sam_magowan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
barrybooks's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
Fifth in the great Jack Parlabane series finds the investigative journalist drawn into the murky world of psychics and the paranormal. As he somewhat accidentally finds himself ( after the last books exploits) appointed rector of Kelvin University where his wife now works he is drawn into controversy about the setting up of a chair in the science department for investigation of paranormal. As a charismatic American psychic is in the lead of the experiments Jack is called into observe the experiments that aim to convince the university to give the go ahead.
Much trickery and wrong doing ensues with the usual brilliantly drawn storytelling and dialogue with the always present cynicism and black humour that I love.
It would have been 4* save that I still can't decide about the ending but definitely a good read and quickly on to book 6.
Much trickery and wrong doing ensues with the usual brilliantly drawn storytelling and dialogue with the always present cynicism and black humour that I love.
It would have been 4* save that I still can't decide about the ending but definitely a good read and quickly on to book 6.
fimcd's review against another edition
4.0
I've read Unsinkables once before, but am currently reading through all Brookmyre 's books in chronological order. All I would say is that having read it previously may take away some of the surprise element, but it certainly bears a second read. Knowing how the plot unfolds gave me a sense of how the character Moira may feel - being wise to 'how it was done' helped me to see how cleverly the author chooses his words throughout.
Most of Brookmyre's books leave me with a slight sense of running to catch up with both the pace and sheer wit. If a second reading is what I need to keep pace, perhaps a third would make me feel one step ahead?! I suspect not; something tells me he's always playing the long con.
myranda_the_bookwyrm's review against another edition
4.0
My love affair with Christopher Brookmyre books continues. Kept me on my toes as usual - he never gets boring.
srdaine's review against another edition
5.0
Empieza de manera difícil, sobre todo si -como yo- esperas que sea "crime fiction" al uso, algo de lo que está bastante lejos. En cuanto te atrapa ya no lo puedes soltar.
mikekilpatrick's review against another edition
5.0
My favourite Christopher Brookmyre book by a distance - and I've enjoyed all of them so far.
The Unsinkable Rubber Ducks of the title refers to a metaphor coined by James 'The Amazing' Randi and the book is one long look at psychics, the dead and a satire on everything from football to cynics and rich, egotistical Christians pushing Intelligent Design.
I finished this book quickly because it was just too good to put down.
The Unsinkable Rubber Ducks of the title refers to a metaphor coined by James 'The Amazing' Randi and the book is one long look at psychics, the dead and a satire on everything from football to cynics and rich, egotistical Christians pushing Intelligent Design.
I finished this book quickly because it was just too good to put down.
ninathebored's review against another edition
4.0
Jeg må sku ærligt indrømme at nogle steder der blev den lige lidt for spændende!
Og andre steder blev den lige lidt for forvirrende :P
Men selvom jeg ikke har læst nogle af de foregående bøger, synes jeg denne var rigtig spændende. Og ens verden bliver da også flere gange vendt på hoved..
Og andre steder blev den lige lidt for forvirrende :P
Men selvom jeg ikke har læst nogle af de foregående bøger, synes jeg denne var rigtig spændende. Og ens verden bliver da også flere gange vendt på hoved..
sp00ky_n3rd's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
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
4.0
I listened to this on Audible and really enjoyed it. I feel like I've been reading for so long that I usually know where things are going to go in a book, but honestly I didn't know what was going on half the time in this (in a good way)! Brookmyre is really good at spinning a mystery and then having all threads come together at the end in a satisfying way. I had considered dropping this by half a star as I didn't think I enjoyed it quite as much as his previous books but after leaving it a couple of days I feel that the 4 stars is well deserved. Absolutely mental story - brilliant!
pezski's review against another edition
5.0
A carefully spoiler-free review.
I'd been in the mood to read a fast, fun thriller for awhile, and as I had several unread Brookmyre novels on my shelf I was definitely gravitating in that direction. When I found the audiobook of Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks I was sold – even though it's the fifth of the Jack Parlabane adventures and I haven't read all the previous ones yet, I didn't expect it to be a big obstacle as they are, like most crime series', not direct follow ons in anything other than events in the main characters' lives.
I must confess that as the story opened I felt slightly disappointed. The extract from a book by fictional Mail journalist Jillian Noble about an encounter with the supernatural seemed to be somewhat heavy-handed in signposting the direction the novel might take. Noble is smug, snotty, overly credulous and sneeringly dismissive of sceptical rationalism – so strongly antithetical to both Brookmyre and Parlabane that the set up for a fall seemed sadly obvious. Ironically, I should have had more faith in the author, because while it is indeed a set up, it is the reader who is being set up for a sudden, unexpected curve ball coming out of left field that whips any assumptions out from under you like a deftly pulled tablecloth. This is a trick Brookmyre pulls again and again throughout this superbly constructed, extremely well written book. He leads your expectations from one point of view before bringing in another angle to make you realise that you are balancing precariously on a crumbling ledge of unfounded assumption rather than the firm, flat bedrock of facts. There are also dawning moments of realisation that made me laugh out loud, to add to the many trademark chuckles you'd expect from a writer who has been called 'the Scottish Carl Hiaasen'. The twists and changes of perspective kept me guessing right up to the joyous payoff (although I had worked out a couple of the facts I wasn't certain of them, and doubt it was my own Holmsian deductive abilities that allowed me to work them out so much as cunning winks from the author to make me feel better about being duped!)
I realise I've said nothing about the plot – deliberately, as this would be an easy book to give spoilers on. Suffice to say it is a book about belief, deception and assumptions. If you like your thrillers clever, thoughtful and laugh-out-loud funny (not to mention quite sweary and not infrequently violent, although in this case less violent than usual), I highly recommend you acquaint yourself with Christopher Brookmyre
I'd been in the mood to read a fast, fun thriller for awhile, and as I had several unread Brookmyre novels on my shelf I was definitely gravitating in that direction. When I found the audiobook of Attack of the Unsinkable Rubber Ducks I was sold – even though it's the fifth of the Jack Parlabane adventures and I haven't read all the previous ones yet, I didn't expect it to be a big obstacle as they are, like most crime series', not direct follow ons in anything other than events in the main characters' lives.
I must confess that as the story opened I felt slightly disappointed. The extract from a book by fictional Mail journalist Jillian Noble about an encounter with the supernatural seemed to be somewhat heavy-handed in signposting the direction the novel might take. Noble is smug, snotty, overly credulous and sneeringly dismissive of sceptical rationalism – so strongly antithetical to both Brookmyre and Parlabane that the set up for a fall seemed sadly obvious. Ironically, I should have had more faith in the author, because while it is indeed a set up, it is the reader who is being set up for a sudden, unexpected curve ball coming out of left field that whips any assumptions out from under you like a deftly pulled tablecloth. This is a trick Brookmyre pulls again and again throughout this superbly constructed, extremely well written book. He leads your expectations from one point of view before bringing in another angle to make you realise that you are balancing precariously on a crumbling ledge of unfounded assumption rather than the firm, flat bedrock of facts. There are also dawning moments of realisation that made me laugh out loud, to add to the many trademark chuckles you'd expect from a writer who has been called 'the Scottish Carl Hiaasen'. The twists and changes of perspective kept me guessing right up to the joyous payoff (although I had worked out a couple of the facts I wasn't certain of them, and doubt it was my own Holmsian deductive abilities that allowed me to work them out so much as cunning winks from the author to make me feel better about being duped!)
I realise I've said nothing about the plot – deliberately, as this would be an easy book to give spoilers on. Suffice to say it is a book about belief, deception and assumptions. If you like your thrillers clever, thoughtful and laugh-out-loud funny (not to mention quite sweary and not infrequently violent, although in this case less violent than usual), I highly recommend you acquaint yourself with Christopher Brookmyre