Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - The Satsuma Complex

I loved this book so much. Gary is absolutely just a young Bob Mortimer, I can picture him saying half the stuff he says. I really enjoyed the mystery and the characters were so lovely. I didn’t predict any of it so that’s a great sign for a mystery.

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kransom's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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niamhmason's review against another edition

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3.0

I did enjoy the book and loved the characters but I do think the story lacked something. I feel like it all got resolved too quickly? It wasn’t disappointing but I think it lacked the WOW factor.

Also, I do feel bad for boiler suit man.

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wowsmeows's review against another edition

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funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

"I've never been good at striking
up conversations with
strangers, especially the opposite sex. I needed to come up with a suitable opening line. I knew what would work for me if the roles were reversed - something like: 'Do you prefer even or uneven surfaces?' 'Do you wish that Sports Direct also sold fresh meat?' 'Have you ever needed to use a tourniquet in your work environment?' "

The Satsuma Complex follows the story of Gary, a man who meets up with a friend for a pint and then accidentally gets caught up in their subsequent disappearance. This is not a crime thriller by any means, but it does have some suspense, mystery, a touch of romance and a really solid plot.

I really enjoyed this book, there were many laugh out loud moments. I listened to the audiobook and there were times you could almost hear Bob smiling at the jokes. Wonderful. Sally Phillips was equally fantastic as always. If you're a fan of Bob Mortimer's crazy humour from his many WILTY appearances, I'd definitely recommend giving this a go.

That being said, there are some darker moments in the book, but overall it was a delight to read.

Shout out to one of my favourite quotes:
"dogs sharing an interest in a spillage (I imagine the dogs are called Zak Briefcase and Lengthy Parsnips)."

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simonefk's review against another edition

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funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

I find it quote hard to summarize The Satsuma Complex. It is funny, quite bizarre at times in Gary's narrative. It was easy reading and it's the quickest I've read a book in a long time. If you're familiar with Bob you can hear his voice coming through which is really enjoyable.

I really enjoyed Emily's chapters and wish there were more from her point of view. I think her story came across as very genuine and I felt a lot of empathy for her. Her story portrayed how women can end up in bad relationships.

Where I struggled was the writing at times, a lot of Tommy's dialogue in capital letters, the inclusion of 'ha ha' in speech, minor things but did impact my enjoyment of the book. Also as the story progressed I found myself getting mixed up with characters and who was involved with what but that may just be me!

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milliebluecapon's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

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hb22's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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