A bubbly-light heist caper. It's a bit like how I remember the early Stephanie Plum books: very silly heroine in ludicrous situations with a bevy of iA bubbly-light heist caper. It's a bit like how I remember the early Stephanie Plum books: very silly heroine in ludicrous situations with a bevy of incredibly handsome men all over her. Plus crew of highly eccentric people with useful skills, and a necklace to steal.
It didn't click for me, unfortunately: I think I just wasn't in a wacky hi-jinks mood. I regretted that because the crew is likeable and there's lost of good jokes and it feels like the kind of book that would make a really fun popcorn movie. Possibly it needed to be read on a beach with a pina colada, whereas I'm feeling picky and irritable in rainy London, so DNF at 40%. If you're in a mood for caper froth, though, voila....more
This is mad as a spoon and I'm not sure I'm clever enough for it, but I enjoyed it a lot.
It's on one level about a genius maths professor who studiesThis is mad as a spoon and I'm not sure I'm clever enough for it, but I enjoyed it a lot.
It's on one level about a genius maths professor who studies nothing. As in, nothingness, which is not the same as zero, or as not doing anything. He is recruited by a wannabe Bond villain, aka a black American whose parents were both murdered by the US state and who wants vengeance on America (and why not). The aim is to create a superweapon that inflicts nothing on his enemies. The wordplay around 'nothing' in this book will do your head in.
It's partly a bonkers caper with lots of James Bond fun, and partly a Dr Strangelove satire on the US's racism, misogyny and state violence, and partly a mockery of academia disappearing up its own arse, and partly just a really funny novel with a hilariously deadpan narrator and lots of terrific jokes. I'm not entirely sure I entirely got it, and the caper plot is wafer thin tbh, but I greatly enjoyed the ride. ...more
This is more like it. Tommy Hambledon--can we take a moment to appreciate that bumbling name for a super-spy please, instead of the usual "Dirk Stone"This is more like it. Tommy Hambledon--can we take a moment to appreciate that bumbling name for a super-spy please, instead of the usual "Dirk Stone" type bobbins--goes undercover as a prisoner to break up an organised escape gang. Quite a bit of violence, a couple of excellent allies--I think these books really excel with Tommy's allies--and a rapid fire plot. ...more
A very enjoyable cosy mystery, in which an elderly Chinese widow living a rather lonely (but doggedly determined) life in the US finds a dead body in A very enjoyable cosy mystery, in which an elderly Chinese widow living a rather lonely (but doggedly determined) life in the US finds a dead body in her teahouse and decides to solve the mystery, mostly for something to do. In the process, she turns most of the suspects into a found family.
Very amusing caper, with some horrible and many difficult people, and sharp edges but a kind, open heart. I do like a murder where we don't have to regret the murderee's passing in the slightest. ...more
A truly glorious caper comedy about a young Indonesian/Chinese American woman, her overbearing aunties/mum, and the disposal of a body. Because they kA truly glorious caper comedy about a young Indonesian/Chinese American woman, her overbearing aunties/mum, and the disposal of a body. Because they kind of accidentally killed the guy.
It's absolutely delightful. Our narrator Meddie comes across as perhaps a bit too downtrodden at first, but blossoms throughout the book. The aunties/mum are without exception superb. And the caper plotting is sublimely ridiculous. As with the best farce, every turn escalates the situation, and there were not one but two points where I actually gasped out loud at the new OH MY GOD moment.
Obviously, the fact that they killed a guy and are trying to dispose of his corpse is a bit on the dark side, but the author pulls it off beautifully, balancing the frothy and frenetic fun with the dark humour and keeping the stakes high without stopping us having fun.
There's a romance as well, which is fine and adds satisfyingly to the chaos but let's be honest, we're all here for the aunties.
