Book Review: ‘The Midnight Hour’ by Elly Griffiths

I love historical crime and this series ticks all the boxes for me (if we are OK with calling the 1960s ‘historical’!) – this isn’t my first book in this series and so I knew more or less what to expect. I wasn’t disappointed and actually think this is one of the stronger instalments in the series.

In this book, set in 1965, a theatrical impresario (Bert Billington) is found dead. When it is revealed that he was poisoned, the suspicion falls on his wife and ex-showgirl, Verity. However, it seems that there are plenty of people with a grudge against Bert – and private detective duo Emma Holmes and Sam Collins are called in to see if they can help when the police are failing.

Having previous knowledge of the series definitely helped as regular readers will know that Emma Holmes (one half of the private detective duo) used to be a police officer until she married Edgar Stephens, her boss. It also helps to have a bit of a back story for Max Mephisto and his daughter, Ruby, who crop up as regulars in the novels. All this is explained in the back of the book for new readers, but I think knowing it makes those who have followed the series more invested in the characters.

What I love about these novels is the show business setting – both the old-fashioned world of music halls and pantomimes and the new film industry. The fact that some of this book centres around the filming of ‘Dracula’ in Whitby is a huge bonus for me as I love the story and the place. The fact that movie stars and showgirls rub shoulders with police officers (who are sometimes starstruck) is an engaging element of the novel.

I also like the characters – especially Meg Connolly, the young police officer who is at the centre of the police side of the investigation. She’s a charming and endearing character – a bit self-conscious at times, but really finding her feet in the Brighton police force. I also especially liked eccentric new widow Verity – a woman with one eye on her showbiz past and not willing to give up the limelight yet.

The plotting of this one is well-done and I had absolutely no idea where it was going! It isn’t fast-paced or packed with thrills, but is instead gently engaging – I actually read this in one sitting as I hid from the heatwave outside and it was an absolute pleasure to be in 1960s Brighton for a few hours.

I’d recommend this to those who enjoy police procedurals with an interesting historical setting. The social history of the era is well done and there is a quiet feminist slant in the depiction of so many capable and strong women on all sides of the investigation. I’d recommend that you start earlier in the series if you haven’t met these characters before, but only so you don’t miss some of the lovely characterisation and subtleties of the relationships.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This book will be published on 30th September, 2021. If you’d like a copy, please use my affiliate link below – thanks for supporting my blog with any purchases:

If you’d rather start the beginning of the series (in the world of stage magicians in 1950 and a gruesome murder), this is the one you want…

Header photo by Veerle Contant on Unsplash.