Enjoyable enough for a crime book. ( )

Not Griffiths best, but I may be biased because I'm still mourning the end to her Ruth Galloway series. ( )

I enjoyed this book but not as much as Books 1 and 2 in the series. In Book 3 the focus broadened from “typical detective fiction” to include the main characters and their relationships. In Book 4 this focus on the relationships of the characters was furthered developed, unfortunately in my opinion to the detriment of the book. I must admit I do prefer traditional crime novels where the reader is engaged with the characters in solving the crime – not their every increasingly complicated personal lives. In Book 4 we have relationship and career crisis taking “front stage” with the solving of the crime occurring in the interludes. I do prefer the way Elly Griffiths manages crime fiction and personal relationships much better with her Ruth Galloway series.

It is a good book and I recommend to readers who enjoy novels that feature historical time periods combined with main characters from interesting professions. With the Stephens and Mephisto series it is the 1950s and magic and the theatre life.
( )

Just before Christmas, a series of murders takes place in the seaside resort town of Brighton. All of the murders seem to center around a nudie show playing at the Hippodrome. Much to the chagrin of Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens, his future father-in-law Max Mephisto the magician becomes a prime suspect. Of course, Max didn’t do it, but who could have perpetrated such a series of bizarre murders, and why?

The actual murderer is obvious to the reader very early on, so most of the book is just a tedious slog of boring sub-stories, unsavory character studies, & bungling police work. Consequently, the book drags on for 150+ pages longer than it should.

The gratuitous sex scenes & nudity only succeed in making this already tedious book downright sleazy.

The strangest thing about the book is the way the author presents her lead character, Max Mephisto. From the way he is described, the way he talks about himself, and the way other characters talk about him, Mephisto comes across as a man in his sixties; yet, his age is repeatedly given as forty-four throughout the book. It’s just plain odd and reveals the author’s lack of skill as a writer. ( )

I started to read Elly Griffith's Ruth Galloway series several years ago and I quite liked reading about an archaeologist involved in murder cases. So, when the first book in the Stephens & Mephisto Mystery was released was I curious to see how this series, set in the 50s would be. And, there is something quite pleasant and different with a crime series with a policeman and magician as "partners". Well, it's not like they work together, Max and Edgar were in the army together and now Edgar's work as a DI will sometimes need help from his old buddy, and btw the father of Edgar's fiance Ruby.

This time is it the death of a young girl that starts off it all. Why would anyone want to kill an innocent and shy girl that works selling flowers in Brighton? While Edgar tries to solve the murder, are Max and Ruby performing together, but soon will Max be drawn into Edgar's world when more people get killed...

The Vanishing Box is a pleasant book to read. Max and Edgar feel like old friends and I love the setting of the 50s England. The case is puzzling and tragic. I did find the story sometimes a bit slow, not that it was hard to focus on what was going on instead it was more like it just didn't grip me. Not even the end, when everything was revealed. Also, there is a kind of love triangle in this book and the development in this book with the three people felt a bit rushed. Still, I will definitely read the next book and see what's next for Edgar and Max.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! ( )