Review of "The Postscript Murders: A Harbinder Kaur Mystery" by Elly Griffiths

In this 2nd book in the Harbinder Kaur series, the police detective investigates several suspicious deaths. The book works fine as a standalone.

*****

Ninety-year-old Peggy Smith lives in Seaview Court, a seaside block of retirement flats in Shoreham, England. Peggy's a nosy-parker who likes to sit in her bay window and make notes about the people she sees outside.



Shortly after Peggy observes two suspicious men sitting in a car she's found dead in her apartment, a death that's ascribed to a heart attack.

Peggy's carer, a beautiful Ukranian woman called Natalka, doesn't buy the natural death scenario.



While packing Peggy's books, Natalka notes that many mystery novels are either dedicated to Peggy or mention Peggy in the acknowledgements, and Peggy has a business card that reads 'Mrs. M. Smith, Murder Consultant.'

Natalka hastens to the police station.....



....and reports her suspicions about Peggy's death to Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur.



Harbinder agrees that 'murder consultant' has a sinister ring to it, but isn't especially alarmed by (what seems to be) the death of an elderly woman from natural causes.

Natalka then shares her concerns with two friends who knew Peggy: Benedict - a thirtysomething former monk who now runs a coffee shop;



and Edwin - an elderly gent who lives in Peggy's apartment building.



With Natalka's urging, the odd threesome decide to launch their own investigation into Peggy's death, a seriocomic exercise that's both fun and dangerous.



The amateur sleuths attend Peggy's funeral, because the 'murderer always goes to the funeral', after which Natalka and Benedict search Peggy's apartment for clues. While the duo are looking through Peggy's things, a masked figure enters the residence, points a gun at them, grabs a book, and runs out.



This incident DOES make DS Harbinder Kaur suspicious, and the subsequent murder of a mystery author who mentioned Peggy in all his books clinches the deal. Harbinder accepts that the deaths of Peggy and the writer might be linked.

While Harbinder makes inquiries in Shoreham with her partner DS Neil Winston, Natalka, Benedict, and Edwin engage in a parallel investigation - one that takes them to a literary festival in Aberdeen.



Another death follows, and it looks like Natalka and her cohorts might be in danger as well.

The book's plot is engaging, but the best parts of the story are the characters.

♦ Natalka is an ex-pat who can't return to Ukraine because of the conflict with Russia. Natalka has a degree in maths, a facility for trading in cryptocurrencies, and a dangerous history with the Ukranian mafia. Natalka works as a carer to have a flexible job that provides a little money.



♦ Benedict is an amiable man who loved the spiritual life of a monk but came to yearn for 'a normal life.' Benedict is shy about meeting women, but hopes a special lady will miraculously walk into his life. The café owner loves to read mysteries, and turns out to be a clever detective.



♦ Edwin is an elegant gentleman who once worked for the BBC, and still has connections in the entertainment industry. Edwin is bored with his retirement life, and longs for interesting things to do. The chance to look into a crime is pure fun for him.



♦ DS Harbinder Kaur is a gay Sikh woman who still lives with her folks. Harbinder's parents run the family store, and her mom is a wonderful cook who serves delicious Indian cuisine.



Harbinder thinks of her police partner Neil Winston, who doesn't 'get' a lot of things, as a woodland creature - sly, slightly stupid, but ultimately lovable.



Harbinder's inner thoughts about Neil's animal persona (nibble nibble nibble; twitching nose and ruffled whiskers; a squirrel deprived of its nut) provide amusing mental images.

♦ DS Neil Winston is awed by wealthy people, loves pretty English villages, and thinks the rich and beautiful are above criminal activity. Despite these limitations, Neil is a decent detective....and he loves Mrs. Kaur's cooking.

♦ Other characters in the tale include home care workers, writers, editors, agents, publicists, family members, police officers, elderly ladies, Russians, and more - so there are plenty of suspects for the murders.

The story has clever twists, and armchair sleuths will be challenged to solve the crimes.

Thanks to Netgalley, Elly Griffiths, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars