[books 2008] More crime

[inulro]

38. Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler

Further expanding my horizons in crime novels.

I love Fowler's Psychoville so I was pretty intrigued when I found out he does mystery novels as well. At least one of you has been really impressed with at least one of the Bryant and May novels.

The story starts with Arthur Bryant of the Metropolitan Police's Peculiar Crimes Unit being blown up in the Unit's offices. In order to solve his killing, his partner John May has to revisit their first ever case together, which happened during World War II, investigating bizarre deaths in a theatre doing a very-nearly obscene version of Offenbach's Orphée aux enfers.

This didn't immediately grab me, but I'm not sure why. It has elements I usually find fascinating and the writing doesn't suck. Maybe it's because it is, at least in parts, too self-consciously quirky and eccentric for me.

Having said that, I stayed up far too late last night because I couldn't wait to find out Who Dun It, so obviously I got sucked in at some point. I'd probably grab another one from the library if it's there.

Comments

[moral-vacuum.livejournal.com]

Fowler's been doing Bryant & May stuff for years, I first came across them in "Rune" which was very good (and horror). In fact, 77 Clocks was originally called something else, and had supernatural elements, but FOwler re-wrote it to fit with the rest of the B&M series. I also like the idea of the Peculiar Crimes Department.

FOr reference: Arthur Bryant was also the name of a popular history author of the 1950s. Also, for those not steeped in British culture, Bryant & May were next most popular matches after Swan Vestas. Rather like in the Vic Reeves remake of Randall & Hopkirk there was a rival detective duo called Marshall & Snelgrove, which was also the name of a now defunct London department store. [You can tell I'm short of sleep - I'm free-associating)

[dghaem.livejournal.com]

Love em! Got the first four waiting for White corridor to come up on readitswapit. If you want to borrow the other three let me know!

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

I love the Bryant and May books. (I think I'm the only person on LJ with Bryant & May as an interest!) Full Dark House isn't one of the best; to be honest I prefer the earlier supernatural ones.

I find Fowler's work is often flawed, but it has interesting ideas. I'd rather read flawed-but-interesting than polished tat. I like all the random facts and snippets of history in Fowler's novels.

Darkest Day was the original of 77 Clocks; I prefer the original even though in the into to 77 Clocks Fowler says his agent persuaded him to add the spooky stuff.