Review: Elly Griffiths – The Zig Zag Girl

On January 31, 2015January 31, 2015 By SarahIn Reviews

It’s always a risk for a writer to start a new series. Elly Griffths is the author of the successful books set in East Anglia featuring forensic anthropologist, Ruth Galloway. Fans of the series, including me, eagerly await each new instalment but I’m sure it can be wearying for an author to keep writing around the same characters. The Zig Zag Girl is Griffiths’ first book in a new series set in 1950s Brighton and it will be interesting to see what fans make of the novel.

The head and legs of a woman are found at a train station in two cases. Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens receives the body’s torso in a package addressed to him using his former military rank, ‘captain’. The body is revealed to be that of a former assistant of magician Max Mephisto. Mephisto once served in the army with Edgar Stephens and they soon discover that members of their former group, known as The Magic Men, are being hunted down and killed using gruesome re-enactments of magic tricks.

The Zig Zag Girl is an interesting read mainly for its depictions of post-war Brighton and the troubles of people who are adjusting to civilian life. We’re on Foyles War territory and it makes for an enjoyable setting. The story is slightly bizarre which I found initially difficult to engage with. Griffiths is at her best when dealing with the minutiae of domestic life and the sheer mundanity of aspects of the entertainment profession. She is, however, an excellent writer and, by the end, I was racing to the finish.

Whether the characters stand up to a long series, I’m not sure but as a one-off, I found The Zig Zag Girl to be an very good read.

Thanks to Quercus for my review copy.

28 thoughts on “Review: Elly Griffiths – The Zig Zag Girl”

Margot Kinberg

Sarah – So glad you enjoyed this. I agree with you about Griffiths’ skill as a writer. And I give her loads of credit for creating a very different sort of story to the Ruth Galloway series. It’ll be interesting to see if this is a one-off or the first of a series.

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January 31, 2015 at 1:20 pm Reply
1. Sarah
  
  Yes, it’s always nice when a writer tries something new, isn’t it?
  
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  February 1, 2015 at 5:04 pm Reply
crimeworm

I’m looking forward to reading this…embarrassingly, I haven’t read any Elly Griffiths yet, despite having four of them – I ended up buying the first one last, so shall finally get to them. But I fancy The Zig Zag Girl first!

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January 31, 2015 at 1:23 pm Reply
1. Sarah
  
  I’d really recommend Elly Griffiths, Linda.
  
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  February 1, 2015 at 5:03 pm Reply
realthog

This looks to be right up my street — “killed using gruesome re-enactments of magic tricks” gets the lips of this old Ellery Queen/John Dickson Carr fan smacking! Many thanks for the headsup.

Will you be publishing your schedule of events in NYC?

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January 31, 2015 at 1:53 pm Reply
1. Sarah
  
  Hi, NYC is a personal trip this time as my book isn’t out until Sept. I’ll be back over for Bouchercon in the Fall. This trip, I’m going on a writing retreat for 7 days but will be in the city before that from Tues-thurs 17-19 Feb. Are you in NY then?
  
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  February 1, 2015 at 5:03 pm Reply
  1. realthog
    
    Ah! As you’ve realized, I’d thought it was a promotional trip.
    
    in the city before that from Tues-Thurs 17-19 Feb. Are you in NY then?
    
    Possibly so, depending on how things go over the next few days. Lemme get back to you on this.
    
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    February 1, 2015 at 5:22 pm Reply
    1. Sarah
      
      Great! So excited to revisit the US after so long.
      
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      February 1, 2015 at 6:39 pm Reply
Cavershamragu

Another day, another new author for the TBR – thanks Sarah 🙂

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January 31, 2015 at 2:42 pm Reply
1. Sarah
  
  Thanks, Sergio.
  
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  February 1, 2015 at 5:00 pm Reply
Kathy

Thks for the new-to-me author. I love finding new series

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January 31, 2015 at 3:19 pm Reply
1. Sarah
  
  Hi Kathy. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I hope you enjoy it!
  
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  February 1, 2015 at 5:00 pm Reply
cleopatralovesbooks

I really enjoyed this one too with a different twist on a mystery in two time periods.

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January 31, 2015 at 3:56 pm Reply
1. Sarah
  
  Thanks, Cleopatra. Glad you liked it.
  
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  February 1, 2015 at 4:59 pm Reply
Moira Redmond

I enjoyed this one – though still slightly prefer Ruth Galloway, who is one of my absolute favourite series characters (along with Harry Nelson, the thinking woman’s policeman).

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January 31, 2015 at 8:22 pm Reply
1. Sarah
  
  It’s one of my favourite series too, Moira.
  
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  February 1, 2015 at 4:59 pm Reply
Elena

Sounds like a great read, plus I had never heard of Elly Griffths and her forensic anthropologist series. Now I can’t wait to check them both! Thank you for the recommendations, now my TBR pile looks even more dangerous 😉

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February 1, 2015 at 3:17 pm Reply
1. Sarah
  
  The Ruth Galloway series is a favourite among many crime fic readers as you can see from comments here.
  
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  February 1, 2015 at 4:58 pm Reply
  1. Elena
    
    I’ll add the first one to my wishlist, so that when/if I get some spare money, I remember to buy it.
    
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    February 1, 2015 at 6:38 pm Reply
    1. Sarah
      
      Bring a large suitcase to the UK, Elena and I can give you some books.
      
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      February 1, 2015 at 6:40 pm Reply
      1. Elena
        
        Oh wow. I’m speechless, Sarah. It’s so kind of you… I seriously don’t know what to say except THANK YOU.
        
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        February 1, 2015 at 6:42 pm Reply
Kathy D.

I’m a fan of Ruth Galloway and her circle of friends. I love a woman protagonist who is not perfect, glamorous, thin and physically fit, but is a regular person, a single mother at that.
I’m not sure I’d like this one but if it hits my library, I’ll try it.

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February 2, 2015 at 7:03 am Reply
jennyinneverland

I haven’t read any Elly Griffiths before this so obviously I didn’t have her other series to compare it to but I absolutely adored The Zig Zag Girl! I reviewed it recently too here:https://jennyinneverland.wordpress.com/2015/01/27/2015-reading-challenge-a-book-about-magic/ if you’re interested 🙂 Great review.

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February 2, 2015 at 9:49 am Reply
1. Sarah
  
  Hi Jenny. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I’ll head over to look at your review now. I strongly recommend Griffiths’s other books.
  
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  February 4, 2015 at 10:58 am Reply
Cavershamragu

From what you say I get the impression that the plot and the magic angle get a bit left behind, which sounds like a bit of a shame to be honest. Very curious though, thanks Sarah.

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February 3, 2015 at 8:31 am Reply
1. Sarah
  
  Thanks, Sergio. It is a bit different. I suppose the problem is that I’m a huge fan of the other series. But all credit to the author for trying something new.
  
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  February 4, 2015 at 11:12 am Reply
Puzzle Doctor

I think I’m in the minority here in that while I enjoyed it quite a bit, the use of magic and magicians in the story wasn’t really reflected in the plotting. The revelation at the end of the killer’s identity seemed like an attempt at something clever that came across as a bit obvious and fell rather flat for me after a very effective build up.

But it has impressed me enough to try the Ruth Galloway series.

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February 4, 2015 at 12:42 pm Reply
tracybham

I have only read one Elly Griffiths book but have another to read in that series. I will be interested in trying this one someday, since I usually love any book set in the post WWII period.

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February 5, 2015 at 8:21 pm Reply