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Murder Most Fab by Julian Clary
Hello, I'm Johnny Debonair and this is my book - Murder Most Fab. Buy it. You won't regret it. Everything that has happened so publicly is explained. Of course, I'd prefer it if you remember me as I was at my height, before the past caught up with me so spectacularly - TV's Mr Friday Night with an enviable lifestyle and the nation at my feet. My fame might have looked easy to you at the time, but getting to the top of the celebrity ladder is hard work. It took talent, beauty, commitment and, uniquely in my case, a number of unfortunate deaths. If we were being picky you might describe me as a serial killer, but I really don't see myself that way. It sounds trite to say 'one thing led to another' but it's true.As you'll discover I owe something of my rise and my fall to three my mother, an eccentric country girl who taught me exhibitionism by hanging naked from the clocktower of Hythe town hall; Catherine, my best friend, then partner in business �- a devil in red heels, who, in her clear Essex accent, taught me how to 'look after number one'; and Timothy, who broke my heart and caused me to seek refuge in sex, money and celebrity.But in the end you have to take responsibility for your own actions. No one was forcing me, were they? I hope you, the public, can forgive me and enjoy this sordid tale for what it is �- my final entertainment for you.
Hardcover
First published August 16, 2007
60 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Julian Clary
52 books66 followersJulian Clary is an English comedian and novelist. Clary began appearing on television in the mid-1980s and became known for his deliberately stereotypical camp style. Since then he has also acted in films, television and stage productions, and was the winner of Celebrity Big Brother 10 in 2012.
Clary has released two large format comedy books: My Life With Fanny The Wonder Dog (1989) and How To Be A Man (1992).
Between 2005 and 2008, Clary wrote a fortnightly column for the New Statesman magazine. He has also published an autobiography, A Young Man's Passage, which covers his life and career up to the 1993 "Norman Lamont incident" at the British Comedy Awards. In 2007, Clary released his first novel, Murder Most Fab, published by Ebury Press. His second novel, Devil in Disguise, was published in 2009. His first book for children, The Bolds, was published by Andersen Press in 2015.
Adapted from Wikipedia.
Clary has released two large format comedy books: My Life With Fanny The Wonder Dog (1989) and How To Be A Man (1992).
Between 2005 and 2008, Clary wrote a fortnightly column for the New Statesman magazine. He has also published an autobiography, A Young Man's Passage, which covers his life and career up to the 1993 "Norman Lamont incident" at the British Comedy Awards. In 2007, Clary released his first novel, Murder Most Fab, published by Ebury Press. His second novel, Devil in Disguise, was published in 2009. His first book for children, The Bolds, was published by Andersen Press in 2015.
Adapted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
December 10, 2021
I'm reviewing this book extremely late as I read it in 2011 and didn't review for some reason but all these years on I remember how much I loved this book and I'm actually going to reread it at some stage as it was awesome! Julian Clary is a brilliant writer and I had totally forgotten about him. I must read his other books. Totally deserves the 5 stars!
July 13, 2017
Trashy camp comfort reading fun. All the way through, I enjoyed it 4-stars-much, and had been thinking this would be a semi-apologetic rating, esp. given the erudition of some of my GR friends. However, whilst Mr Clary is unlikely to trouble the bookshelves of those who subsist on wall-to-wall Dalkey, I realised near the end that this book is a somewhat cleverer subspecies than I first took it to be. (BTW, a little bird told me that JC has used a ghostwriter at times, though I neglected to ask whether on this book, or to what extent.)
The narrator is the kind of gorgeous, charismatic Mary Sue that every reader with half an ounce of cynicism loves to loathe, and his best friend is a sociopathic bitch...The first chapter seemed ostensibly likely to repel; such awful people, darling; never mind the eye-rolling stereotyped details, but I had great fun. (This book is superb comfort reading because the characters are never that happy and are unrealistically cartoonish, and there's a lot that could go very wrong for them - they won't rub anything in your face [fnar] - but the tone is always amusing and frothy. If you've ever scowled with envy at the fundamental uncomplexity of a Wodehouse cast's lives, wishing you could find quite as much solace in PGW as your friends do, this may instead do the trick.)
Incidentally, I've never been a huge fan of Julian Clary on telly, but when I read an interview with him last year, and found it amusing - perhaps I was noticing content more than delivery for the first time - I thought his books might be worth a go. And I was (as far as my own taste is concerned) right.
And of course! I realised: it's in that literary tradition of crime novels narrated by criminals. Those usually leave me feeling grubby and sad, never uplifted, even if they can be impressive intellectual exercises. This is the first book of that ilk I've ever wholeheartedly enjoyed.
At the end was an excerpt from another novel by Clary, Briefs Encountered (which I certainly want to read now), and its knowing air of self-mockery and metafiction led me to conclude that Murder Most Fab too, is laughing at itself more than I initially thought. A layer cake in the form of a bright pink tent.
The narrator is the kind of gorgeous, charismatic Mary Sue that every reader with half an ounce of cynicism loves to loathe, and his best friend is a sociopathic bitch...The first chapter seemed ostensibly likely to repel; such awful people, darling; never mind the eye-rolling stereotyped details, but I had great fun. (This book is superb comfort reading because the characters are never that happy and are unrealistically cartoonish, and there's a lot that could go very wrong for them - they won't rub anything in your face [fnar] - but the tone is always amusing and frothy. If you've ever scowled with envy at the fundamental uncomplexity of a Wodehouse cast's lives, wishing you could find quite as much solace in PGW as your friends do, this may instead do the trick.)
Incidentally, I've never been a huge fan of Julian Clary on telly, but when I read an interview with him last year, and found it amusing - perhaps I was noticing content more than delivery for the first time - I thought his books might be worth a go. And I was (as far as my own taste is concerned) right.
And of course! I realised: it's in that literary tradition of crime novels narrated by criminals. Those usually leave me feeling grubby and sad, never uplifted, even if they can be impressive intellectual exercises. This is the first book of that ilk I've ever wholeheartedly enjoyed.
At the end was an excerpt from another novel by Clary, Briefs Encountered (which I certainly want to read now), and its knowing air of self-mockery and metafiction led me to conclude that Murder Most Fab too, is laughing at itself more than I initially thought. A layer cake in the form of a bright pink tent.
April 9, 2019
I was expecting a camp, sorta trashy read, but this surprised me by being both genuinely funny and a little tragic. Though, I can't help but think Tim doesn't deserve Johnny's devotion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2023
The premise is pretty good, but the humour in this just didn't work for me and I never felt more than mildly interested in the characters and plot.
April 9, 2019
SUCH. A. GOOD. BOOK. I was expecting a trashy read but this story is wonderful. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. Loved it!
October 29, 2023
Wow wow wow 😮
Read
December 20, 2022The first thing you notice about Julian Clary’s debut novel, Murder Most Fab, is the bright pink cover. It lights up shelf. If you want a book to standout then this is the way to go and as its author isn’t known for being subtle it suites him perfectly. The question is how does the cover match the contents of the book?
I have mixed feelings about MMF. It wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought it was going to a light-hearted, joke-ridden-romp through the life of a TV star from rising star to fallen angel. But instead we have an outrageous exploration of fame that sucks the life out of someone who can’t escape his first love and has no way out of the life he lives.
The whole book is Jonny D’s retelling of his rise and fall. His life as a country boy who turns to prostitution in London and then finds fame on children’s TV. This though cannot be done without the help of enough coke to keep his audience high for life, lots of man-on-man sex and a few unfortunate deaths alone the way.
It’s a fun read. The voice of Jonny is enjoyable and easy to get on with. The writing is clean and crisp giving enough information to keep everything moving along, not lingering on the sticky details, with just enough of a flavour so you know what’s going on.
For me it’s let down slightly in some of the stranger plot twists and turns but I’ll forgive that for the emotional journey that Clarey took me on. And I’m always more forgiving of first novels than ones by more seasoned writers. Plotting takes practice.
It’s not going to win any literary prizes but it’s a surprisingly fun way to spend an evening or two. It’s also an interesting commentary from the other side on the realities of celebrity as what you see isn’t really what you get. And if I was Jonny I’d have pushed Catherine off a bridge round about page 181.
As Mr Clary can definately write and has a way with words I have high hopes that he’ll florish even more with his next book.
I have mixed feelings about MMF. It wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought it was going to a light-hearted, joke-ridden-romp through the life of a TV star from rising star to fallen angel. But instead we have an outrageous exploration of fame that sucks the life out of someone who can’t escape his first love and has no way out of the life he lives.
The whole book is Jonny D’s retelling of his rise and fall. His life as a country boy who turns to prostitution in London and then finds fame on children’s TV. This though cannot be done without the help of enough coke to keep his audience high for life, lots of man-on-man sex and a few unfortunate deaths alone the way.
It’s a fun read. The voice of Jonny is enjoyable and easy to get on with. The writing is clean and crisp giving enough information to keep everything moving along, not lingering on the sticky details, with just enough of a flavour so you know what’s going on.
For me it’s let down slightly in some of the stranger plot twists and turns but I’ll forgive that for the emotional journey that Clarey took me on. And I’m always more forgiving of first novels than ones by more seasoned writers. Plotting takes practice.
It’s not going to win any literary prizes but it’s a surprisingly fun way to spend an evening or two. It’s also an interesting commentary from the other side on the realities of celebrity as what you see isn’t really what you get. And if I was Jonny I’d have pushed Catherine off a bridge round about page 181.
As Mr Clary can definately write and has a way with words I have high hopes that he’ll florish even more with his next book.
May 1, 2019
Enjoyable.
This is the second of Julian Clary’s books I have read, and I read purely because I liked the first. Once again I enjoyed this book. The story of the unseemly side of life (prostitution) told in a fun, easy to read way as if it was perfectly normal. I found it witty, but subtle and I was surprised by the ending as I’m sure others would be, although in the end, it feels like the only possible outcome is what happened.
This is the second of Julian Clary’s books I have read, and I read purely because I liked the first. Once again I enjoyed this book. The story of the unseemly side of life (prostitution) told in a fun, easy to read way as if it was perfectly normal. I found it witty, but subtle and I was surprised by the ending as I’m sure others would be, although in the end, it feels like the only possible outcome is what happened.
May 27, 2020
I was surprised at how entertaining I found this. The situation is extreme but the characters of believable and the voice of the main character is very strong and confident. Definitely not safe for work and I think some people would not get on with the sexual content of the book. However it definitely serves the story and I think it is a key part of the main character's life and therefore does not feel gratuitous.
August 11, 2015
A charming book with a better than expected plot which I thought would be funnier.
Julian Clary makes me laugh out loud, I love him, but this book isn't one for laughs. There's charm, which does carry you through, and a plot that makes you turn the pages. An enjoyable concept and read, if a little forgettable.
Julian Clary makes me laugh out loud, I love him, but this book isn't one for laughs. There's charm, which does carry you through, and a plot that makes you turn the pages. An enjoyable concept and read, if a little forgettable.
December 29, 2010
Mixed feelings about this one; in places very funny and easy to read. It didn't really grab me and at times it was hard work. As crime thrillers about gay serial killers go it was ok.
September 27, 2023
"Murder Most Fab", Julian Clary
I enjoyed this book - at first. I identified with this relationship with Tim as a teenager and also the sudden sense of loss when they parted. Also with his time as a rent boy. I could never quite see why he fell under Catherine's spell so much though.
One or two phrases caught my eye.
"rolls down the throat like Spanish semen" Is Spanish semen so different from any other? (Maybe I should take that long promised trip to Sitges!)
And I liked the quotation in the book,
‘There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it hardly becomes any of us
To talk about the rest of us.’
Also this one touched a chord with me.
"Think of all the people who never feel a millionth of what you’ve felt for Tim. They’re missing out. They’re half-wits, effectively. The sort of people who end up reading the Daily Mail. We can only pity them."
SPOILER ALERT!
The end of the book let it down for me. Why did Catherine betray him? Killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. There seemed no point. Having done that, she then had unparalleled influence in the prison system to afford him a life of luxury once locked up. After which she assured him that all his wealth would be waiting for him after eventual release. Several flaws in that. As a serial killer he would no doubt have received a whole life sentence.
I have some familiarity with the UK prison system. While not like Russia, it is quite brutal. (The German Supreme Court recently - 2023 - refused to extradite to the UK because the prisons are inhumane). There is no way JD could have received all those goodies. Even if they had reached the prison they would have 'got lost'. Also lifers get moved around a lot so he would lose everything at the first such move. The book lost any credibility for me at the end. A disappointment.
I enjoyed this book - at first. I identified with this relationship with Tim as a teenager and also the sudden sense of loss when they parted. Also with his time as a rent boy. I could never quite see why he fell under Catherine's spell so much though.
One or two phrases caught my eye.
"rolls down the throat like Spanish semen" Is Spanish semen so different from any other? (Maybe I should take that long promised trip to Sitges!)
And I liked the quotation in the book,
‘There is so much good in the worst of us,
And so much bad in the best of us,
That it hardly becomes any of us
To talk about the rest of us.’
Also this one touched a chord with me.
"Think of all the people who never feel a millionth of what you’ve felt for Tim. They’re missing out. They’re half-wits, effectively. The sort of people who end up reading the Daily Mail. We can only pity them."
SPOILER ALERT!
The end of the book let it down for me. Why did Catherine betray him? Killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. There seemed no point. Having done that, she then had unparalleled influence in the prison system to afford him a life of luxury once locked up. After which she assured him that all his wealth would be waiting for him after eventual release. Several flaws in that. As a serial killer he would no doubt have received a whole life sentence.
I have some familiarity with the UK prison system. While not like Russia, it is quite brutal. (The German Supreme Court recently - 2023 - refused to extradite to the UK because the prisons are inhumane). There is no way JD could have received all those goodies. Even if they had reached the prison they would have 'got lost'. Also lifers get moved around a lot so he would lose everything at the first such move. The book lost any credibility for me at the end. A disappointment.
June 29, 2023
The writing was interesting and held my attention. It had a mixture of techniques which included speaking to you as the reader as well as following the main character around and seeing things unfold. You never knew what was going to happen next, and I enjoyed the mix of highs and lows.
The story was split into 5 parts with an Epilogue at the end. The chapters within the parts were then of a medium length, which gave a good flow to the story. I wasn't entirely sure about the story being split into parts, but my interest was held throughout, so I didn't think too hard about it!
I loved the main character. He was so morally grey and together with his "friend" they made for interesting reading. All the supporting characters were great and together made for an emotional story.
The settings were good. I loved the contrast between what the main character grew up with to what he had. The settings though were very much in the background with more focus on what the characters were up to.
Overall it was an enjoyable, morally grey story that contained a lot of thought provoking things.
✨For a longer review from 6pm on 28 June see my book blog✨ https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com
The story was split into 5 parts with an Epilogue at the end. The chapters within the parts were then of a medium length, which gave a good flow to the story. I wasn't entirely sure about the story being split into parts, but my interest was held throughout, so I didn't think too hard about it!
I loved the main character. He was so morally grey and together with his "friend" they made for interesting reading. All the supporting characters were great and together made for an emotional story.
The settings were good. I loved the contrast between what the main character grew up with to what he had. The settings though were very much in the background with more focus on what the characters were up to.
Overall it was an enjoyable, morally grey story that contained a lot of thought provoking things.
✨For a longer review from 6pm on 28 June see my book blog✨ https://budgettalesblog.wordpress.com
March 9, 2025
Murder Most Fab was everything I expected from Julian Clary, slutty, smutty, laugh-out-loud funny, and camp as Christmas. What I didn't expect was that I'd enjoy it as much as I did. 🍾💷
The story is told from the POV of the killer. It was a little slow to start off, I was starting to wonder if there was ever going to be a murder. Patience is not one of my virtues, and I almost called it a day, but I persevered and was rewarded handsomely. 🍾💷
The main characters are Johnny Debonair, ex rent boy turned TV star, and his flatmate Catherine, ex nurse, ex escort, and Johnny's manager. Where Johnny is extremely likeable, Catherine is loathsome.
The supporting cast of characters is made up of assorted queens, as you'd expect, and Johnny's family and colleagues. 🍾💷
Murder Most Fab is an hilarious romp which I highly recommend. Do yourself a favour and buy or borrow it. You won't regret it. 🍾💷
The story is told from the POV of the killer. It was a little slow to start off, I was starting to wonder if there was ever going to be a murder. Patience is not one of my virtues, and I almost called it a day, but I persevered and was rewarded handsomely. 🍾💷
The main characters are Johnny Debonair, ex rent boy turned TV star, and his flatmate Catherine, ex nurse, ex escort, and Johnny's manager. Where Johnny is extremely likeable, Catherine is loathsome.
The supporting cast of characters is made up of assorted queens, as you'd expect, and Johnny's family and colleagues. 🍾💷
Murder Most Fab is an hilarious romp which I highly recommend. Do yourself a favour and buy or borrow it. You won't regret it. 🍾💷
October 2, 2023
Read this because Julian Clary is on Taskmaster this season and he's so deadpan and hilarious. This book, on the other hand, was not quite my cup of tea. That was pretty much my own fault: I was looking for Clary's books (his children's books look fun), saw the cover, and I was like, ooh murder mystery, let's try it - but it wasn't. It's a pretty straightforward recounting of a rapscallion's rise and fall from grace. Hopefully very little of it is autobiographical but certainly some of it is, so it gives an insight into gay London circa the 80s-90s. It's amusing in places and it certainly kept me reading, but there was really only one way for it to end.
March 28, 2019
Was going to give it 4 stars cos it’s not exactly Booker material but what the hell; I really enjoyed it like fish n’ chips compared with a tasting menu at the Fat Duck.
Camp, bitchy but warm and generous, just like Julian Clary himself (I sat next to him once in a flight from Australia and he was delightful company). His voice is evident throughout in a similar way to the work of Rupert Everett.
Now, I want to read all his other work.
Camp, bitchy but warm and generous, just like Julian Clary himself (I sat next to him once in a flight from Australia and he was delightful company). His voice is evident throughout in a similar way to the work of Rupert Everett.
Now, I want to read all his other work.
April 3, 2025
Very easy to read and a few funny Julian Clary quips in there. A lot of references that went over my head (maybe I’d have gotten them if I’d read it in 2006) and a lot of insensitive comments that have not aged well.
Also despite the description of Johnny as having dark hair and eyes etc. I couldn’t help but picture him as Julian Clary because of how it was written, which was very distracting.
Also despite the description of Johnny as having dark hair and eyes etc. I couldn’t help but picture him as Julian Clary because of how it was written, which was very distracting.
August 27, 2025
Not for the faint hearted...
...but, oh so funny! From the opening paragraph I was hooked!
I learned a lot, never having been homosexual, a rent boy, on drugs, or murdered anyone. The latter is my most likely sin, so thanks for the pointers, in case I do decide to go down this route!!
...but, oh so funny! From the opening paragraph I was hooked!
I learned a lot, never having been homosexual, a rent boy, on drugs, or murdered anyone. The latter is my most likely sin, so thanks for the pointers, in case I do decide to go down this route!!
April 12, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It was very Julian all the way through! I really liked the main character JD. He was damaged and easily led but fun and charming. It was a well written book highlighting people's vulnerability and secrets. It's a bit of fun with a lot of sex and drugs.
June 29, 2021
This one isn't going to be to everyone's tastes: some of the lines (including a reference to Jimmy Savile) have aged terribly. If you're willing to put that aside and see it as a riotous tale from the 80s/ 90s, it's a scream
January 2, 2025
I started reading this on Kobo when travelling but did not finish.
Re borrowed it to do so.
Having known of Clary when he was big sometime ago as a comedian his acerbic tongue was evident in this gay murder story.
Of course a well endowed protagonist to keep the read bemused.
Re borrowed it to do so.
Having known of Clary when he was big sometime ago as a comedian his acerbic tongue was evident in this gay murder story.
Of course a well endowed protagonist to keep the read bemused.
September 6, 2025
I read this book in 2012 - I remeber being quite young and being totally engrossed in the scandal of this book! Really good read - maybe I will re-read as I really remeber enjoying this one! It’s funny, deep, scandalous and surprising all at once.
August 2, 2017
Well-written, amusing, nicely plotted and fun.
January 29, 2018
Entertaining.
Something a little bit different. An enjoyable read, funny and also sad but as easy read to while away a few hours.
Something a little bit different. An enjoyable read, funny and also sad but as easy read to while away a few hours.
May 28, 2019
Quick fun read!
September 1, 2019
Ok light read. Very gay including gay sex. Not very exciting.
June 29, 2020
Great book, well written !
August 30, 2020
Absolutely hilarious, well written and to actually laugh out loud all the way through is such a treat . Enjoy
June 23, 2023
Not good at all
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews