Books by Elly Griffiths

Book Synopsis'My favourite current series' Val McDermidEverything has changed for Dr Ruth Galloway. She has a new job, home and partner, and is no longer North Norfolk police's resident forensic archaeologist. That is, until convicted murderer Ivor March offers to make DCI Nelson a deal. Nelson was always sure that March killed more women than he was charged with. Now March confirms this, and offers to show Nelson where the other bodies are buried - but only if Ruth will do the digging.Curious, but wary, Ruth agrees. March tells Ruth that he killed four more women and that their bodies are buried near a village bordering the fens, said to be haunted by the Lantern Men, mysterious figures holding lights that lure travellers to their deaths. Is Ivor March himself a lantern man, luring Ruth back to Norfolk? What is his plan, and why is she so crucial to it? And are the killings really over?Trade ReviewLike its predecessors, The Lantern Men has a great sense of place and an awareness of the remorseless passing of time. The climactic bicycle race across the fens, foregathering all the suspects, will take your breath away * The Times *As ever, creepy Norfolk folklore is skillfully blended with the ongoing saga of the personal lives of Ruth, her friends and colleagues (and now, their children). Warm, but never cloyingly cosy, this is the most lovable of current crime series * S Magazine, Sunday Express *Once again, Elly Griffiths delivers witty, insightful and brilliant storytelling as the redoubtable Dr Galloway burrows away to expose the Lantern Men's dark secrets * Daily Mirror *Elly Griffiths's great achievement in her Dr Ruth Galloway series has been to create an atmosphere as comforting as that of any traditional detective story and yet introduce to it credible crimes and lifelike characters with convincing preoccupations * Literary Review *A deftly plotted thriller, and most likeable entertainment * Irish Independent *The writing is excellent. It puts me in mind of the late, great Ruth Rendell ... the characterisation is perfect ... a cracker of a book * The Bookbag *

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Book SynopsisStart right here! Discover the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries and become obsessed with one of the most popular crime series in Britain.'Galloway now seems as real as Marple and Morse' The Times'I've never before read a crime novel in which archaeology and detection blend as successfully as in The Crossing Places' ShotsDr Ruth Galloway is called in when a child's bones are discovered near a prehistoric site on the north Norfolk salt marshes. Are they the remains of a local girl who disappeared ten years earlier - or are the bones much older?DCI Harry Nelson refuses to give up the hunt for the missing girl. Since she vanished, someone has been sending him creepy anonymous notes about ritual sacrifice. He knows that Ruth's expertise and experience could help him finally to put this case to rest. But when a second child goes missing, Ruth finds herself in danger from a killer who knows she's getting ever closer to the truth.'Captivating! A quick, thrilling read that ends making you want to read Book 2 immediately!' 5* READER REVIEW'I really enjoyed this book, the story kept me gripped to the end! Would definitely recommend it' 5* READER REVIEW'Ruth is such an empathetic character, clever and warm yet she has human weaknesses' 5* READER REVIEW'I envy those coming of the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths. They are in for a total treat' 5* READER REVIEW'Atmospheric and character-driven, I'd no sooner finished this first book in the Dr Ruth Galloway series than I was reaching for the second' 5* READER REVIEWTrade ReviewGriffiths weaves superstition and myth into her crime novels, skilfully treading a line between credulity and modern methods of detection * Sunday Times *A great series * Guardian *Griffiths' excellent series is well informed and original * Literary Review *Archaeology and crime often walk hand in hand in crime fiction, and seem a natural fit as they have in common both bones and quests for the truth. I've never before, however, read a crime novel in which the two blend as successfully as in The Crossing Places ... Elly Griffiths' characterization is as good as her writing, and I can't wait for the next in the series * Shotsmag *

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Book SynopsisWNNER OF THE 2016 CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY. The shadow of the Second World War looms dark over the third chilling mystery for Dr Ruth Galloway. Some buried secrets shouldn't be uncovered.'A melancholy setting, an eerie discovery, a lone investigator... perfect for the long winter evening' Financial TimesDr Ruth Galloway is called in by a team of archaeologists investigating coastal erosion on the north Norfolk coast, when they unearth six bodies buried at the foot of a cliff. They seem to have been there a very long time. Ruth must help discover how long, and how on earth they got there. Ruth and DCI Nelson are drawn together once more to unravel the past. Tests reveal that the bodies have lain, preserved in the sand, for sixty years. The mystery of their deaths stretches back to the Second World War, a time when Great Britain was threatened by invasion. Ruth thought she knew the history of Norfolk - she's about to find out just how wrong she was, and how far someone will go to keep their secrets buried.Trade Review[Griffiths] conjures the bleak north Norfolk coast, using its coastal erosion as a metaphor for the decay of human sympathy * Independent *After just two books in this gripping series the central characters have the allure of old friends and it's great to find that the third title is just as enthralling as its predecessors * Guardian *A melancholy setting, an eerie discovery, a lone investigator... perfect for the long winter evenings * Financial Times *Griffiths is brilliant on the eerie landscape of the Norfolk coast * Sunday Times *Ruth Galloway is as attractive as ever in her welcome third appearance * Euro Crime *The perfect ratio of anticipation, shock and surprise * Independent *

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Book Synopsis'SET IN DIVINE NORTH NORFOLK. INTENSELY ATMOSPHERIC AND GREAT' India KnightDr Ruth Galloway returns to the moody and beautiful landscape of North Norfolk to confront another killer. A devastating new case for our favourite forensic archaeologist in this acclaimed and bestselling crime series.The Night Hawks, a group of metal detectorists, are searching for buried treasure when they find a body on the beach in North Norfolk. At first Nelson thinks that the dead man might be an asylum seeker but he turns out to be a local boy, Jem Taylor, recently released from prison. Ruth is more interested in the treasure, a hoard of Bronze Age weapons. Nelson at first thinks that Taylor's death is accidental drowning, but a second death suggests murder.Nelson is called to an apparent murder-suicide of a couple at the isolated Black Dog Farm. Local legend talks of the Black Shuck, a spectral hound that appears to people before they die. Nelson ignores this, even when the owner's suicide note includes the line, 'He's buried in the garden.' Ruth excavates and finds the body of a giant dog.All roads lead back to this farm in the middle of nowhere, but the place spells serious danger for anyone who goes near. Ruth doesn't scare easily. Not until she finds herself at Black Dog Farm ...Trade ReviewSet in divine north Norfolk ... intensely atmospheric and great. I envy people who haven't come across them yet * India Knight Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis'ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CURRENT CRIME SERIES' Val McDermid'A FIVE-STAR THRILLER' Daily Express'GOOD WRITING AND CLEVER CHARACTERISATION' Red MagazineBoiled human bones have been found in Norwich's web of underground tunnels. When Dr Ruth Galloway discovers they were recently buried, DCI Nelson has a murder inquiry on his hands. The boiling might have been just a medieval curiosity - now it suggests a much more sinister purpose.Meanwhile, DS Judy Johnson is investigating the disappearance of a local rough sleeper. The only trace of her is the rumour that she's gone 'underground'. This might be a figure of speech, but with the discovery of the bones and the rumours both Ruth and the police have heard that the network of old chalk-mining tunnels under Norwich is home to a vast community of rough sleepers, the clues point in only one direction. Local academic Martin Kellerman knows all about the tunnels and their history - but can his assertions of cannibalism and ritual killing possibly be true?As the weather gets hotter, tensions rise. A local woman goes missing and the police are under attack. Ruth and Nelson must unravel the dark secrets of The Underground and discover just what gruesome secrets lurk at its heart - before it claims another victim.Trade ReviewThe Chalk Pit is the most intriguing case written by the prolific Elly Griffiths to date. A five-star thriller * Daily Express *Griffiths has become a dab hand at plotting and cranking up the tension. The murders, and the muddled humanity of the characters, keep us turning the pages * Independent *Crime that doesn't sacrifice good writing and clever characterisation for the sake of the plot * Red Magazine *Elly Griffiths writes ever-more ingenious detective stories with a powerful sense of place and a varied cast of sympathetic and unusual characters. Her heroine is a winner * The Times *Griffiths weaves superstition and myth into her crime novels, skilfully treading a line between credulity and modern methods of detection * Sunday Times *Ruth Galloway is one of the most engaging characters in modern crime fiction -- Kate MosseGriffiths has mastered the art of combining bizarre plots with contemporary relationship issues beautifully * Sussex Life *A spooky and gripping read * Woman *A well-written, eerie thriller * Sun *Excellent writing, excellent plotting, some utterly riveting detail and always a banging good story * Liz Loves Books *Griffiths is a top drawer crime novelist, and Ruth Galloway is the most believable and likeable protagonist in modern crime fiction * Crimesquad *

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Book Synopsis'My favourite series' Val McDermidDCI Nelson has been receiving threatening letters telling him to 'go to the stone circle and rescue the innocent who is buried there'. He is shaken, not only because children are very much on his mind, with Michelle's baby due to be born, but because although the letters are anonymous, they are somehow familiar. They read like the letters that first drew him into the case of The Crossing Places, and to Ruth. But the author of those letters is dead. Or are they?Meanwhile Ruth is working on a dig in the Saltmarsh - another henge, known by the archaeologists as the stone circle - trying not to think about the baby. Then bones are found on the site, and identified as those of Margaret Lacey, a twelve-year-old girl who disappeared thirty years ago.As the Margaret Lacey case progresses, more and more aspects of it begin to hark back to that first case of The Crossing Places, and to Scarlett Henderson, the girl Nelson couldn't save. The past is reaching out for Ruth and Nelson, and its grip is deadly.Trade ReviewDelightful . . . combines professional expertise with a wry sense of humour - Sunday TimesGriffiths supplies proof that thrillers can increase the pulse rate while tackling more serious issues - GuardianRuth Galloway is one of the most engaging characters in modern crime fictionGriffiths has become a dab hand at plotting and cranking up the tension. The murders, and the muddled humanity of the characters, keep us turning the pages - IndependentElly Griffiths writes ever-more ingenious detective stories with a powerful sense of place and a varied cast of sympathetic and unusual characters. Her heroine is a winner - The TimesGriffiths weaves superstition and myth into her crime novels, skilfully treading a line between credulity and modern methods of detection - Sunday Times

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Book SynopsisHistorical crimes involving a Victorian child killer may hold the key to several contemporary deaths in this macabre outing for Dr Ruth Galloway, forensic archaeologist. Perfect for fans of Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves.'Told with a deepening sense of the unease, seasoned with a touch of the occult' Daily MailRuth has excavated a body from the grounds of Norwich Castle, which was once a prison. The body may be that of Victorian murderess Jemima Green. Called Mother Hook for her claw-like hand, Jemima was hanged for the murder of five children. DCI Harry Nelson has no time for long-ago killers. Investigating the case of three infants found dead, one after the other, in their King's Lynn home, he's convinced that their mother is responsible. Then a child goes missing. Could the abduction be linked to the long-dead Mother Hook? Ruth is pulled into the case, and back towards Nelson.Trade ReviewTold with a deepening sense of unease, seasoned with a touch of the occult * Daily Mail *If forensics, history, detectives, romance and some psychologically impaired individuals are your bag, this novel delivers them all ... The twist at the end will have you in a spin * The Sun *A compassionate novel that raises questions about parental love and guilt. * Sunday Times *Griffiths lovingly develops the complicated, often testy relationships between the continuing characters * Kirkus Reviews *

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Book SynopsisA gruesome discovery at an old children's home lays bare terrible secret's from Norwich's past in the second gripping mystery for Dr Ruth Galloway.'The setting is enticingly atmospheric . . . a really intelligent murder story' IndependentDr Ruth Galloway's forensic skills are called upon when builders, demolishing an old house in Norwich, uncover the bones of a child - minus the skull - beneath a doorway. Is it some ritual sacrifice or just plain straightforward murder? Ruth links up with DCI Harry Nelson to investigate. The house was once a children's home. Nelson traces the Catholic priest who used to run the place. He tells him that two children did go missing forty years before - a boy and a girl. They were never found. When carbon dating proves that the child's bones predate the home and relate to a time when the house was privately owned, Ruth is drawn ever more deeply into the case. But as spring turns into summer it becomes clear that someone is desperate to put her off the scent by frightening her to death...Trade ReviewThe setting is enticingly atmospheric. I closed the book wanting to know more . . . as well as feeling the satisfaction that a really intelligent murder story can give * Independent *Griffiths's dryly humorous writing and the appeal of the two main characters make these books such a treat * Guardian *Bone-chilling stuff * The Times *The tension never fails and it builds to a fantastically gripping climax * Eurocrime *An enthralling page-turner that delights in complex characters * Kirkus Reviews *Griffiths nimbly weaves the mythological aspects of her story . . . with the complicated life of her feisty heroine * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisThe murder of women priests in Norfolk's spooky shrine town of Walsingham draws forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway into a thrilling new adventure. 'Ever-more ingenious detective stories with a powerful sense of place' The TimesWhen Ruth's friend Cathbad sees a vision of the Virgin Mary, in a white gown and blue cloak, in Walsingham's graveyard, he takes it in his stride. Walsingham has strong connections to Mary, and Cathbad is a druid after all; visions come with the job. But when the body of a woman in a blue dressing-gown is found dead the next day in a nearby ditch, it is clear that a horrible crime has been committed, and DCI Nelson and his team are called in for what is now a murder investigation.Ruth, a devout atheist, has managed to avoid Walsingham during her seventeen years in Norfolk. But then an old university friend asks to meet her in the village, and Ruth is amazed to discover that she is now a priest. She has been receiving vitriolic anonymous letters targeting women priests - letters containing references to local archaeology and a striking phrase about a woman 'clad in blue, weeping for the world'.Then another woman is murdered - a priest. As Walsingham prepares for its annual Easter re-enactment of the Crucifixion, the race is on to unmask the killer before they strike again...Trade ReviewOne of my current favourite crime series . . . a pleasure from start to finish -- Val McDermidGriffiths has become a dab hand at plotting and cranking up the tension. The murders, and the muddled humanity of the characters, keep us turning the pages * Independent *Crime that doesn't sacrifice good writing and clever characterisation for the sake of the plot -- Sarra Manning * Red magazine *Elly Griffiths writes ever-more ingenious detective stories with a powerful sense of place and a varied cast of sympathetic and unusual characters. Her heroine is a winner. * The Times *Griffiths weaves superstition and myth into her crime novels, skilfully treading a line between credulity and modern methods of detection * Sunday Times *Ruth Galloway is one of the most engaging characters in modern crime fiction * Kate Mosse *Griffiths has that rare ability to write simple and unaffected prose which has a powerful impact, and her work is proof that it is often the lightest of touches which pierces the deepest. * Crime Fiction Lover *Ruth Galloway is solitary, plum and smart and self-assured, and very, very likeable. * Globe and Mail *

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE 2016 CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY. A bullet-ridden body is unearthed from a buried WW2 plane - but the body isn't from WW2. Dr Ruth Galloway must discover who the victim was, and who put him there, in this atmospheric mystery for fans of Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves.'An almost gothic plot, involving family feuds and a crumbling stately home . . . one of the most vivid novels in a delightful series' Sunday TimesWhen DCI Harry Nelson calls Ruth Galloway in to investigate a body found inside a buried fighter plane, she quickly realizes that the skeleton couldn't possibly be the pilot. DNA tests identify the man as Fred Blackstock, a local aristocrat who had been reported dead at sea. Events are further complicated by a TV company that wants to make a film about Norfolk's deserted air force bases, the so-called Ghost Fields, which have been partially converted into a pig farm run by one of the younger remaining Blackstocks. Then human bones are found on the farm and, as the greatest storm Norfolk has seen for decades brews in the distance, another Blackstock is attacked. Can the team outrace the rising flood to find the killer?Trade ReviewElly Griffiths writes ever-more ingenious detective stories with a powerful sense of place and a varied cast of sympathetic and unusual characters. Her heroine is a winner * The Times *Griffiths weaves superstition and myth into her crime novels, skilfully treading a line between credulity and modern methods of detection * Sunday Times *An almost gothic plot, involving family feuds and a crumbling stately home, makes this one of the most vivid novels in a delightful series * Sunday Times *The book's salty, desolate atmosphere of endless marsh and lonely, ancient sands... achieves a shivery aura of mystery you won't soon shake, one that laces past with present in the inescapable march of time * BookPage *A gentle, meandering plot with a tense ending * Euro Crime *

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Book SynopsisWhen murder strikes close to home, Dr Ruth Galloway is determined to find justice - without ending up in the firing line herself.'One of the most cinematic finales in recent crime fiction' Daily TelegraphDr Ruth Galloway, forensic archaeologist, spends a lot of time looking at death. But now death has found her, with the news that her long-time friend and ex-colleague Dan Golding has been killed in a house fire.Ruth's grief soon turns to suspicion of arson when she receives a desperate letter from Dan, sent the day before he died. He had made a ground-breaking discovery that he was sure would change archaeology forever - and was petrified of the consequences. Ruth feels compelled to travel north to investigate further, alongside DCI Harry Nelson who is also drawn into the case. But where Ruth goes, so does her young daughter, Kate. This time, the risks are even higher.Trade ReviewA memorable, breathless race against time...One of the most cinematic finales in recent British crime novels * Daily Telegraph *Griffiths weaves superstition and myth into her crime novels, skilfully treading a line between credulity and modern methods of detection * Sunday Times *An admirably gutsy heroine * The Times *Ruth Galloway is one of the most interesting new characters on the crime fiction scene * Good Book Guide *All will enjoy Ruth's largely self-aware sardonic perspective on life, death, and relationships. * Publishers Weekly *Once again, Griffiths does a great job of drawing us in to the chaotic, fractured world of Ruth Galloway, her unconventional, loveable heroine * CurledUp *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND FINAL INSTALMENT OF THE DR RUTH GALLOWAY MYSTERIESRuth and DCI Nelson are working on a murder case in which their friend Cathbad emerges as the prime suspect. Can they uncover the truth in time to save him?'Galloway now seems as real as Marple and Morse' The TimesWhen builders renovating a cafe in King's Lynn unearth a human skeleton, they call for DCI Harry Nelson and Dr Ruth Galloway, Head of Archaeology at the University of North Norfolk. Ruth is preoccupied with the threatened closure of her department and by her ever-complicated relationship with Nelson.The bones are identified as those of Emily Pickering, an archaeology student who went missing in the 1990s. Emily attended a course run by her Cambridge tutor. Suspicion falls on him and on another course member - Ruth's friend Cathbad, who is still frail following his near death from Covid. As they investigate, Nelson and his team uncover a tangled web of relationships within the student group and the adults leading them. Then, just when the team seem to be making progress, Cathbad disappears.The trail leads Ruth and Nelson to the Neolithic flint mines in Grime's Graves. The race is on, first to find Cathbad and then to exonerate him, but will Ruth and Nelson uncover the truth in time to save their friend?*******************************Praise for The Last Remains'One of our very best writers. Bravo!' The Times 'A great pleasure to read' 5* Reader Review'Typically intriguing' Sunday Times'Couldn't put it down. Great characters, great plot' 5* Reader Review 'One of Ruth's best investigations' Belfast Telegraph'Kept you guessing until the very end' 5* Reader ReviewTrade ReviewThis brilliant series, brimming with comedy and compassion, has demonstrated that archaeology, just like the best crime fiction, is the study of everyday people . . . Elly Griffiths has honed her skills to become one of our very best writers. Bravo! * The Times *Griffiths has brought the series to such a satisfying conclusion * Mail on Sunday *A satisfying read . . . one of Ruth's best investigations * Belfast Telegraph *The Last Remains does not disappoint . . . it will have you laughing, crying, gasping and staring wide eyed, because Griffiths delivers a thrilling roller-coaster ride * Crime Fiction Lover *A typically intriguing Galloway case * Sunday Times *Fast paced, with great characters . . . does not disappoint * Candis *An eerie, captivating read * Woman's Own *

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'My favourite current crime series' Val McDermidDr Ruth Galloway is flattered when she receives a letter from Italian archaeologist Dr Angelo Morelli, asking for her help. He's discovered a group of bones in a tiny hilltop village near Rome but doesn't know what to make of them. It's years since Ruth has had a holiday, and even a working holiday to Italy is very welcome!So Ruth travels to Castello degli Angeli, accompanied by her daughter Kate and friend Shona. In the town she finds a baffling Roman mystery and a dark secret involving the war years and the Resistance. To her amazement she also soon finds Harry Nelson, with Cathbad in tow. But there is no time to overcome their mutual shock - the ancient bones spark a modern murder, and Ruth must discover what secrets there are in Castello degli Angeli that someone would kill to protectTrade ReviewDelightful . . . combines professional expertise with a wry sense of humour * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ''Cosy crime of a superior order'' Sunday TimesWords can be dangerous. Sometimes they kill...Natalka and Edwin are running a detective agency in Shoreham, Sussex. Despite a steady stream of minor cases, Natalka is frustrated, longing for a big juicy investigation to come the agency''s way. Then a murder case turns up. Local writer, Melody Chambers, is found dead and her family are convinced it is murder. Edwin, a big fan of the obit pages, thinks there''s a link to the writer of Melody''s obituary who pre-deceased his subject. The trail leads them to a slightly sinister writers'' retreat. When another writer is found dead, Edwin thinks that the clue lies in the words. Seeking professional help, the amateur investigators turn to their friend, detective Harbinder Kaur, to find that they have stumbled on a plot that is stranger than fiction.The unmissable new nov

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Book SynopsisTHE TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR. THE RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK.'Utterly bewitching ... a pitch-perfect modern Gothic' AJ FINN, author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOWA dark story has been brought to terrifying life. Can the ending be rewritten in time?This is what the police know: English teacher Clare Cassidy's friend Ella has just been murdered. Clare and Ella had recently fallen out. Found beside the body was a line from The Stranger, a story by the Gothic writer Clare teaches, and the murder scene is identical to one of the deaths in the story.This is what Clare knows: No one else was aware of her fight with Ella. Few others have even read The Stranger. Someone has wormed their way into her life and her work. They know her darkest secrets. And they don't mean well.This is what the killer knows: Who will be next to die.'Compelling, intelligent and increasingly mesmerising' PETER JAMES'Picks up where the great Gothic thrillers of the past leave off ... goose-bump spooky, smart, and haunting. I loved this book! And you will too' LOUISE PENNYTrade ReviewGreat on character and suspense -- Val McDermidUtterly bewitching. This atmospheric, intricate thriller, a pitch-perfect modern Gothic, chilled my blood and warmed my heart. As unforgettable as it is original -- AJ Finn, author of The Woman in the WindowElly Griffiths writes with a sharp, smart eye and great elegance. This novel is compelling, intelligent and increasingly mesmerising -- Peter JamesMy heart is still pounding after finishing Elly Griffiths' The Stranger Diaries. As with her other books, this is fiercely intelligent, warm, human and at times, funny. The Stranger Diaries picks up where the great Gothic thrillers of the past leave off. At once a homage to that great literary form, and a re-imagining, it is goose-bump spooky, smart, and haunting, in every sense. I loved this book! And you will too -- Louise PennyThis clever and entertaining novel has much to say about female rivalry, mothers and daughters, and the creation of fiction itself * Literary Review *The perfect page-turner for foggy, wintry evenings * Fabulous magazine *A deviously plotted modern-day tale that's rooted in a flesh-creeping Victorian past. Elly Griffiths' clever and original murder mystery plays deliciously on the nerves and kept me guessing until the end -- Lesley Thomson, author of The Detective's Daughter series

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Book SynopsisOn the eve of the Queen's coronation, DI Stephens and Max Mephisto uncover an anarchist plot and a ticking bomb at the same time as solving the murder of a man close to them - from the author of the bestselling Dr Ruth Galloway mysteries.'Mixes cosiness and sharpness in a way that recalls the best of Agatha Christie' Sunday Express (on Smoke and Mirrors)Elizabeth II's coronation is looming, but the murder of their wartime commander, Colonel Cartwright, spoils the happy mood for DI Edgar Stephens and magician Max Mephisto. A playbill featuring another deceased comrade is found in Colonel Cartwright's possession, and a playing card, the ace of hearts: the blood card. The wartime connection and the suggestion of magic are for Stephens and Mephisto to be summoned to the case.Edgar's ongoing investigation into the death of Brighton fortune-teller Madame Zabini is put on hold. Max is busy rehearsing for a spectacular Coronation Day variety show - and his television debut - so it's Edgar who is sent to New York, a land of plenty worlds away from still-rationed England. He's on the trail of a small-town mesmerist who may provide the key, but someone silences him first. It's Edgar's colleague, DS Emma Holmes, who finds the clue, buried in the files of the Zabini case, that leads them to an anarchist group intent on providing an explosive finale to Coronation Day.Now it's up to Edgar, Max and Emma to foil the plot, and find out who it is who's been dealing the cards . . .Trade ReviewGriffiths pulls a truly startling rabbit out of the hat, demonstrating that this is more than the cosy mystery it initially appears * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis**THE THRILLING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**'If only all history mysteries could be as good as The Midnight Hour' The TimesAn old man lies dead and it looks like poison, but his wife isn't the only one who had reason to kill him. Brighton, 1965When 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 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...***********PRAISE FOR THE MIDNIGHT HOUR 'An intricately plotted whodunnit' Daily Mail 'Griffiths writes with verve and wit' Irish Times'An entertaining period murder mystery' Irish Independent'Layered with a gripping plot' Belfast TelegraphA Sunday Times bestseller w/c 24/04/2022Trade ReviewBeneath the smooth, swan-like progression of Elly Griffith's sentences there is a lot going on. She is utterly in control of her material, and the machinations of the plot are never allowed to swamp character development, sense of place or the creation of atmosphere. She is a witty writer: the sturdy legs of a toddler on a swing, for example, are said to be "kicking the sky." If only all history mysteries could be as good as The Midnight Hour. * The Times *Griffiths writes with verve and wit, and has an unflaggingly keen eye . . . deliriously entertaining * Irish Times *An entertaining period murder mystery full of delightfully eccentric - and one decidedly deadly - luvvies * Irish Independent *Layered with a gripping plot ... very, very enjoyable' * Belfast Telegraph *An intricately plotted whodunnit * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe fourth Stephens and Mephisto mystery from the author of the bestselling Dr Ruth Galloway series - a must-read for fans of Bryant and May. 'Mixes cosiness and sharpness in a way that recalls the best of Agatha Christie' Sunday Express (on Smoke and Mirrors)What do a murdered Brighton flower seller, the death of Cleopatra and a nude tableau show have in common? Read the most dangerous case yet for Stephens and Mephisto to find out. Christmas 1953. Max Mephisto and his daughter Ruby are headlining Brighton Hippodrome, an achievement only slightly marred by the less-than-savoury support act: a tableau show of naked 'living statues'. This might appear to have nothing in common with DI Edgar Stephens' current case of the death of a quiet flowerseller, but if there's one thing the old comrades have learned it's that, in Brighton, the line between art and life - and death - is all too easily blurred...Trade ReviewVivid description, masterful sleight of hand and a lightness of touch add up to a terrific read for aficionados and newcomers alike * Guardian *This series is without fail engaging and entertaining and The Vanishing Box is no exception ... I could almost smell the greasepaint and see the flutter of feathers ... Loved it! * Crimewarp *Griffiths manages to juggle humour, homicide and nostalgia in a delightful read * The Times *[Griffiths] weaves a fascinating tale. And, like all good mysteries, some surprising revelations along the way with a delicious twist at the end. Highly recommended * Promoting Crime Fiction *

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Book SynopsisBrighton, 1950s, mid-winter. Two missing children are found buried under snow in this chilling new case for DI Stephens and Max Mephisto. Max's star turn in Aladdin has been overshadowed by the murder ­­of two local children. With fairy tales in the air, it's not long before the press have found a nickname for the case: 'Hansel and Gretel'.'An excellent whodunnit, matched by the terrific down-at-heel atmosphere of postwar Brighton' - The TimesDI Edgar Stephens has plenty of leads to investigate. The missing girl, Annie, used to write plays and perform them with her friends. Does the clue lie in Annie's unfinished - and rather disturbing - last script? Or might it lie with the eccentric actor types who have assembled for the pantomime?Once again Edgar enlists Max's help in penetrating the shadowy theatrical world that seems to hold the key. But is this all just classic misdirection?Trade ReviewAn excellent whodunnit, matched by the terrific down-at-heel atmosphere of postwar Brighton * The Times *Griffiths evokes with skill the seedy allure of the provincial theatre and the drabness of a Britain that is still rationed * Sunday Times *Mixes cosiness and sharpness in a way that recalls the best of Agatha Christie and has a feel for showfolk worthy of Ngaio Marsh * Sunday Express *Original, lively and gripping * Independent (on The Zig Zag Girl) *

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Book SynopsisTHE WINNER OF THE 2022 FINGERPRINT AWARDS' CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE DR RUTH GALLOWAY MYSTERIESA propulsive new thriller set in London featuring Detective Harbinder Kaur. A murderer hides in plain sight - in the police.DS Cassie Fitzherbert has a secret. When she was at school, she and her friends were responsible for the death of a fellow pupil. Decades later, Cassie is happily married and loves her job as a police officer.Her husband persuades her to go to a school reunion and another ex-pupil, Garfield Rice, is found dead, supposedly from a drug overdose. As Garfield was an eminent MP and the investigation is high profile, it's headed by Cassie's new boss, DI Harbinder Kaur. Trouble is, Cassie can't shake the feeling that one of her old friends is behind it.Is Cassie right, or was Garfield murdered by one of his political cronies? It's in Cassie's interest to skew the investigation so that it looks like the latter and she seems to be succeeding. Until someone else is killed...PRAISE FOR ELLY GRIFFITHS:'Elly Griffiths writes with a sharp, smart eye and great elegance' PETER JAMES 'Great on character and suspense' VAL MCDERMID'One of my flat-out favourite contemporary suspense writers' AJ FINNTrade ReviewAs ever, Griffiths skilfully blends complex plotting with a cast of wonderfully vivid characters * Mail on Sunday *This standalone thriller is a page-turner with an engaging cast of characters. It provides an enjoyable take on the classic killer-at-a-school-reunion, horror-movie trope, before delivering a jaw-dropping twist * Sunday Express *Witty takes on life, love and relationships pepper the novel and make the plot all the more appealing * Belfast Telegraph *The third outing for Detective Harbinder Kaur, this is an easy-to-read, rewarding mystery * Best *Filled with Griffiths's trademark good humour, this is not only a well-researched police procedural but also a very comforting novel * Literary Review *Once again Elly Griffiths has created an ingenious mystery with hidden depths * The Times *A tightly paced, character-driven book * Woman & Home *A cleverly plotted page-turner that's well up to Griffiths's vertiginously high standard * Guardian *A typically twisty treat from Griffiths * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate gripping murder mystery for winter nights, from the bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries'Witty and charming' The Times 'This super-readable thriller will have you hooked' SunThe 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.From the sleepy seaside town of Shoreham to the granite streets of Aberdeen, The Postscript Murders is a literary mystery for fans of Anthony Horowitz, Agatha Christie and anyone who's ever wondered just how authors think up such realistic crimes...************************************Discover what readers are saying about The Postscript Murders'Great story, wonderful characters' 5* Reader Review'Brilliant reading, great fun' 5* Reader Review'Kept you guessing right to the end' 5* Reader Review'A joy to read' 5* Reader Review'A really enjoyable and entertaining novel' 5* Reader ReviewTrade ReviewDelightful... told with Griffiths's characteristic charm and gentleness * Daily Mail *A light-hearted, life-affirming celebration of crime fiction and the colourful characters that create it... such witty and charming entertainment * The Times *Delicious, unadulterated entertainment * Sunday Express *This super-readable thriller will have you hooked * The Sun *A love letter to murder mysteries, wrapped up in a character-rich caper * Sunday Mirror *Griffiths assembles a vivid cast of characters, offering an enjoyably modern take on an old genre * The Sunday Times *If you're looking for a laugh and to travel on a murder hunt, The Postscript Murders is the read for you. * Daily Record *An entertaining mystery for book-lovers * Good Housekeeping *Always an expert in building tension and creating atmosphere in her thrillers, Elly Griffiths' latest is no exception * Woman's Weekly *Dark and addictive * Woman's Weekly Fiction *Expert in building tension in her thrillers, Elly Griffith's latest tale is no exception * Woman *Sparkling homage to vintage English crime novels ... nostalgic, charming but not without edge * Irish Examiner *Elly Griffiths writes with a sharp, smart eye and great elegance . . . compelling, intelligent and increasingly mesmerising -- Peter JamesOne of my flat-out favourite contemporary suspense writers ... I turn each final page both deeply satisfied and ravenous for more -- AJ Finn, author of The Woman in the WindowGreat on character and suspense -- Val McDermidAs with her other books, this is fiercely intelligent, warm, human and at times, funny. The Stranger Diaries picks up where the great Gothic thrillers of the past leave off. At once a homage to that great literary form, and a re-imagining, it is goose-bump spooky, smart, and haunting, in every sense. I loved this book! -- Louise Penny on The Stranger Diaries

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Book SynopsisA gripping Brighton-based mystery from the bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway series - a must-read for fans of Agatha Christie, cosy crime and TV series such as Grantchester and Midsomer Murders.Three young women have gone missing.A girl called Rhonda has vanished from her boarding school. Maybe she ran away, but there are disturbing similarities to the disappearance of two other young women - those too thought not to be suspicious.But where are they?Detective Edgar Stephens is under pressure to solve Rhonda's disappearance, but it is his wife Emma, herself a former detective now frustrated at being just a housewife, who concludes there might be a connection between the three cases.Then the danger comes nearer home.Edgar's friend, magician Max Mephisto, is reinventing himself as a movie star and trying not to envy his daughter Ruby's television fame. Little do either of them know how close they are to being drawn into the deadly web of abduction and murder about to trap them all.*************************Praise for The Brighton Mysteries'Original, lively and gripping' Independent'Full of period detail, smart plotting and likeable characters' Mail on Sunday'A piquant mixture of humour, period detail . . . and truly beguiling characterisation' Financial Times'Recalls the best of Agatha Christie' Sunday ExpressTrade ReviewElly Griffiths' series set in post-war Brighton are entertaining diversions full of period detail, smart plotting and likeable characters * Mail on Sunday Thrillers of the Month *

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Book SynopsisA brand new series about a police officer with an extraordinary gift, the ability to travel in time. From No 1 bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries - sparks fly and love ignites when past and present meet.SOME MURDERS CAN'T BE SOLVED IN JUST ONE LIFETIME.Ali Dawson is a police officer working on crimes so old, the joke goes, that they are not only cold but frozen. What most people don't know is that the team travels back in time to complete their research. The process has been pioneered by the mysterious Italian physicist, Serafina Pelligrini, known to the team as Jones.So far the team has only ventured a few years back but Ali's boss has a new assignment for her. He wants her to step back to 1850, the heart of the Victorian Age, to clear the name of Cain Templeton, the eccentric great-grandfather of Tory MP Isaac Templeton.To prepare for the challenge ahead, Ali researches the Victorian era. She learns that Cain Templeton was part of a sinister group called The Collectors, the rumour being that you had to kill a woman to become a member. Ali also researches fashions, behaviour and habits. Duly prepared, she arrives in London in January 1850, at the peak of the so-called mini ice age. She finds herself in a house used by artists, with a dead woman at her feet.Soon she finds herself in extreme danger. Even worse - she appears to be stuck, unable to make her way back to the present and her son, Finn.

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Book Synopsis THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER ''Criminally clever'' Daily Mail''The perfect holiday treat'' GuardianThis collection of tales by the No 1 bestselling author features all her best-loved characters: Dr Ruth Galloway, Harry Nelson, Max Mephisto, Detective Harbinder Kaur and more. It features several stories never published before, including a brand new Ruth and Nelson story. A must for all her fans. Have you been wondering what happened to your favourite characters Ruth Galloway and Harry Nelson? Dive into this fabulous collection of stories and find out.Here are stories to suit all tastes. There are ghost stories and mini cosy mysteries; tales of psychological suspense and poignant vignettes of love and loss. There''s a creepy horror story to make you shiver and a tale narrated by Flint, Ruth Galloway''s cat, to make you smile.There is truly something for everyone in

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Book SynopsisThe next gripping volume in The Brighton Mysteries series by bestselling author Elly Griffiths.It starts with a magician and a murder in a Brighton boarding house; throw in a show on Brighton pier, a sinister radio personality and a potential serial killer, and you''ve got the next gripping book in the Brighton Mysteries series. Magician Max Mephisto is hailed by a voice from the past, fellow performer Ted English, aka the Great Deceiver. Ted''s assistant, Cherry, has been found dead in her Brighton boarding house and Ted is convinced that he''ll be accused of her murder. Max agrees to talk to his friend, Superintendent Edgar Stephens, who is investigating the case. What Max doesn''t know is that the girl''s family have hired private detective duo Emma Holmes (Edgar''s wife) and Sam Collins to do some digging of their own. When a second magician''s assistant is killed, Edgar persuades Max to perform one last time - with a femal

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Book Synopsis**THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**Forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson are on the hunt for a murderer when Covid rears its ugly head. But can they find the killer despite lockdown?'GALLOWAY NOW SEEMS AS REAL AS MARPLE AND MORSE' The Times'INTENSELY ATMOSPHERIC AND GREAT' India KnightForensic archaeologist Dr Ruth is in London clearing out her mother's belongings when she makes a surprising discovery: a photograph of her Norfolk cottage taken before Ruth lived there. Her mother always hated the cottage, so why does she have a picture of the place? The only clue is written on the back of the photo: Dawn, 1963.Ruth returns to Norfolk determined to solve the mystery, but then Covid rears its ugly head. Ruth and her daughter are locked down in their cottage, attempting to continue with work and home-schooling. Happily, the house next door is rented by a nice woman called Zoe, who they become friendly with while standing on their doorsteps clapping for carers.Nelson, meanwhile, is investigating a series of deaths of women that may or may not be suicide. When he links the deaths to an archaeological discovery, he breaks curfew to visit the cottage where he finds Ruth chatting to her neighbour whom he remembers as a carer who was once tried for murdering her employer.Only then her name wasn't Zoe. It was Dawn.********************************PRAISE FOR THE LOCKED ROOM'Intelligent and gripping' Daily Express'A terrific story' The Times'This is Griffiths on top form' Mail on Sunday'Charming from start to finish' Irish IndependentA Sunday Times bestseller w/c 07/02/2022Trade ReviewLockdown provides a brilliant opportunity for Griffiths, bringing fresh drama into her characters' lives and she makes the most of it * Sunday Times *Where other Covid-themed mysteries have felt uninspired, this entry in Elly Griffiths' brilliant Ruth Galloway series is an intelligent and gripping recreation of those first weeks of lockdown in 2020 * Daily Express *A terrific story that allows Galloway and Nelson to get closer than they have been for years * The Times, Best New Crime Fiction *Griffiths' Ruth Galloway series combines imaginative plotting, cleverly located in deepest Norfolk, with the everyday dramas of her cast of regular characters . . . This is Griffiths on top form * Mail on Sunday *A classic English mystery from one of the leading authors in the field, charming from start to finish * Irish Independent *Fans of gripping, clever thrillers will love this book * Candis *Brilliantly plotted with complex mysteries to keep you turning the pages, there is also an intriguing cliff-hanger * Promoting Crime Fiction *A mystery treat * Peterborough Telegraph *A sheer reading pleasure * Crime Fiction Lover *Brilliant, as ever * Best *

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Book SynopsisBrighton, 1950. When a girl's body is found, cut into three, Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens is reminded of a magic trick, the Zig Zag Girl. The inventor of the trick, Max Mephisto, is an old friend of Edgar's. They served together in the war as part of a shadowy unit called the Magic Men. Max is still on the circuit, touring seaside towns in the company of ventriloquists, sword-swallowers and dancing girls. Changing times mean that variety is not what it once was, yet Max is reluctant to leave this world to help Edgar investigate. But when the dead girl turns out to be known to him, Max changes his mind. Another death, another magic trick: Edgar and Max become convinced that the answer to the murders lies in their army days. When Edgar receives a letter warning of another 'trick', the Wolf Trap, he knows that they are all in the killer's sights...Trade ReviewEnormously engaging . . . Post-war Brighton and its Theatre Royal are beautifully captured in all their seedy glory . . . subtle, charming and very good * Daily Mail *Enormously engaging . . . Post-war Brighton and its Theatre Royal are beautifully captured in all their seedy glory . . . subtle, charming and very good * Daily Mail *A colourful crowd of ventriloquists and sword-swallowers, a world lovingly re-created in this original, lively and gripping work * Independent *A colourful crowd of ventriloquists and sword-swallowers, a world lovingly re-created in this original, lively and gripping work * Independent *The historical detail is very well done . . . The Zig Zag Girl is an extremely well-written and well-researched novel * Literary Review *The historical detail is very well done . . . The Zig Zag Girl is an extremely well-written and well-researched novel * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisA stunning companion to Elly Griffiths' beloved crime series, the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries, and a photographic journey through magical Norfolk.Norfolk, a land of peaceful broads, marshy fens, sprawling coastline and shady brecks, is the home of Dr Ruth Galloway, forensic archaeologist. A place steeped in folklore and history, visibly shaped by the lives of those who have come before, it has become an integral character in Elly Griffiths' bestselling crime series.In this book Elly takes us through a year in the Norfolk landscape, featuring the fascinating locations that have inspired her series and her writing. From seascapes to farmlands, wetlands to woodlands, churches to cottages, this beautiful book captures Norfolk in all its glorious variety and is the perfect gift for any Elly Griffiths fan.

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Book SynopsisThe next gripping volume in The Brighton Mysteries series by bestselling author Elly Griffiths.It starts with a magician and a murder in a Brighton boarding house; throw in a show on Brighton pier, a sinister radio personality and a potential serial killer, and you've got the next gripping book in the Brighton Mysteries series. Magician Max Mephisto, now divorced and living in London, is on his way to visit daughter Ruby and her new-born baby when he is hailed by a voice from the past, fellow performer Ted English, aka the Great Deceiver. Ted's assistant, Cherry, has been found dead in her Brighton boarding house and he's convinced that he'll be accused of her murder.Max agrees to talk to his friend, Superintendent Edgar Stephens, who is investigating the case. What Max doesn't know is that the girl's family have hired private detective duo Emma Holmes (aka Mrs Stephens) and Sam Collins to do some digging of their own. The inhabitants of the boarding house, most of whom are performing in an Old Time Music Hall show on Brighton pier, are a motley crew. The house is also connected to a sinister radio personality called Pal. When a second magician's assistant is killed, Edgar suspects a serial killer. He persuades Max to come out of semi-retirement and take part in a summer show. But who can pose as his assistant? Edgar shocks the team by recommending someone close. . .***************************Praise for The Brighton Mysteries'Original, lively and gripping' Independent'Full of period detail, smart plotting and likeable characters' Mail on Sunday'Full of fun and expertly plotted' Sunday ExpressThe Last Remains, the final instalment of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries, was a Sunday Times bestseller in August 2023.Trade ReviewGriffiths' affection for Brighton - with its grotty digs ruled by no-nonsense landladies - and her gentle wit ensure that the reader very much likes to be beside the seaside * The Times *Strong on period detail * Sunday Times *Once again Griffiths has created a lively crew of characters and woven a twisty plot around them * Mystery People *An engaging cosy mystery - with added bite * Crime Monthly Review *Riveting offering in Griffiths' Brighton Mysteries * Sunday Post *Intriguing, multi-layered and full of rich period detail with each character honed to perfection * Lancashire Evening Press *Elly has shot into the top ranks of British crime writers after building an impressive catalogue of bestsellers * Peterborough Telegraph *Gripping . . . magical . . . we loved it * Woman's Weekly *Full of period charm and fiendish plotting * Mail on Sunday *Griffiths' affection for Brighton - with its grotty digs rules by no-nonsense landladies - and her gentle wit ensure that the reader very much likes to be beside the seaside * The Times *Strong on period detail * Sunday Times *Once again Griffiths has created a lively crew of characters and woven a twisty plot around them * Mystery People *An engaging cosy mystery - with added bite * Crime Monthly Review *Riveting offering in Griffiths' Brighton Mysteries * Sunday Post *

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Book SynopsisSOME MURDERS CAN''T BE SOLVED IN JUST ONE LIFETIME.From the No 1 bestselling author, a brand new series with a brand new heroine to fall in love with. Ali Dawson is as memorable as her fire-engine-red hair - warm, funny, forthright - and mother to a grown son, Finn. Ali works on cold cases, crimes so old, the joke goes, that they are almost frozen.What most people don''t know is that Ali and the team travel back in time to complete their researches - a process pioneered by the mysterious Italian physicist, Serafina Pelligrini.So far the team has only ventured a few years or decades back but Ali''s boss has a new assignment for her. He wants her to step back to 1850, the heart of the Victorian Age, to clear the name of Cain Templeton, the eccentric ancestor of Tory MP Isaac Templeton, her son Finn''s boss. To ready herself for the challenge ahead, Ali researches the Victorian era. She learns that Cain Templeton was part of a sinister group called The Collectors, the rumour being that you had to kill a woman to become a member. Duly prepared, she arrives in London in January 1850 - the middle of a freezing winter. She is directed to a house inhabited by artists, and is greeted by a dead woman at her feet.Soon she finds herself in extreme danger. Even worse - she appears to be stuck, unable to make her way back to the present, to the life she loves and to her son, Finn.The Frozen People is a lavish, cleverly plotted mystery with a cast of unforgettable new characters to get to know and love.

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Book SynopsisThe next gripping volume in The Brighton Mysteries series by bestselling author Elly Griffiths.It starts with a magician and a murder in a Brighton boarding house; throw in a show on Brighton pier, a sinister radio personality and a potential serial killer, and you've got the next gripping book in the Brighton Mysteries series. Magician Max Mephisto, now divorced and living in London, is on his way to visit daughter Ruby and her new-born baby when he is hailed by a voice from the past, fellow performer Ted English, aka the Great Deceiver. Ted's assistant, Cherry, has been found dead in her Brighton boarding house and he's convinced that he'll be accused of her murder.Max agrees to talk to his friend, Superintendent Edgar Stephens, who is investigating the case. What Max doesn't know is that the girl's family have hired private detective duo Emma Holmes (aka Mrs Stephens) and Sam Collins to do some digging of their own. The inhabitants of the boarding house, most of whom are performing in an Old Time Music Hall show on Brighton pier, are a motley crew. The house is also connected to a sinister radio personality called Pal. When a second magician's assistant is killed, Edgar suspects a serial killer. He persuades Max to come out of semi-retirement and take part in a summer show. But who can pose as his assistant? Edgar shocks the team by recommending someone close. . .***************************Praise for The Brighton Mysteries'Original, lively and gripping' Independent'Full of period detail, smart plotting and likeable characters' Mail on Sunday'Full of fun and expertly plotted' Sunday ExpressThe Last Remains, the final instalment of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries, was a Sunday Times bestseller in August 2023.Trade ReviewGriffiths' affection for Brighton - with its grotty digs ruled by no-nonsense landladies - and her gentle wit ensure that the reader very much likes to be beside the seaside * The Times *Strong on period detail * Sunday Times *Once again Griffiths has created a lively crew of characters and woven a twisty plot around them * Mystery People *An engaging cosy mystery - with added bite * Crime Monthly Review *Riveting offering in Griffiths' Brighton Mysteries * Sunday Post *Intriguing, multi-layered and full of rich period detail with each character honed to perfection * Lancashire Evening Press *Elly has shot into the top ranks of British crime writers after building an impressive catalogue of bestsellers * Peterborough Telegraph *Gripping . . . magical . . . we loved it * Woman's Weekly *Full of period charm and fiendish plotting * Mail on Sunday *

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Book SynopsisA murderer strikes at a school reunion—but the students are no strangers to death— in this propulsive, twisty thriller from the internationally bestselling author of the Ruth Galloway Mysteries Is it possible to forget that you’ve committed a murder?When Cassie Fitzgerald was at school in the late 90s, she and her friends killed a fellow student. Almost twenty years later, Cassie is a happily married mother who loves her job—as a police officer. She closely guards the secret she has all but erased from her memory.One day her husband finally persuades her to go to a school reunion. Cassie catches up with her high-achieving old friends from the Manor Park School—among them two politicians, a rock star, and a famous actress. But then, shockingly, one of them, Garfield Rice, is found dead in the school bathroom, supposedly from a drug overdose. As Garfield was an eminent—and controversial—MP and the investigation is high profile, it’s headed by Cassie’s new boss, DI Harbinder Kaur, freshly promoted and newly arrived in London. The trouble is, Cassie can’t shake the feeling that one of them has killed again.Is Cassie right, or was Garfield murdered by one of his political cronies? It’s in Cassie’s interest to skew the investigation so that it looks like it has nothing to do with Manor Park and she seems to be succeeding.Until someone else from the reunion is found dead in Bleeding Heart Yard…

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Book SynopsisThe discovery of a missing woman’s bones force Ruth and Nelson to finally confront their feelings for each other as they desperately work to exonerate one of their own in this not-to-be-missed Ruth Galloway mystery from USA Today bestselling author Elly Griffiths. When builders discover a human skeleton during a renovation of a café, they call in archeologist Dr. Ruth Galloway, who is preoccupied with the threatened closure of her department and by her ever-complicated relationship with DCI Nelson. The bones turn out to be modern—the remains of Emily Pickering, a young archaeology student who went missing in 2002. Suspicion soon falls on Emily’s Cambridge tutor and also on another archeology enthusiast who was part of the group gathered the weekend before she disappeared—Ruth’s friend Cathbad.As they investigate, Nelson and his team uncover a tangled web of relationships within the archeology group and look for a link between them and the café where Emily’s bones were found. Then, just when the team seem to be making progress, Cathbad disappears. The trail leads Ruth a to the Neolithic flint mines in Grimes Graves. The race is on, first to find Cathbad and then to exonerate him, but will Ruth and Nelson uncover the truth in time to save their friend?

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Book SynopsisInternational Bestseller Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel 'This lively whodunit keeps you guessing until the end.' —People Death lies between the lines when the events of a dark story start coming true in this haunting modern Gothic mystery, perfect for fans of Magpie Murders and The Lake House. Clare Cassidy is no stranger to murder. A high school teacher specializing in the Gothic writer R. M. Holland, she even teaches a course on him. But when one of Clare’s colleagues is found dead, with a line from Holland’s iconic story “The Stranger” left by her body, Clare is horrified to see her life collide with her favorite literature. The police suspect the killer is someone Clare knows. Unsure whom to trust, she turns to her diary, the only outlet for her suspicions and fears. Then one day she notices something odd. Writing that is

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Book SynopsisThe Brighton police force is on the hunt for another killer, but this time they have some competition—a newly formed all-women’s private eye firm, led by none other than the police chief’s wife. Newly minted PI Emma Holmes and her partner Sam Collins are just settling into their business when they’re chosen for a high-profile case: retired music-hall star Verity Malone hires them to find out who poisoned her husband, a theater impresario. Verity herself has been accused of the crime. The only hitch—the Brighton police are already on the case, putting Emma in direct competition with her husband, police superintendent Edgar Stephens. Soon Emma realizes that Verity’s life intersects closely with her own—most notably in their mutual connection, Max Mephisto, who has returned to England from America with his children and famous wife, Hollywood star Lydia Lamont. Lydia, desperately bored in the countryside, ca

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Book SynopsisForensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway changed her life—until a convicted killer tells her that four of his victims were never found, drawing her back to the place she left behind. Everything has changed for Ruth Galloway. She has a new job, home, and partner, and she is no longer north Norfolk police’s resident forensic archaeologist. That is, until convicted murderer Ivor March offers to make DCI Nelson a deal. Nelson was always sure that March killed more women than he was charged with. Now March confirms this and offers to show Nelson where the other bodies are buried—but only if Ruth will do the digging. Curious, but wary, Ruth agrees. March tells Ruth that he killed four more women and that their bodies are buried near a village bordering the fens, said to be haunted by the Lantern Men, mysterious figures holding lights that lure travelers to their deaths. Is Ivor March himself a lantern man, luring Ruth ba

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Book SynopsisMurder 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 esc

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Book SynopsisThere’s nothing Ruth Galloway hates more than amateur archaeologists, but when a group of them stumble upon Bronze Age artifacts alongside a dead body, she finds herself thrust into their midst—and into the crosshairs of a string of murders circling ever closer.Ruth is back as head of archaeology at the University of North Norfolk when a group of local metal detectorists—the so-called Night Hawks—uncovers Bronze Age artifacts on the beach, alongside a recently deceased body, just washed ashore. Not long after, the same detectorists uncover a murder-suicide—a scientist and his wife found at their farmhouse, long thought to be haunted by the Black Shuck, a humongous black dog and a harbinger of death. The further DCI Nelson probes into both cases, the more intertwined they become, and the closer they circle to David Brown, the new lecturer Ruth has recently hired, who seems always to turn up wherever Ruth goes.

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Book SynopsisRuth Galloway uncovers the bones of what might be a notorious Victorian child murderess and a baby snatcher known as The Childminder threatens modern-day Norfolk in this irresistible mystery from Elly Griffiths. The service of the Outcast Dead is held annually in Norwich, commemorating the bodies in the paupers' graves. This year's proceedings hold special interest for forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway, who has just unearthed the notorious Mother Hook, hanged in 1867 at Norwich Castle for killing multiple children. Now Ruth is reluctantly starring in a TV special, working alongside the alluring historian Dr. Frank Barker. Nearby, DCI Harry Nelson is investigating the case of three children found dead in their home when another child is abducted. A kidnapper dubbed the Childminder claims responsibility, but is the Childminder behind the deaths too? The team races to find out—and after a child close to everyone involved disappears, the stakes couldn't

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