjects "women detectives," "mystery authors," and "murder victims"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
These books have the theme "books about books"; and the subjects "women detectives," "books and reading," and "murder victims."
Amateur detectives work to solve a murder in these atmospheric, intricately plotted mysteries that both feature memorable senior citizens. -- Yaika Sabat
These books have the subjects "women detectives," "amateur detectives," and "murder victims."
These books have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the theme "small town police"; the genres "mysteries" and "police procedurals"; the subjects "women detectives," "murder victims," and "murder investigation"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
These books have the appeal factors atmospheric, intensifying, and intricately plotted, and they have the subjects "amateur detectives," "secrets," and "suspicion"; and characters that are "well-developed characters" and "likeable characters."
These books have the appeal factors atmospheric and intricately plotted, and they have the genre "mysteries"; the subjects "books and reading," "amateur detectives," and "murder victims"; and characters that are "well-developed characters."
NoveList recommends "Elise King novels" for fans of "Harbinder Kaur novels". Check out the first book in the series.
Readers who enjoy mysteries with ensemble casts may appreciate these novels about eccentric groups of small-town sleuths who investigate crimes that threaten the lives of people in their communities. Both are installments in a mystery series. -- CJ Connor
Although Other Side is a thriller and Postscript Murders is a mystery, both intricately plotted novels star a detective who investigates a local's death after discovering a strange note connected to the victim in a book. -- CJ Connor

Similar Authors From NoveList

NoveList provides detailed suggestions for other authors you might want to read if you enjoyed this book. Suggestions are based on recommendations from librarians and other contributors.
Both Elly Griffiths and Patricia Cornwell write suspenseful, contemporary mysteries with strong female sleuths whose backgrounds -- archaeologist (Griffiths) and forensic anthropologist (Cornwell) -- play a large role in the books, as do the complex relationships among the characters. Their writing is atmospheric and disturbing, intricately plotted and compelling. -- Melissa Gray
Both Elly Griffiths and Kathryn R. Wall craft atmospheric, intricately plotted mystery series starring strong female characters. Some of Griffiths' stories can skew darker than Wall's cozier take on the genre, but both offer compelling plots and a dose of humor. -- Halle Carlson
These authors' works have the genres "historical mysteries" and "historical thrillers"; and the subjects "skeleton," "amateur detectives," and "english history."
These authors' works have the appeal factors intricately plotted, and they have the genres "mysteries" and "historical mysteries"; and the subjects "amateur detectives" and "secrets."

Published Reviews

Booklist Review

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.

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

"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.)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
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Library Journal Review

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

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Booklist Reviews

*Starred Review* 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. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.

Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.
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Library Journal Reviews

When 90-year-old Peggy Smith dies in Shoreham, England, it's considered a natural death. Her Ukrainian caretaker, Natalka, believes it was too sudden, and she takes her suspicions to Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur. Natalka finds all kinds of mystery novels dedicated to Peggy, aka "PS," along with a business card that says "Mrs. M. Smith, Murder Consultant." DS Kaur thinks there might be something to it when Natalka and one of Peggy's neighbors, Edwin, encounter a gunman who steals a book from Peggy's collection. Next, Edwin finds a postcard: "We are coming for you." When the trio, now joined by former monk Benedict, realize other authors have received the postcard, it's time to investigate. Then another author, the most famous writer to thank Peggy, is murdered. Harbinder likes the small group of amateurs, but she's appalled when they head to Scotland, chasing authors to a literary festival. VERDICT Readers of Griffiths's Edgar Award-winning The Stranger Diaries, or her "Ruth Galloway" mysteries, will welcome this book with a diverse cast of well-developed characters. However, the story drags at times. Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club is a stronger pick for those looking for unusual amateur sleuths.—Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh P.L., IN

Copyright 2021 Library Journal.

Copyright 2021 Library Journal.
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Publishers Weekly Reviews

"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.)

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly.

Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly.
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