In this nail-biting transatlantic mystery, threat of mass violence looms over Elizabeth II’s coronation–can Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens and the magician Max Mephisto crack the case and save the crown?
The Blood Card, #3 in the Stephens and Mephisto series.
This is such a different, but good, cozy series– set in 1950’s Brighton, England and surrounding towns. The regrowth during the post war years is so interesting, as is the ‘new’ excitement over television and whether or not it ‘will catch on’. One of the main characters is a policeman, but the other is a magician which is a fun occupation and lends itself well to the mystery. Such a good read!
Author
patriciagulley
3 years ago
Good mystery, realistic view of love story
Author
christysanto
3 years ago
The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths is the third book in the Magic Men Mystery Series. It opens in 1953 England and the entire nation is preparing for Elizabeth’s coronation.
At the same time televisions have taken England by storm and Max Mephisto and his daughter Ruby will appear in on a live variety show at the Theater Royal that will air simultaneously on televisions across the nation.
Meanwhile, DI Edgar Stephens investigates the death of a fortune teller when news arrives his and Max’s former commander, Colonel Cartwright has died from a knife wound.
When Max hears about it he wishes to help Edgar. However, with his current magic show and practice for the variety show about to begin, it is up to Edgar and his sergeants Emma and Bob to handle things.
Mixed in with the two central mysteries is Emma’s longing to tell Edgar she is in love with him. However Edgar and Ruby are engaged and although she said yes a date for the wedding has not been set.
As with the first two Magic Men Mysteries I enjoyed the third book much the same way. This book is also really good for mystery fans but if you like romance books too, this series will not disappoint on that either.
Author
dhsmith
3 years ago
A well written, good story, based in Brighton 1953, with an excusion to the United States. The main characters are a cop, DI Edgar Stephens and a stage magician Max Mephisto. I especially like the way it captures the period and variety theatre, as it tells the story. We get caught up in the Queen’ Coronation of that year with a nail bitting finish which could blow a theatre skyhigh. All in all, a great whodunit. Elly Griffiths is one of my favourite writers.
Author
jillelizabeth
3 years ago
———-
“It’s never a good idea to forget the women”
– Max Mephisto
———-
This is such a marvelous series. I stumbled upon the first book at the library, and am now a devoted fan. In this third installment, the talented Elly Griffiths takes her main characters – DI Edgar Stephens and the amazing magician Max Mephisto – on yet another murderous adventure, this time featuring gypsies, anarchists, and even – gasp! – television… The Magic Men (a top-secret WWII group of entertainers-turned-soldiers) are largely disbanded, but the crew still comes together when crisis beckons – and often, those crises involve the history of the MM themselves. The series is well-written, the characters are thoroughly human and as entertaining as their acts, and the misdirection and secrets are thick on the ground. The setting is carefully crafted, with nods to the changing times in and around London. The books offer a nice snapshot into the British post-war mindset and are full of interesting details and tidbits that are sprinkled evenly throughout, enriching the stories and providing a great backdrop for the engaging mysteries that form the backbone of the series.
The Blood Card, #3 in the Stephens and Mephisto series.
This is such a different, but good, cozy series– set in 1950’s Brighton, England and surrounding towns. The regrowth during the post war years is so interesting, as is the ‘new’ excitement over television and whether or not it ‘will catch on’. One of the main characters is a policeman, but the other is a magician which is a fun occupation and lends itself well to the mystery. Such a good read!
Good mystery, realistic view of love story
The Blood Card by Elly Griffiths is the third book in the Magic Men Mystery Series. It opens in 1953 England and the entire nation is preparing for Elizabeth’s coronation.
At the same time televisions have taken England by storm and Max Mephisto and his daughter Ruby will appear in on a live variety show at the Theater Royal that will air simultaneously on televisions across the nation.
Meanwhile, DI Edgar Stephens investigates the death of a fortune teller when news arrives his and Max’s former commander, Colonel Cartwright has died from a knife wound.
When Max hears about it he wishes to help Edgar. However, with his current magic show and practice for the variety show about to begin, it is up to Edgar and his sergeants Emma and Bob to handle things.
Mixed in with the two central mysteries is Emma’s longing to tell Edgar she is in love with him. However Edgar and Ruby are engaged and although she said yes a date for the wedding has not been set.
As with the first two Magic Men Mysteries I enjoyed the third book much the same way. This book is also really good for mystery fans but if you like romance books too, this series will not disappoint on that either.
A well written, good story, based in Brighton 1953, with an excusion to the United States. The main characters are a cop, DI Edgar Stephens and a stage magician Max Mephisto. I especially like the way it captures the period and variety theatre, as it tells the story. We get caught up in the Queen’ Coronation of that year with a nail bitting finish which could blow a theatre skyhigh. All in all, a great whodunit. Elly Griffiths is one of my favourite writers.
———-
“It’s never a good idea to forget the women”
– Max Mephisto
———-
This is such a marvelous series. I stumbled upon the first book at the library, and am now a devoted fan. In this third installment, the talented Elly Griffiths takes her main characters – DI Edgar Stephens and the amazing magician Max Mephisto – on yet another murderous adventure, this time featuring gypsies, anarchists, and even – gasp! – television… The Magic Men (a top-secret WWII group of entertainers-turned-soldiers) are largely disbanded, but the crew still comes together when crisis beckons – and often, those crises involve the history of the MM themselves. The series is well-written, the characters are thoroughly human and as entertaining as their acts, and the misdirection and secrets are thick on the ground. The setting is carefully crafted, with nods to the changing times in and around London. The books offer a nice snapshot into the British post-war mindset and are full of interesting details and tidbits that are sprinkled evenly throughout, enriching the stories and providing a great backdrop for the engaging mysteries that form the backbone of the series.
My review copy was provided by NetGalley.