Brighton, winter 1951.
Pantomime season is in full swing on the pier with Max Mephisto starring in Aladdin, but Max’s headlines have been stolen by the disappearance ’of two local children. When they are found dead in the snow, surrounded by sweets, it’s not long before the press nickname them ‘Hansel and Gretel’.
DI Edgar Stephens has plenty of leads to investigate. The girl, Annie, used to write gruesome plays based on the Grimms’ fairy tales. Does the clue lie in Annie’s unfinished – and rather disturbing – last script? Or might it lie with the eccentric theatricals who have assembled for the pantomime?
For Stan (aka the Great Diablo), who’s also appearing in Aladdin, the case raises more personal memories. Back before the Great War, he witnessed the murder of a young girl while he was starring in another show, an event which has eerie parallels to the current case.
Once again Edgar enlists Max’s help in penetrating the shadowy theatrical world that seems to hold the key. But with both distracted by their own personal problems, neither can afford to miss a trick. For Annie and her friend, time is running out…
This is the second book in Elly Griffiths’ Brighton Mysteries series. DI
Edgar Stephens is searching for two children who went missing and were
eventually found dead. He calls on his good friend and army buddy, Max
Mephisto, to help because of the children’s connection to the theater.
Most of the ancillary characters return in this story too. The story is
set in post-World War II Brighton. England is working hard to
rebuild its economy, but it is a slow process.
I liked the first book in the series but didn’t love it. Mainly, because the first story slowed in some places,
Smoke and Mirrors
improves the pace with more action in the case and the characters’
personal lives. The activity is better suited for a murder mystery.
Right at the beginning, we learn that two children are missing, and the
police are moving quickly to find them. When the children were located,
the police worked hard to find clues that would lead them to the killer.
The
author does an excellent job building tension as the main characters
search for the killer. The police are working around the clock, fighting
exhaustion and frustration because they can’t make an arrest. Also, Griffiths does an excellent job of making the reader care for the characters by
introducing tidbits of information with a glimpse into their personal
lives.
I enjoyed following the clues with Stephens and Mephisto.
I was taken by surprise when the killer was revealed. I didn’t see that
coming at all. I focused on another character entirely. At several
points, I found myself nervous for the investigators and afraid they
would make a wrong move that would put them in harm’s way.
The
same narrator as the first book, James Langton, performed this story. I
don’t know if I’m used to his delivery now or if he did a better job,
but he quickly pulled me into the investigation. His
performance is suited to this mystery and the setting. The jealousy
among many of the characters because of the times comes through. It was
easy to experience the chill that was ever present from not only the
cold, snowy days and nights but from the fear that another child was
soon to be murdered.
Smoke and Mirrors
is a perfect mystery for me. I will continue reading this series.
4 Stars
No comments:
Post a Comment