blevins's review against another edition
2.0
I think I may have liked this a bit more had I read the previous two books w/ these characters. I didn't realize it was the third w/ these people until I was over 2/3 into it! I was thinking that there was a lot of flimsy character back story or development early on and I guess that's because there's already a backstory to these people. Dang.
I like my satire but some of this was knock you on the head kind of satire, I guess I prefer mine more subtle. I might have to check something else out by Brookmyre for a fair judgement.
I like my satire but some of this was knock you on the head kind of satire, I guess I prefer mine more subtle. I might have to check something else out by Brookmyre for a fair judgement.
sharondblk's review against another edition
3.0
Not quite as packed with action as "A Big Boy Did It" or quite as clever as "The Sacred Art of Stealing", this is a fitting final book to the series, with a bit of suspense, a bit of fun and a bit of romance. The ending was very neat - perhaps a bit too tidy. A fitting end to a fun series.
jrbournville's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it, as I have the other Brookmyre novels I've read. It was great to read more on some wonderful characters from previous books, tying their stories together.
srah's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the last third a lot more than the rest of the book. I was a bit disappointed because I really like Angelique de Xavia and Zal Innez and I didn't like the way the story was going, but things got faster and more unexpected at the end and I rather enjoyed it.
narbeleth's review
4.0
Funny, as per usual.
It's a brilliant book when you don't know what's going to happen. Probably won't include it in my next Brookmyre re-reading spree though, because with the deception gone and plot twist anticipated (as I was reading it second time) I found myself little tired of the ever-present ranting tone and seriously wished that someone shut Simon the hell up earlier (I probably wished the same last time, just with the mystery awaiting I'd made through his chapters faster or so it'd seemed). Still had fun, though, Angelique is an awesome character for one thing, and I enjoyed her perspective immensely. It was great to see Zal again, too, and their storyline was nicely played. Also, it was quite enjoyable to all those moments when you could get cheated and to know how they'd play out.
It's a brilliant book when you don't know what's going to happen. Probably won't include it in my next Brookmyre re-reading spree though, because with the deception gone and plot twist anticipated (as I was reading it second time) I found myself little tired of the ever-present ranting tone and seriously wished that someone shut Simon the hell up earlier (I probably wished the same last time, just with the mystery awaiting I'd made through his chapters faster or so it'd seemed). Still had fun, though, Angelique is an awesome character for one thing, and I enjoyed her perspective immensely. It was great to see Zal again, too, and their storyline was nicely played. Also, it was quite enjoyable to all those moments when you could get cheated and to know how they'd play out.
dc60's review
5.0
[b:A Snowball in Hell|3092119|A Snowball in Hell|Christopher Brookmyre|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21SzsvK%2Bf7L._SL75_.jpg|3123226] brings back Simon Darcourt and his nemesis Angelique de Xavia, and Sal. It is as good as it sounds, with misdirection everywhere, to say nothing of some well-aimed bile at modern celebrity culture. Darcourt, of course, never stops at merely venting his spleen, and sets about a very public series of murders. Angel X is brought in to help catch him. Meanwhile, Sal is lying low... If you like Christopher Brookmyre you'll like this; if you haven't read him before, though, this isn't the one to start with.
scotchneat's review
4.0
A serial killer. B-List celebrities. Some of Brookmyre's most scathing social satire to-date. Agent X is out to get her groove back.
I enjoyed this one quite a bit, but it's not for the squeamish.
I enjoyed this one quite a bit, but it's not for the squeamish.
melle's review
5.0
I really enjoy his stuff, and this one is dark, funny, and very twisty (and twisted). Also, it was a Christmas gift, so even better. :)
wendleness's review
5.0
A Snowball in Hell = (Simon Darcourt + celebrities) x (Angel X + Zal Innez) ^ Twists
It was great to see Zal back, i hadn't like the way things were left between him and Angelique. Though, to be honest, i didn't like the way things were left between them in this one, either.
Simon, Simon, Simon. I simply loathed him in 'A Big Boy...', but the things he did [read: the people he murdered] in this one made me love him.
I equal parts love and hate the way Brookmyre paces his books. It's a slow build up, with the characters and their plots not coming together until well into the book. And then once he's turned the tension up as much as it can go, all the major action spills out in the last 100 pages, relentless, non-stop. And in some ways, it feels so uneven. All that time and effort to blow his load so rapidly. But it works.
There were twists upon twists in this book, too. I loved that. I thought i'd figured something out and it gets revealed, but then another twist makes it all moot. Never a dull moment.
It was great to see Zal back, i hadn't like the way things were left between him and Angelique. Though, to be honest, i didn't like the way things were left between them in this one, either.
Simon, Simon, Simon. I simply loathed him in 'A Big Boy...', but the things he did [read: the people he murdered] in this one made me love him.
I equal parts love and hate the way Brookmyre paces his books. It's a slow build up, with the characters and their plots not coming together until well into the book. And then once he's turned the tension up as much as it can go, all the major action spills out in the last 100 pages, relentless, non-stop. And in some ways, it feels so uneven. All that time and effort to blow his load so rapidly. But it works.
There were twists upon twists in this book, too. I loved that. I thought i'd figured something out and it gets revealed, but then another twist makes it all moot. Never a dull moment.
More...