oshmcg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
fernreadsometimes's review against another edition
The plot felt like it was trying to make a deep political statement but it didn't quite know what it was. I didnt find it funny and the plot was boring. Guess I'm not cultured enough to get it.
andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
I recall reading this , third in the series , a long time ago but had not read any of the others son as I am now working my way through the books from the start I came back to this and luckily couldn't remember much of the plot. However it was another enjoyable read which really got going about halfway through and once he was on a roll I was totally hooked as jack Parlabane again crosses swords with political manipulators . The plot here centres on the new Scottish parliament, and how a nefarious political PR spin doctor combines with the Catholic church to undermine certain political liberal attitudes whilst Jack is court in the middle of a storm completely unaware. I particularly liked Jack's misfortunes in prison as his past deeds come back to haunt him with comic effect , and the writing as with previous books is laced with dark comedy and irreverence . The author is definitely becoming a firm favourite so on to book 4 asap.
jbriaz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
minotaursmaze's review against another edition
3.0
Audio book, I truly love the main characters in these books which is the only reason I persevere through the truly annoying ranting I agree with the points but more than 2 minutes of impassioned ranting on your favourite point and I’m over it, 10 minutes and I am contemplating stopping the book.
Still a fun story.
Still a fun story.
vivelelivre's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
journeymouse's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
narbeleth's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-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
5.0
guiltyfeat's review against another edition
3.0
Put off reading this for a while as the last one was denser than it needed to be. This was also a massively overwritten shaggy dog story that took way too long to get going. For most of the book our hero is a fool who’s walked into a trap, ended up in pokey with no real idea of what is happening. In the last 50 pages, he finally works it out and with the help of a ridiculous number of other people he holds the baddie at gunpoint and gets him to confess.
It’s not terribly slick, it’s around 150 pages too long, there’s an unpleasant whiff of homophobia about the whole thing and Parlabane’s a bit of a prat. Not sure I’ll bother with another.
It’s not terribly slick, it’s around 150 pages too long, there’s an unpleasant whiff of homophobia about the whole thing and Parlabane’s a bit of a prat. Not sure I’ll bother with another.
wendleness's review against another edition
5.0
Boiling a Frog = Parlabane + (((Politics + Catholicism) x the media) ^ scandal)
More Parlabane! Yay!
This book… This book. There is a lot going on in this book. Parlabane's in trouble, Parlabane's in trouble and Parlabane's in trouble. Basically.
Most of the book feels like a lot is going on, without anything yet really happening. Most of the book feels like a set up before something happens. And it doesn't really work out like that. I read it with a constant feeling of 'what next?' and 'where does this lead?' and although other Brookmyre books have had a huge payout at the end of those kinds of build ups, this one didn't seem to have that as such. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I rather loved the constant tension, the constant gradual progression of the plot.
And really, regardless of everything else in the book, you should read it just for that one chapter. That one, gloriously hilarious chapter, that I refuse to spoil for anyone, even if they want to be spoiled.
More Parlabane! Yay!
This book… This book. There is a lot going on in this book. Parlabane's in trouble, Parlabane's in trouble and Parlabane's in trouble. Basically.
Most of the book feels like a lot is going on, without anything yet really happening. Most of the book feels like a set up before something happens. And it doesn't really work out like that. I read it with a constant feeling of 'what next?' and 'where does this lead?' and although other Brookmyre books have had a huge payout at the end of those kinds of build ups, this one didn't seem to have that as such. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. I rather loved the constant tension, the constant gradual progression of the plot.
And really, regardless of everything else in the book, you should read it just for that one chapter. That one, gloriously hilarious chapter, that I refuse to spoil for anyone, even if they want to be spoiled.
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