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klindholm's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
twineandiron's review against another edition
4.0
A few bumps along the way for the first novel, as Griffiths fleshes out the Magic Men and their world, but overall a wonderful and eccentric read. With an unusual premise, magic-based murders, and a cast of fascinating WWII men I was so pleasantly engaged. Downloaded the second in the series and excited to spend my evening with it!
nikkistonestreet's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
__lv__'s review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
An overall enjoyable read. It started off strong but the ending lacked a little something.
dancingdane's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Post-WWII Brighton. DI Edgar Stevens has just received the body of a young woman who has been cut in 3 pieces and delivered in boxes much like the ones magicians use for the saw-someone-in-pieces trick. Stevens turns to his old war-comrade, magician Max Mephisto to see if he can help. Turns out the body is Max's former assistant. Bodies start piling up, all with a connection to the group of men called the Magic Men, of whom Stevens and Mephisto were part of during the war.
I'll admit to following one of the red herrings, though the actual murderer did cross my mind a couple of times.
Post-WWII Brighton. DI Edgar Stevens has just received the body of a young woman who has been cut in 3 pieces and delivered in boxes much like the ones magicians use for the saw-someone-in-pieces trick. Stevens turns to his old war-comrade, magician Max Mephisto to see if he can help. Turns out the body is Max's former assistant. Bodies start piling up, all with a connection to the group of men called the Magic Men, of whom Stevens and Mephisto were part of during the war.
I'll admit to following one of the red herrings, though the actual murderer did cross my mind a couple of times.
iancann's review against another edition
3.0
A very interesting piece of crime fiction, crucially this feels very different to a Ruth Galloway novel, and whilst I don't love it like I love those, The Zig Zag Girl conveys a good sense of time and place in 1950s Brighton and the dying world of variety, with neat little sideways glances out to the growth of comedy and Tommy Cooper.
The characters work well enough, though future books in what will hopefully be a series should flesh them out further into fuller dimensions. Good stuff all-round.
The characters work well enough, though future books in what will hopefully be a series should flesh them out further into fuller dimensions. Good stuff all-round.