Now You See Them

The fifth novel in Elly Griffiths’ Stephens & Mephisto Mysteries, Now You See Them is set in 1960s Brighton on the eve of the Mods and Rockers clash on the beach. A lot has happened since the beginning of the series, which was set in the 1950s, but the characters still hold the same charm and appeal. It’s a decade after the events of her last novel, The Vanishing Box, and Edgar Stephens has been promoted to superintendent and is now married to former D.S. Emma Holmes. Married life is not as fulfilling as Emma thought it would be, though she loves her husband and her children, and she is determined to catch the person responsible for the latest kidnappings of young girls in the area. When one turns up dead, however, what is Emma willing to risk to be back in the game?

I am an avid fan of Griffiths’ Ruth Galloway series and have been reluctant to pick up this series for a number of reasons, mainly that I am not a fan of the time period it is set in. However, I love the author’s writing style enough to give it a try at least once and I am very happy I did. Her characters are likable and believable, and her mysteries are well managed. I look forward to adding this series to my bookshelf!