Glass Onion has nothing to do Knives Out, beyond the central character, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), and of course writer/director Rian Johnson, who has crafted a brilliant, somewhat eccentric detective in Blanc who can stand without embarrassment among the likes of Holmes, Poirot, Marple and Spade. Otherwise, the two storylines are complete dissimilar, and there is no connection between them -- much like Craig's previous recurring role, James Bond, although Blanc lacks even the unifying supporting characters such as Bond's M and Q.

In this case, Miles Bron (Edward Norton), a wildly wealthy inventor and CEO of the technology corporation Alpha, has invited a small group of old friends to his private island for a weekend of partying and, he promises an intriguing murder-mystery to solve, with himself as the victim. He issues his invitations using a large, cunningly devised wooden puzzle box that, once its several puzzles are solved, reveals the details of the event, which takes place off the coast of Greece.

Recipients of the mystery boxes are Connecticut Gov. Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn), Alpha scientist and researcher Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.), fashion designer and former supermodel Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson) and far-right podcaster Duke Cody (Dave Bautista), all of whom owe their own successes and positions to Bron's financial support, and Andi Brand (Janelle Monae), the real innovator behind Alpha who was cheated out of her company by Bron in a lawsuit he won, in large part, because of the testimonies of Debella, Toussaint, Jay and Cody. Joining them on the excursion are Jay's assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick) and Cody's girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline).

A surprise guest at the boat on the morning of their departure is Blanc, who says he also received a box and invitation. Bron, who insists he never sent it, is puzzled but seemingly delighted by the addition of a world-famous detective to the party.

At their first dinner that weekend, Bron explains, he will be "murdered," and the group has the rest of the weekend to deduce the killer. Blanc, however, solves the case instantly, before the murder has even been staged, having spotted the necessary clues shortly after his arrival. Bron is deflated when his game is ruined, but Blanc confides to him his real concern that Bron might actually be in danger. It turns out that everyone at the party has a reason to want Bron dead, and a "murder-mystery" weekend might be the perfect opportunity to make that happen.

Bron scoffs at the very notion of it ... until someone actually turns up dead. Then, it's a race to figure out whodunnit before someone else dies.

And then the power goes off.

Glass Onion is, if anything, even better than Knives Out. The story has layers within layers, the plot is an elaborate puzzle box of intrigue and deception, with numerous motives and a few red herrings to keep the audience guessing up to the very end. Combined with excellent casting, this movie is a real pleasure to watch.

I won't wait so long to watch the third Benoit Blanc movie, Wake Up, Dead Man, which came out last year.