Deadly Shades of Grey by Mai Griffin

Hardback with Dust Jacket

ISBN-13: 978-0955744709

UK Publisher: U P Publications Ltd

Publisher’s comment:  We sent out several review copies prior to publication. These are a few of the comments on this book that we received from our first three reviewers:

1 - I received the book at 5pm and started reading it that evening, I couldn’t put it down and I certainly couldn’t sleep, until I finished it at three in the morning!

2 - I usually read a book for five or ten minutes, last thing at night, before I go to sleep – I never have time to read in the day… but night after night, until I finished it, I found an hour had gone by, I was so absorbed…

3 - I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it kept me gripped to the end… I cannot wait until Book Two.

As publishers we feel that this book never loses momentum, every page is a cliff-hanger and everyone who has read it has thoroughly enjoyed it… with Books Two and Three in the pipeline and already building a following, we are delighted we spotted Mai first!             U P Publications Ltd

Deadly Shades of Grey

Review

The horrific prologue, launches us straight into Mai Griffin’s dramatic psychic mystery thriller “Deadly Shades of Grey”. Reflecting the dark side of the mysteries that plague the day to day life of unwilling psychic Sarah Grey and her artist daughter Clarrie Hunter, it also marks the start of the Grey series.

As the sub-plots twist and spiral around the edge of the reader’s vision it is possible to see the dilemma of trying to live normally, when everything around you isn’t.

Overcoming the temptation to live in denial of their unwanted psychic abilities, Clarrie and Sarah are gradually drawn in to help find a kidnapped woman and a child who has disappeared…  and what does Clarrie keep glimpsing in her picture of an old empty cottage and why has she been driven to paint it?

No matter where she goes, danger keeps intruding into Clarrie’s life and painting is not keeping it at bay…

Despite the terrible things that happen around them Mai’s characters feel like people that I might have met in the nineties, when the books are set. A mixture of characters from the young and independent female artist to the older and old-fashioned friends of her mother, these people feel real and their problems and issues are well portrayed. The story lines all have a beginning, middle and end and one closes the book, satisfied, but wanting to read more! Fortunately Book Two in the series –    ‘A Poisonous Shade of Grey” – is now out and should be in the shops in time for Christmas! Yet another twisting ‘Grey tale’, the story starts with a rejected lover seeking to eliminate the competition by murdering the ‘wife’. Carefully planned, and skilfully executed by someone who specialises in expediency and efficiency… what could go wrong?      GMG

“A Poisonous Shade of Grey” by Mai Griffin
(ISBN 978-0-9557447-1-6)

An accident, a malevolent ghost and psychic detectives form the core of this enjoyable sequel to “Deadly Shades of Grey”. In her second book, Mai Griffin is now in her stride as an author.

Psychic detectives, Sarah and daughter Clarrie, find their psychic skills providing tantalising clues as they begin to investigate the disappearance of Joyce. Swirling round the mystery unravelled by the main protagonists are equally strong threads from the different parties, involved to a lesser or greater extent in love, blackmail, killing, cover up, jealousy and greed.

Indeed, the strength of the book is that we get to see the different attitudes and motivations surrounding the core tale, each throwing their own coloured reflection on the story as the book progresses, engendering a real desire in the reader to see how the mystery can be resolved sympathetically for some and with justice for others.

Refreshingly, not only are the main characters women, they are represented as articulate, intelligent people that you can relate to or imagine encountering in real life. On the one hand, you can sympathise with the unfortunate Ann who finds herself with a body on her hands and on the other with Clarrie, who deals with the conflicting elements of her artistic talent, her developing psychic abilities and the distractions of an attractive man.

The self-contained story can be enjoyed on its own or in context with its predecessor and the eagerly anticipated two forthcoming books in the series.

This is a book where you can curl into an armchair with a refreshing drink and a good supply of chocolate and settle down for a good read from cover to cover!

Chris Thomas

Review: Grey Masque of Death

Mai’s Grey series recounts the tales of psychic Sarah Grey and her daughter Clarrie and once into Grey Masque of Death, I was gradually hooked and in fact quite concerned for one of the key characters, Polly, who looked destined for a premature death!

Mai is in her element, weaving several strands of stories and characters whose adventures and destinies cross as the tapestry unfolds.  It is interesting that, in addition to the psychic nature of her main protagonists, Mai weaves in three new perspectives; first the psychic fraud, second the science of time and the paradoxes that can ensue narratively, and third, a hint of black magic, decidedly not of the chocolate kind.  Make sure you have enough time to finish the book in one sitting by the time you get to chapter 23!

Dr Chris Thomas, Director Milton Contact Ltd

“Haunting Shades of Grey”

Mai Griffin has excelled herself yet again, this, her fourth foray into the world of Sarah and Clarrie Grey is every bit as tantalising as one could wish.  Mai also uses her native tongue in a manner which entices you to read her written word.

Mai weaves a web of mystery and suspense so elegant and eloquent, that the reader becomes ‘entwined’, being lead one way then another trying to decide who the villain is.  Then comes ‘disillusionment’, for Mai has a trick or two up her sleeves and you find it futile to even guess who did what to whom.  As the story unfolds you will also find touches of subtle humour.

Having read each of the books in this series I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed each, and every, book so much that when I pick one up I feel as if I am in good company, for Sarah and her daughter Clarrie appear to be the most sane people one could hope to meet.         SSS

Review: Haunting Shades of Grey

Thank heavens I opened this book on a holiday afternoon! I only intended to read a chapter or two

but could not put the book down till I’d reached the end late the same evening. This is the fourth in a series of mystery/detective stories with a supernatural twist by Mai Griffin.

Clarrie is off painting what she thinks is an innocent scene, yet its depiction is one that will spark a murderous attack, leaving her mother Sarah distraught. Their friend Polly takes on a major role in the investigation which rapidly grows into a gripping tale.

This is a fluent narrative that gradually weaves a tapestry of characters from both the living and the spirit world. The storyline deftly moves its emphasis from thread to thread, bringing deeper life to the different characters and personalities. The reader is kept constantly engaged by the short chapters and the masterful hanging suspense. So much so, that even as we reach the final denouement, we have to read right to the last page to ensure that all ends have been tied.

The book is also in a new format – a large paperback and a very readable large font on quality white paper, reflecting the quality of the text that it promises the reader.

So if you like your sleuthing with a ghostly air, pick up this book. But remember, start reading it early enough in case, like me, you cannot put it down till you reach the end.

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