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melissa_who_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This series has transitioned from being primarily about two men - Max Mephisto and Edgar Stephens - to about the way women were treated during the 50s and early 60s. POV characters include Edgar's wife, Emma, deeply disappointed and bored with her life as a "housewife" when she trained to be a detective, to Meg Connelly, the new WPC who pushes to be allowed to do more policing. Sam Collins gets a nod too - she's unhappy with her role at the newspaper, as they won't assign the juicy reporting to her. Ruby is the only woman truly satisfied with her lot in life s a career woman making her own decisions. The mystery follows the disappearance of several young women, including the murder of one of them. Emma, Meg, Sam, and Ruby all play their critical parts by the end. Edgar is the superintendent of police, and worried about the potential riots between the mods and the rockers - and Max is back from America after an eleven-year absence, during which he married a film star and has two more children.
iowabluebird's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rapscallion1985's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
tonicha's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
katerina_d's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
caeliniscreepy's review
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
4.25
The best in this series so far I think
stephmcd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jacki_f's review
3.0
This is the fifth book in Elly Griffith's "Magic Men" series. While the first four were set close together in time, this one jumps forward 11 years to 1964. Superintendant Edgar Stephens has now been married for ten years and has three children. Max Mephisto is also married to a US actress but is back in the UK for a funeral when the book opens. The jump forward in time was a good move: the characters have developed and have new issues in their lives. However if you haven't read any of the others in the series, this also works as a standalone.
Elly Griffith's books skirt the middle ground between crime and cosy crime. They are not literary but they are very readable with engaging characters, interesting settings and intriguing plots. In this case the story is about the disappearance of a local schoolgirl which is then linked to two other recent disappearances. The central mystery unfolds at a good pace with the occasional clue and plenty of red herrings. But I was more interested in the issues faced by the female characters. Edgar's wife Emma had to retire from the police force when she married and acutely misses the stimulation that detective work brought. There are limited options for married women in 1960s Brighton who don't find housekeeping and childraising satisfying.
Another interesting character is Meg Connolly, aged 19 and a new recruit to the Police Force. She is bright and eager but also feels like her options as a woman are somewhat limited. There is also a female journalist who is desperate to do investigative journalism but keeps getting assigned to softer, female-focused pieces.
I prefer Elly Griffith's "Ruth Galloway" series, but I did like this and the ending of this book implies that this series is heading in an interesting direction.
Elly Griffith's books skirt the middle ground between crime and cosy crime. They are not literary but they are very readable with engaging characters, interesting settings and intriguing plots. In this case the story is about the disappearance of a local schoolgirl which is then linked to two other recent disappearances. The central mystery unfolds at a good pace with the occasional clue and plenty of red herrings. But I was more interested in the issues faced by the female characters. Edgar's wife Emma had to retire from the police force when she married and acutely misses the stimulation that detective work brought. There are limited options for married women in 1960s Brighton who don't find housekeeping and childraising satisfying.
Another interesting character is Meg Connolly, aged 19 and a new recruit to the Police Force. She is bright and eager but also feels like her options as a woman are somewhat limited. There is also a female journalist who is desperate to do investigative journalism but keeps getting assigned to softer, female-focused pieces.
I prefer Elly Griffith's "Ruth Galloway" series, but I did like this and the ending of this book implies that this series is heading in an interesting direction.
dogearedandfurry's review
4.0
This one has jumped ahead 11 years after the previous book, so it took a little while to adjust to the new setting - at least with Max’s changes. But a good solid plot, well paced and interesting. I think we were meant to find Emma’s housewife status boring and frustrating, as she does - though the bit at the end with Marianne was a big “seriously?!” moment. As a mother and former detective, how would she have let it happen? But we see things resolve and set up for the next book and it sounds like Emma will get more of a challenge.