The Funicular

by John R Aarons

1SYNOPSIS AND AUTHOR BIO
A senior detective in charge of the art fraud department of the Victorian Police attends a
symposium in Madrid. Afterwards he takes a holiday in Bilbao in the north of Spain
specifically to visit the famous Guggenheim Museum.
Whilst riding the funicular to the top of the mountain that overlooks the city, he witnesses
something that starts an adventure that takes him on an exciting journey to countries he had
only previously learnt about at school!
The author has spent a lifetime travelling the world and his novels all include places he has
lived in and travelled extensively.
He resides in the city and country of his birth, Melbourne, Australia, with his wife and
extended family.

184 pages, Paperback

Published February 21, 2023

Reviews

[Amelia.S · Rating 5 out of 5]

John R. Aarons’ The Funicular is a globe trotting mystery that blends art, culture, and suspense into a richly layered narrative of intrigue and discovery. From the bustling streets of Madrid to the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the novel invites readers into a world where every city holds a secret and every piece of art conceals a deeper truth.

At the heart of the story is a seasoned detective sharp, world weary, yet endlessly curious whose accidental observation aboard a funicular sparks an international chase. Aarons deftly combines the precision of crime investigation with the wonder of travel writing, crafting a story that’s as atmospheric as it is thrilling.

What makes The Funicular truly compelling is its sense of authenticity. Drawing from his own lifetime of global exploration, Aarons captures the textures of each locale the cadence of foreign streets, the hum of languages, the quiet awe of standing before masterpieces. These details anchor the mystery in a vivid realism that lingers long after the final page.

Part detective story, part travel odyssey, and part reflection on human curiosity, The Funicular takes readers on an exhilarating ride through art and danger alike. It’s a thoughtful, cinematic adventure that reminds us how one small moment can change the course of everything.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This honestly is just not a well-written book. The story, itself, isn't bad, and the last few chapters keep things a little more engaging. But the writing style is somewhat stilted. The dialogue is awkward and extremely unlikely. People simply don't talk like that, at least not anywhere that I have seen.

The author is also extremely fond of exclamation points, putting them in places where they are entirely unnecessary. I found at least one dangling participle, when, on page 31, it says, "Being a tourist strip, the waiter spoke English . . ." The waiter was most definitely not a tourist strip.

It also seems highly unlikely to me that the detectives in this novel would constantly be stopping to have luxurious gourmet dinners and breakfasts while their criminal is running halfway around the world. They keep having leisurely meals while he gets further and further away from them. And speaking of "while," the author also really likes the word "whilst," which might be an Australian thing, I'm not sure. Most writers use "while," these days.

I did learn, though, what a "funicular" is. I had never heard of that before. It is a steep railway, such as the one that I once rode to the bottom of the Royal Gorge Canyon in Colorado.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.

[Were-Owl in Wisconsin In Wisconsin · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is a very short list of books that I have put down with no intention of ever opening them again. That list just got a bit longer.

The murder happens within the first two pages and is promptly followed up with some unbearably dry and boring flashbacks about the sole witness's vacation in Spain, career highlights, and general life story. The writing is stiff, clumsy, and awkward, and the grammar is atrocious. It's bad enough that the first few chapters are a series of flashbacks within flashbacks, but the narration keeps randomly switching from past tense to present tense.

I stopped reading after 40 pages, and I only read that much because I started reading it on my lunch break at work and didn't have a better book to replace it with.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book uninspiring. I found the language a little clunky particularly the characters' direct speech which didn't really sound like the way people speak. It stopped the story from easily flowing. It was a shame because it could have been a good book.

[Michelle Pollnow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like it very well. Aaron's style of writing is not to my liking.