A review by jacki_f
The Midnight Hour by Elly Griffiths

4.0

We’re in 1965 Brighton and theatrical impresario Bert Billington has been poisoned. Superintendent Edgar Holme’s team is investigating, but Bert’s widow has also hired a private investigation team: Holme’s wife (and former colleague) Emma and her partner. The two teams work independently at first but after there’s another murder, they gradually start to co-operate and Emma forms a bond with junior police officer Meg Connolly.

This is the 6th book in Elly Griffith’s “Brighton Mysteries” series. Technically you could read this as a standalone (and there is a guide to the main characters and their back stories at the end of the book), but you’ll enjoy it far more if you have at least read [b:Now You See Them|42958878|Now You See Them (Stephens & Mephisto Mystery, #5)|Elly Griffiths|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556803022l/42958878._SY75_.jpg|66771406] and have a sense of who everyone is. I felt like I was catching up with old friends.

I really like this series which has a endearingly retro feel to it and which occupies the middle ground between crime and cosy crime. Even though there are murders there is no serious tension or unpleasant violence. The appeal lies in the engaging characters, the interesting setting and the insight into life at that time. If you’ve read the Ruth Galloway series this is not quite - but almost - as good.