As soon as began reading The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths I was comparing this new series with the author's first series (Ruth Galloway). There was a familiarity about it yet it was different. The humour is still there. And the characters? I was interested to see the main character has 'a difficult mother'. In the Ruth Golloway books her parents are born again Christians and 'difficult'. There's still the feeling of parent disapproval of offspring's job/life choices. Did I enjoy it? Yes, I did. Sometimes I feel I know the author. She chooses places I have been to to set her stories (this time Brighton which I know quite well - stopping off at Eastbourne, Worthing and Hastings - I know them all!). I can't say I have the same interest in magic acts as I have for archaeology but this didn't matter.
One big difference in this book is the era. While the Ruth Galloway novels are set in the present day, the Stephens and Mephisto Mystery series is set in the early 1950's shortly after WWII. The lead character is a DI with Brighton Police, but was part of a special team called the Magic Men in the war. Their aim was to confuse the Germans by illusion. Part of the team was magician Max Mephisto who performs the Zig Zag trick on stage.
The story begins with a dismembered body who turns out to be Max's former assistant Ethel, then after another death it looks as if someone is out to get the former Magic Men. DI Edgar Stephens and Max set about contacting their former team and a tragedy from those times comes back to haunt. There's a great climax at the end with quick scene changes which pumps up the tension. Good stuff.
I have to say that I worked out early on who did it, but I wavered now and then as other 'red herrings' were set up. It did not spoil the enjoyment of this book. The reader is plunged into the life of 1950's variety which, though slightly before my time, was still very much around when it was my time! So there is the nostalgia element.
At the end of the book the readers learns more about the author, including the fact that after the First World War her granddad became a music hall comedian and was a friend of a famous magician. I was fascinated to read these notes with background to the story. What a fascinating family Elly Griffiths comes from. Finally there is the prologue and first chapter of the next book in the series, entitled Smoke and Mirrors. I am a big fan of Elly Griffiths, so I suppose I am biased. I still love her Ruth Galloway series (the next one will be on my Christmas list) but this series looks promising.
One big difference in this book is the era. While the Ruth Galloway novels are set in the present day, the Stephens and Mephisto Mystery series is set in the early 1950's shortly after WWII. The lead character is a DI with Brighton Police, but was part of a special team called the Magic Men in the war. Their aim was to confuse the Germans by illusion. Part of the team was magician Max Mephisto who performs the Zig Zag trick on stage.
The story begins with a dismembered body who turns out to be Max's former assistant Ethel, then after another death it looks as if someone is out to get the former Magic Men. DI Edgar Stephens and Max set about contacting their former team and a tragedy from those times comes back to haunt. There's a great climax at the end with quick scene changes which pumps up the tension. Good stuff.
I have to say that I worked out early on who did it, but I wavered now and then as other 'red herrings' were set up. It did not spoil the enjoyment of this book. The reader is plunged into the life of 1950's variety which, though slightly before my time, was still very much around when it was my time! So there is the nostalgia element.
At the end of the book the readers learns more about the author, including the fact that after the First World War her granddad became a music hall comedian and was a friend of a famous magician. I was fascinated to read these notes with background to the story. What a fascinating family Elly Griffiths comes from. Finally there is the prologue and first chapter of the next book in the series, entitled Smoke and Mirrors. I am a big fan of Elly Griffiths, so I suppose I am biased. I still love her Ruth Galloway series (the next one will be on my Christmas list) but this series looks promising.
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