In 2021, Elly Griffiths introduced us to a number of colorful characters, all of whom were involved in a murder mystery that had a literary reference at its heart. THE POSTSCRIPT MURDERS found Detective Sergeant Harbinder Kaur stumped by the death of 90-year-old Peggy Smith. That is, until she teamed up with an unlikely duo: octogenarian Edwin Fitzgerald and his partner, Natalka Kolisnyk, who is more than 50 years his junior. They run a detective agency with the assistance of Natalka’s boyfriend, ex-monk Benedict Cole.

"THE LAST WORD is such a perfect mystery for fans of great literature and reading in general, as the written word is used as the very motive and impetus for the murders that are committed."

Peggy Smith had her name used throughout various books as a postscript reference. You see, Edwin and company are big fans of modern and classic literature. Readers of Griffiths’ work should be thrilled to see these characters return in her latest release, THE LAST WORD. Once again, we have a murder --- or, in this case, multiple murders --- that utilizes literature and the written word specifically in the clues and the overall plot.

The novel opens with a great quote that proves to have a lot of bearing on what is to come in this clever narrative: “Read your own obituary notice; they say you live longer” (James Joyce, ULYSSES). Natalka is a stickler for uncovering fraud and deception, and it feels like something fishy is going on with their current case. Their newest clients are sisters Minnie and Harmony, who believe that their mother, Melody Chambers, is a homicide victim.

Edwin learns that Melody’s obituary was written by Malcolm Collins, who died long before she did. Natalka reaches out to Harbinder Kaur as numerous deaths are linked to other strange obituaries that supposedly came from Malcolm. It turns out that Melody was involved with a writer’s retreat, Battle House, that also has ties to the obituary writer. Malcolm was there just prior to his death in 2021, but no foul play was suspected.

To determine exactly what is going on, Edwin and Benedict go to Battle House and pose as unsuccessful writers seeking the solace and support of other fledgling authors. They immerse themselves in the quiet and sedentary lifestyle sought out by its visitors. The attendees are quite a suspicious lot, and when one of them is found floating face down in a lake, this undercover mission takes a deadly turn.

THE LAST WORD is such a perfect mystery for fans of great literature and reading in general, as the written word is used as the very motive and impetus for the murders that are committed. Elly Griffiths also peppers her tale with literary references that include such authors as Dame Agatha Christie, Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins, which makes for a twisted love letter to book lovers.