The Vanishing Box cover art

The Vanishing Box

The Brighton Mysteries 4

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The Vanishing Box

By: Elly Griffiths
Narrated by: Luke Thompson
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About this listen

 The fourth Brighton Mysteries story from the author of the bestselling Dr Ruth Galloway series - a must-read for fans of Bryant and May. 'Mixes cosiness and sharpness in a way that recalls the best of Agatha Christie' Sunday Express (on Smoke and Mirrors)

What do a murdered Brighton flower seller, the death of Cleopatra and a nude tableau show have in common? Read the most dangerous case yet for Stephens and Mephisto and find out.

Christmas 1953. Max Mephisto and his daughter Ruby are headlining Brighton Hippodrome, an achievement only slightly marred by the less-than-savoury support act: a tableau show of naked 'living statues'. This might appear to have nothing in common with DI Edgar Stephens' investigation into the death of a quiet flowerseller, but if there's one thing the old comrades have learned it's that, in Brighton, the line between art and life - and death - is all too easily blurred...

(P)2017 Quercus Editions Limited©2017 Elly Griffiths Cosy Historical Mystery Fiction Suspense

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Critic reviews

Vivid description, masterful sleight of hand and a lightness of touch add up to a terrific read for aficionados and newcomers alike
Griffiths manages to juggle humour, homicide and nostalgia in a delightful read
This series is without fail engaging and entertaining and The Vanishing Box is no exception ... I could almost smell the greasepaint and see the flutter of feathers ... Loved it!
[Griffiths] weaves a fascinating tale. And, like all good mysteries, some surprising revelations along the way with a delicious twist at the end. Highly recommended
All stars
Most relevant
Beautifully crafted story performed brilliantly bringing all the characters to life. The life of the theatre bumps into the real world in a terrific story

Brighton and its weather make a brilliant backdrop

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Over the last two weeks I've read/listened to all four books in this series and am eager to hear what happens in the lives of the main characters as they have really come to life in the last two books. Like the author's Ruth Galloway series the narratives are are greatly enriched by the revelations about the character's lives almost making the detective element of secondary importance. The narrative strongly evokes what life was like in the 1950s in a sea-side town and the uncertainty and rootlessness of the peripatetic existence of theatrical performers. The imaginative story kept me listening and was made all the better for avoiding many of the clichés of more modern detective fiction.

The narrator added to the pleasure and had a remarkable range of different voices that really made the characters feel like real people.

Engaging characters in an imaginative story

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These audio books are so entertaining, the narration so good, the stories have all the required twists and turns and reflect the timeframe so well. Elly Griffiths is a master story teller and if you have not listened to the Ruth Galloway books I thoroughly recommend them.

How different

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One of the best in this series.
It's Christmas in Brighton but the atmosphere is oppressively gloomy, filmic descriptions of the faded seaside glamour envelopes & submerges you into 1950's Britain. Still recovering from war, tired of "making do & mend" this is the era of the matriarchal seaside landlady & her hotchpotch of tenants, ranging from glamorous showgirls to ancient lonely veterans. A new racier post war attitude is emerging & decent citizens think it threatens to morally bankrupt society. Amongst all this a naked girl is found murdered. Exciting stuff!

Thrilling, cinematic and poignant!

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these are not as good as the Ruth Galloway series but still like them very much

not as good as Ruth and Harry

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