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Brighton Mysteries Books in Order

7 Books
2014 – 2023 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start with the Brighton Mysteries

For the best reading experience, you should start the Brighton Mysteries with the very first book, The Zig Zag Girl. The series relies heavily on character development, changing relationships, and shared history. Starting at the beginning helps you understand the deep bond and wartime secrets shared between Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens and magician Max Mephisto.

Brighton Mysteries Book Order (Publication & Chronological)

Fortunately, the publication order of the Brighton Mysteries aligns perfectly with its internal chronology. You can read the books in the order they were released without worrying about confusing timelines. Here is the complete list of books in order:

  1. The Zig Zag Girl (2014) – Set in 1950. A gruesome murder mimics a classic magic trick, bringing Edgar and Max back together.
  2. Smoke and Mirrors (2015) – Set in 1951. During pantomime season, the duo investigates the disappearance of two children in a case echoing Hansel and Gretel.
  3. The Blood Card (2016) – Set in 1953. Edgar and Max navigate the tense atmosphere leading up to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
  4. The Vanishing Box (2017) – Set in late 1953. A body is discovered in a magician's trick box, forcing Max and Edgar into the dark side of showbiz.
  5. Now You See Them (2019) – Set in 1964. The series jumps a decade forward to the swinging sixties, where Edgar is now a Superintendent and Brighton is facing tensions between Mods and Rockers.
  6. The Midnight Hour (2021) – Set in 1965. Emma Holmes and Sam Collins set up their own private detective agency, operating alongside and sometimes in competition with the local police.
  7. The Great Deceiver (2023) – Set in 1966. A magician's assistant is found dead, leading to a complex web of theatrical secrets.

The Decade Jump and Focus Shift

While the series follows a linear chronology, it is divided into two distinct eras. The first four books are firmly rooted in the early 1950s, focusing on the post-war recovery and the tight-knit variety theater scene. Beginning with Now You See Them, the narrative shifts forward by ten years into the mid-1960s.

Along with this time jump, the spotlight widens. While Edgar and Max remain central, Edgar's wife, Emma Holmes, and her business partner, Sam Collins, take center stage in the later books as private investigators. This transition gives the latter half of the series a fresh, cozy private-eye dynamic while maintaining the beloved cast and theatrical flair.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best starting point for the Brighton Mysteries?

You should start with the first novel, The Zig Zag Girl. This introduces the core characters, Edgar Stephens and Max Mephisto, and explains their shared history in the Magic Men wartime unit.

QAre the Brighton Mysteries books in chronological order?

Yes. The publication order matches the chronological setting of the books, starting in 1950 with The Zig Zag Girl and progressing through to 1966 in The Great Deceiver.

QIs there a spin-off series focusing on Emma Holmes and Sam Collins?

No. While Emma Holmes and Sam Collins open their own private detective agency in The Midnight Hour, their investigations are fully integrated into the main Brighton Mysteries series rather than a separate spin-off.

QWho are the Magic Men?

The Magic Men was a secret wartime intelligence unit during World War II that used stage illusions, misdirection, and theatrical tricks to deceive the enemy. Both Edgar Stephens and Max Mephisto served in this unit.

QIs the Brighton Mysteries series completed?

As of mid-2026, The Great Deceiver (published in 2023) is the seventh and most recent book. Author Elly Griffiths has not officially announced whether she will write an eighth installment, but the series has not been formally declared finished.