The Last Word

A Novel

By: Elly Griffiths

Narrated by: Nina Wadia

Words turn deadly with an unlikely detective duo on the case of a murdered obituary writer in this literary mystery from the internationally bestselling author of the Ruth Galloway series. Perfect for fans of Richard Osman and the Thursday Murder Club.

Natalka and Edwin are perfect if improbable partners in a detective agency. At eighty-four, Edwin regularly claims that he’s the oldest detective in England. He is a master at surveillance, deploying his age as a cloak of invisibility. Natalka, Ukrainian-born and more than fifty years his junior, is a math whizz, who takes any cases concerning fraud or deception. Despite a steady stream of minor cases, Natalka is frustrated. She loves a murder, as she’s fond of saying, and none have come the agency’s way. That is until local writer Melody Chambers dies.

Melody’s daughters are convinced that their mother was murdered. Edwin thinks that Melody’s death is linked to that of an obituary writer who predeceased many of his subjects. Edwin and Benedict go undercover to investigate and are on a creative writing weekend at isolated Battle House when another murder occurs. Are the cases linked and what is the role of a distinctly sinister book group attended by many of writers involved? By the time Edwin has infiltrated the group, he is in serious danger…

Seeking professional help, the investigators turn to their friend, detective Harbinder Kaur, and find that they have stumbled on a plot that is stranger than fiction.

©2024 Elly Griffiths (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Another great installment by Elly Griffiths

Great narration, love the characters. A little slow to start, but I love the thoughtfulness and different perspectives of the characters.

Love Elly Griffith!

Loved the characters!
She has a way w/ words & plot.
All of the Ruth & Kate books are fabulous!

Ruth Galloway this is not.

I dearly loved all of the Dr. Ruth Galloway mysteries. This one is simply not my kind a mystery. Very clever story line and characters however. This should appeal to many, just not me.

Decent story but

Far far too long. Where did the editor go? So much that was more negative than positive. Took a while to get into story, but it felt like quicksand trying to find the end and get out!

A new road for Elly Griffiths

A bit long and meandering. Lots of characters to keep track of. If you’re hoping for Ruth Galloway, she’s not here.

Too slow to start

I didn’t enjoy the readers voice for this book. Made it too quaint. Also, too monotone which made parts of it uninteresting.

Not my favorite installment in this series

I really enjoyed the first three books in this series. The characters, the stories, the unraveling of the mysteries — all great. Harbinger is one of my favorite characters. The story in book 4 had so many characters it was difficult to track them, and—I don’t know if it was the pacing or the storytelling — but I did not enjoy this book as much as the first three. Moreover, Harbinger’s involvement in the story is minimal
which was disappointing.

I love these characters!

Funny, suspenseful, who done it! As always when reading about Edwin, Benedict, and Natalka I laughed out loud, smiled from ear to ear, and cried a little too. I couldn't guess the murderer which made it a wonderful ride. The narrator is perfect and her accents make it so real. I will read every book about these beautiful characters.

Wonderful characters

I struggled keeping track of all the suspect. But I suspect it is because I am old. I have loved Ms Griffiths novels since the beginning. I loved this one as well

More Harbinder, Please!

As enjoyable as this book was, I so miss the focus on Harbinder and her lovely, humorous parents. With the recent books in this series, Harbinder has become a minor character, and the series, while still good, is so similar to others that it hardly stands out from the crowd.

For anyone who hasn’t read the first and second installments in this series, treat yourself. You won’t be disappointed!