Haven't read this for many years, I like Ackroyd lots,
perhaps he doesn't fall squarely into the HB genre, but there
is no way that he can be termed cosy, probably more as a
"proper" writer who's work can be a little off centre.If you
liked this you may like DAN LENO AND THE LIME-HOUSE GOLEM,
more Victorian weirdness. And speaking of weird, we had one
of our major book buying binges on Sunday, and amongst the
pile is THE LAST DAYS- THE APOCRYPHON OF JOE PANTHER, by
Aussie Andrew Masterson.Typical loner PI penchant for
Biblical quotation and augmenting his income by selling
heroin investigates gruesome death etc, chased by mysterious
heavies,but his schtick is that he says he is pretty old(2000
years)but looks 33, has a pretty powerful father and is more
than qualified to do the religious bit. Yep, ladeez and
gennlemen I give you the Son of Man! Sorry I'm being flip,
but it is a pretty wacky premise. Fortunately it is reading
better than it sounds, it is formulaic in plot and some of
the characters are a tad stereotypical, but I've been
galloping through it since yesterday. It isn't particularly
played for laughs, although there is a bit of dark humour
(and bad puns) and I'm a bit disappointed at where the plot
is going(predictable) but in all an original idea and an
entertaining read.(I've made it sound like a crock of shit,
sorry)And it isn't horror or supernatural either.(Buy it for
your fave religious person, see them foam at mouth) Also this
is the second Australian book I've read this month. The other
was THE DOGS ARE BARKING (the author I can't find out right
now, stuck with baby on knee)This one was v. different from
the other.Serial killer, but luckily this is subsumed(?)by a
plot concerning crooked cops.I liked it, but be warned, you
may need a translator as much Aus vernacular is used.(I was
ok, I grew up there) Nice, tight,the end wasn't tacked on,
well drawn, morally ambiguous characters, oh yes a good
modern HB book. I rambled, I'm gone. JC
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