The Last Word by Elly Griffiths

I didn't think I had read the other books in this series but didn't feel the need to (in going back, I had read book #2 but didn't realize it). Oddly, though there are a few deaths in this book, I would call it a quiet mystery. I'm not sure why but it was just an enjoyable read and mostly reminds me of how Mary Balogh might write a mystery.
Natalka, a younger woman, and Edwin, who is in his eighties, run a detective agency. Natalka does this in addition to running a care agency. They finally get a bigger case when a woman's daughters come in convinced that their mother was killed by her husband.
The woman who died was a writer and their investigations lead them to a writer's retreat which Benedict (Natalka's significant other) and Edwin attend. And that's where the first person dies. Is this death connected to the other writer? That's what they are going to work to find out.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out April 23, 2024

Harbinder Kaur #4

Follows Bleeding Heart Yard

ARC kindly provided by Mariner Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Vanishing Box by Elly Griffiths

I haven't read the other books in this series but really didn't feel like I needed to. Yes, there was some back story but I felt like most of what we needed to know was filled in. An interesting story that had some hints as to who was the final villain but some things were left in the dark.
Max Mephisto and his daughter Ruby are starting to make a name for themselves. Now they are paired up with several acts including a living tableau of nearly naked women (it's not lewd as long as they don't move). Then one of the girls is murdered and Max is pulled into the investigation. Ruby's fiance and Max's old friend Inspector Edgar Stephens is officially on the case but finds himself torn as the clues start to point at Max.

Three stars
This book came out November 2nd, 2017
Follows The Blood Card
Followed by Now You See Them
Borrowed as an ebook from Libby
Opinions are my own