I am a big fan of Elly Griffiths and spent an enjoyable few late evenings devouring her latest book Bleeding Heart Yard in January (see my blogs on the Ruth Galloway series, The Lantern Men, The Stranger Diaries, and The Postscript Murders and The Night Hawks and The Locked Room).

The detective is Harbinder Kaur, star of The Stranger Diaries and the Postscript Murders. Harbinder has left her family home and life with her parents to move away from Shoreham up to London. Her first major case involves her police colleague Cassie, who is there at a school reunion when a murder of one of her former classmates takes place. As is often the way, there is soon a second body to contend with and things are starting to point in Cassie’s direction. As Harbinder deals with suspects that include pop stars and MPs she also grapples with her developing feelings for her tall, blond Danish flatmate Mette, who comes charging in like a white knight to save the day.

This is classic Elly. Gripping, steeped in interesting settings, this time urban, and with a bunch of intriguing characters. It’s also a great reminder of why school reunions are never a good idea.