About this title: When a bomb claims the life of his partner of over 50 years, Detective Arthur Bryant must revisit their first case to uncover the killer's identity. Fowler combines dark drama and black comedy in this deliciously sinister crime novel.
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Description: Good. Purchasing this DVD supports the North Central Regional Library. Thriftbooks and NCRL have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. Library ID found on DVD and case. Ex-Library book-will contain library markings. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Purchasing this DVD supports the North Central Regional Library. Thriftbooks and NCRL have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. Library ID found on DVD and case. Ex-Library book-will contain library markings. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Purchasing this DVD supports the North Central Regional Library. Thriftbooks and NCRL have partnered to help raise additional funds for the library system. Library ID found on DVD and case. Ex-Library book-will contain library markings. Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Description: Good. 2008-Paperback----Used-Good-Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Description: New. 0553587145 Brand New. Cover has no wear. No spine seams. No remainder mark. Pages are clean with no markings, no creases and no dog-ears. Paperback. read more
"Not what I was expecting, but nevertheless it was really good. It is the story of two London police detectives assigned to the "Peculiar Crimes Unit." Although I believe this is not the first book in the series, this book tells the story of their first case together, and the ultimate effects of that case on their present situation.
Most of the book details that first case, which took place in 1940, during the Blitz. The atmosphere and details of that time period were really well-done, you get a real sense of the tragedy of that time and what it was like to try to live your life during it. The case involved a theater production, and at times some of the theater jargon went past me a little. While the main characters are very much "straight man" vs. "brilliant eccentric" they don't feel at all like cardboard cutouts. The case itself is a great straightforward mystery - lots of suspects and only one satisfying conclusion.
I had expected a bit more madcap and mayhem... a little kookiness a la Jasper Fforde or perhaps even Douglas Adams. While there is definitely some kookiness (the lead detective keeps an open mind about alternative and supernatural possibilities) it is not the focus of the story and nothing is lacking for it. It is more mild comic relief than comedic diversion. So it was different than I expected, but not at all disappointing.
The only issues I had with this book was a little bit of confusion, sometimes it was not readily apparent whether a chapter was taking place in the present or the past; also it was pretty slow for me to get started - I didn't really dig into it until after the first 100 pages or so. But I will definitely look for more Christopher Fowler and more from the Peculiar Crimes Unit."
"When a bomb takes the life of 80-year-old detective Arthur Bryant, his partner, John May, is reminded of their very first case.
Flashback to London, the Blitz of WWII, and a production of Orpheus in Hell at the Palace Theatre. When murder strikes the players (in horrifying ways), it's up to Bryant and May to find the killer.
First, Fowler has created an interesting team with Bryant and May. Bryant is the eccentric, and May is the appealing fellow with common sense. Second, Fowler is a master of atmosphere. I felt as though I was in that dark theatre frightened for my life. Finally, this is not a fluffy mystery series, which makes me happy. A series into which I may sink my teeth!"
"Arthur Bryant and John May are parters in the PCU and have been for over sixty years. That's Peculiar Crimes Division. At least they were, until a bomb goes off and ends their partnership. While May copes with his loss and tries to piece together what happened to Arthur, he thinks about their first case and how the two events may be related.
I never thought I'd enjoy a book about the partnership of two crotchedy British detectives so much. The primary setting, a old theatre during the WWII bombing of London, was well done. Bryant and May are contrasting characters ala Mulder and Scully of the X-Files, except Brith and both male. Bryant tends to go off on tangents and the straight-laced May has to reign him in. The supporting PCU members are also well done. Forthright and Biddle are good characters in their own right.
While the present day case was solveable, the WWII one wasn't, although I can't complain. The lead up to the reveal was strewn with red herrings.
If you like crime stories and your sense of humor tingles with delight at the thought of two eighty year old men discussing their sex drives on page 10, give this one a chance. You could do a lot worse."
"This book is two murder mysteries...May is trying to figure out who blew up his partner Bryant and his only clue is that Bryant had been looking into their first murder case to write his memoir. Bryant and May work(ed) for the Peculiar Crimes Unit, a police unit that gets all the strange cases no one else wants. What unfolds is a retelling of their first case together (a number of actors and dancers are murdered in gruesome fashions in a theater in London during the Blitz) and the current case (their headquarters being blown up, along with Bryant) that is happening in 2004 The story format is a bit bizarre, but I'm looking forward to reading the next one."
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