Step into the shadowy, sequined world of the Brighton Mysteries, where post-war Brighton’s variety theatres hide secrets darker than their velvet curtains! Penned by Elly Griffiths, this captivating historical crime series follows Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens and his old wartime comrade, magician Max Mephisto, as they unravel murders steeped in the glamour and grit of 1950s England. With its blend of intricate plots, vivid characters, and a nostalgic seaside setting, the series casts a spell that keeps readers hooked.
From chilling magic tricks gone wrong to sinister pantomime plots, the Brighton Mysteries offer a fresh take on the classic whodunit, weaving post-war Britain’s hopes and scars into every page. Ready to explore this enchanting world? Let’s pull back the curtain!
How Brighton Mysteries Began
Elly Griffiths, already beloved for her Ruth Galloway series, launched the Brighton Mysteries in 2014 with The Zig Zag Girl, inspired by her grandfather, a music hall comedian. His collection of vibrant playbills, featuring acts like “Raydini: The Gay Deceiver,” sparked Griffiths’ vision of a crime series set in Brighton’s fading theatre scene. Pairing Edgar, a methodical detective, with Max, a charismatic magician, Griffiths crafted a dynamic duo rooted in their shared wartime past as part of the secretive “Magic Men” unit, which used stage illusions to outwit enemies.
The Heart of Brighton Mysteries
The series kicks off with The Zig Zag Girl (2014), where a woman’s body, gruesomely segmented, mimics a famous magic trick, pulling Edgar and Max into a web of old grudges. Smoke and Mirrors (2015) unfolds during pantomime season, with two children found dead in a chilling echo of Hansel and Gretel. The Midnight Hour (2021) shifts to 1965, as private investigators Emma Holmes and Sam Collins probe a theatre impresario’s poisoning. The Great Deceiver (2023), set in 1966, sees a magician’s assistant’s death unravel a sinister showbiz plot.
Griffiths’ Brighton is a star in itself—peeling grandeur meets post-war rationing, with end-of-pier theatres offering escapism amid lingering war trauma. Themes of illusion versus reality, loyalty, and the clash between old traditions and a modernizing Britain weave through the series. The rise of female characters like Emma Holmes, a trailblazing detective, adds a subtle feminist thread, highlighting women’s struggles in a male-dominated era. Griffiths’ cosy-yet-dark tone, laced with humour, recalls Agatha Christie, blending comfort with suspense.
Why Brighton Mysteries Resonates
The Brighton Mysteries have carved a niche in historical crime fiction, praised for their rich period detail and serpentine plots. Fans adore the evolving relationships—Edgar’s earnestness, Max’s roguish charm, and Emma’s fierce intellect—set against a vividly drawn Brighton. Griffiths’ ability to balance nostalgia with the era’s social tensions, like post-war recovery and gender roles, gives the series depth and heart. Its growing fanbase, evident in glowing reviews and festival buzz, cements its status as a must-read for cosy crime lovers.
- First Book Published: 2014 (The Zig Zag Girl)
- Number of Books: 7 (as of 2023)
- Setting: 1950s–1960s Brighton, England
- Notable Praise: Compared to Agatha Christie by Sunday Express
Grab The Zig Zag Girl and dive into the Brighton Mysteries’ spellbinding world of murder, magic, and post-war intrigue—your next obsession awaits!