nwhyte's review against another edition
4.0
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3584811.html
One of Bateman's mystery novels, set in Belfast, the protagonist being the proprietor of the No Alibis bookshop on Botanic Avenue, investigating the murder of a well-known gangster in the course of which he spends some time in Purdysburn, Belfast's mental hospital. I really enjoyed the sense of place; I think I could locate almost every scene on the map. I also enjoyed the effective way Bateman captures the black humour of Belfast. But the actual plot was too convoluted to be credible, and the ending (which apparently closes off the prospect of any more books in this four-book series) felt ungraceful and out of harmony with what had come before. I'm told that the earlier books in the series are better.
One of Bateman's mystery novels, set in Belfast, the protagonist being the proprietor of the No Alibis bookshop on Botanic Avenue, investigating the murder of a well-known gangster in the course of which he spends some time in Purdysburn, Belfast's mental hospital. I really enjoyed the sense of place; I think I could locate almost every scene on the map. I also enjoyed the effective way Bateman captures the black humour of Belfast. But the actual plot was too convoluted to be credible, and the ending (which apparently closes off the prospect of any more books in this four-book series) felt ungraceful and out of harmony with what had come before. I'm told that the earlier books in the series are better.
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
This was yet another brilliant installment in the Mystery Man series. I feel that the characters are really developing now, and I found that during this book I cared more about the personal stories of each of the characters than the over-arching murder plot. The relationships and banter never fail to amuse me.
Usually I find the lead character funny, but overall a bit too whiny and repetative. I know that this is his point but after 300+ pages of it, it does get a bit too much. This novel however gave a welcome change to his character and I have to admit that I found myself really warming to him!
I found myself getting a bit bored of the crimes and murders, not that the pace really let up at any point but by the end I was oddly relieved that it had been solved. Possibly because we don't really get to know these characters beyond their capacity as a victim/witness/suspect so I don't really care what happens to them.
But overall absolutely great with an odd ending which has made me LONG for the next novel!!
Usually I find the lead character funny, but overall a bit too whiny and repetative. I know that this is his point but after 300+ pages of it, it does get a bit too much. This novel however gave a welcome change to his character and I have to admit that I found myself really warming to him!
I found myself getting a bit bored of the crimes and murders, not that the pace really let up at any point but by the end I was oddly relieved that it had been solved. Possibly because we don't really get to know these characters beyond their capacity as a victim/witness/suspect so I don't really care what happens to them.
But overall absolutely great with an odd ending which has made me LONG for the next novel!!
jennyanydots's review
4.0
This is the 4th book about an unnamed man who runs a crime bookshop in Belfast, and works as a PI because he enjoys solving puzzles. He has a surprising number of illnesses, and has, in the past, spent time in the local asylum. Nurse Brenda walks into his shop one day and calls in a favour - she has a patient who won't speak, nobody knows his name, and he's accused of murder. She wants the Mystery Man to get himself admitted to the asylum for 24 hours to find out who the Man in the White Suit is. Unfortunately, when the Mystery Man gets involved in a case, it tends to get complicated, in this case leading to him uncovering a series of unsuspected murders, and he gets his moment of Agatha Christie-style unmasking, aided by his girlfriend Alison, and his gormless shop assistant Jeff. I've read the first two books, but not the third, so there were a few jumps I'd missed, and I'd suggest reading the first one, at the very least, before getting to this one, because all the character development already happened. It's fast paced, really well written, and then the sudden unexpected development in the final pages had me swearing out loud in surprise. I have no idea if it's even possible to write another one in this series! I don't even have words!
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