The Man in Black: Stories

Griffiths (The Last Word) features her favorite characters from her beloved mystery series, as well as some new protagonists, in this fun short story collection. Starting with the titular story featuring Dr. Ruth Galloway, each of these tales has a mystery to explore and most have a surprise twist at the end, which is sure to delight readers. In “Articulation,” an unnamed forensic archaeologist is called to investigate bones found on the site where a house is being built, and the case’s wrap-up doesn’t necessarily play out to the letter of the law. “The Stranger by R.M. Holland,” in the form of a narrator’s message to a stranger with whom they’re sharing a train compartment, is a fantastical and thrilling ghost story that feels like it could be told around a campfire. Familiarity with characters from Griffith’s earlier novels might be helpful for some stories (such as “Flint’s Fireside Tale,” told from the perspective of Ruth’s cat) but is certainly not necessary in order to appreciate the collection as a whole.