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Not The End Of The World
The crew of an oceanic research vessel goes missing in the Pacific along with their mini-submarine. An evangelical media star holds a rally next door to a convention in LA devoted to 'nubile' cinematic entertainment. The cops know there's going to be trouble and they are not disappointed. What they didn't foresee was the presence in their state of a Glaswegian photographer with an indecipherable accent and a strong dislike of hypocrisy, or of a terrorist who seems to have access to plutonium as well as Semtex. In his unique style, Christopher Brookmyre throws a harsh light on the selfish preoccupations of 1990s society and at the same time provides uproarious entertainment.
511 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
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811 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Brookmyre
40 books1,536 followersChristopher Brookmyre is a Scottish novelist whose novels mix politics, social comment and action with a strong narrative. He has been referred to as a Tartan Noir author. His debut novel was Quite Ugly One Morning, and subsequent works have included One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night, which he said "was just the sort of book he needed to write before he turned 30", and All Fun and Games until Somebody Loses an Eye (2005). Brookmyre also writes historical fiction with Marisa Haetzman, under the pseudonym "Ambrose Parry."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
August 30, 2011
I’ve read many of Brookmyre’s books and enjoyed most. Most of them are very amusing, in some cases laugh out loud. This is definitely not one of his funny novels. There were a couple of chuckles, but the principal reaction Not The End Of The World elicited from me was fury. This book made me angry. Not because the book was bad. On the contrary, this was a well-told tale of conspiracy, religion and love in the face of adversity with interesting characters. What made me angry was the idea that there are so many seriously gullible people in this world who would believe that the likes of Luther St John are valid, credible leaders of men and that these people can influence political and public action.
(I will state now, for the benefit of the tape, that I am a lifelong agnostic. I do not believe in a supernatural deity of any sort, simply because there is no compelling evidence what so ever that such a being exists. However, I am not an atheist because there is no evidence whatsoever that such a being does NOT exist.)
So, coming from this viewpoint, (which Brookmyre seems to share) and considering the current crop of right-wing religious loony candidates for Republican pre-selection in the US, who say stupid things like God brought Hurricane Irene to the USA to get the attention of politicians, reading this book made me angry and fearful for the future of the world because so many people share in these opinions and are so intolerant of those who do not.
While telling a compelling crime/terrorism story this book demonstrates very skillfully how intolerant people can be when they believe that their point of view is the only one worth having and that people who don’t share this point of view or who don’t believe enough in their brand of dogma should be forcibly re-educated, punished or just plain wiped out for their “sins”. The hypocrisy just infuriates and scares me.
(I will state now, for the benefit of the tape, that I am a lifelong agnostic. I do not believe in a supernatural deity of any sort, simply because there is no compelling evidence what so ever that such a being exists. However, I am not an atheist because there is no evidence whatsoever that such a being does NOT exist.)
So, coming from this viewpoint, (which Brookmyre seems to share) and considering the current crop of right-wing religious loony candidates for Republican pre-selection in the US, who say stupid things like God brought Hurricane Irene to the USA to get the attention of politicians, reading this book made me angry and fearful for the future of the world because so many people share in these opinions and are so intolerant of those who do not.
While telling a compelling crime/terrorism story this book demonstrates very skillfully how intolerant people can be when they believe that their point of view is the only one worth having and that people who don’t share this point of view or who don’t believe enough in their brand of dogma should be forcibly re-educated, punished or just plain wiped out for their “sins”. The hypocrisy just infuriates and scares me.
November 10, 2014
This is not a novel so much as a hysterical rant against religion.
It's a heavy-handed, tedious morality play. The heroes are rational atheists; the villains are an abortion clinic bomber and a televangelist willing to commit mass murder in order to steer America back to the path of righteousness.
The book savages easy targets: fundamentalist Christians, the sort who think God Hates Fags and believe the earth is 6,000 years old. It also saves a little venom for child-molesting Catholic priests. After the triumphant finale there's a wrap-up lecture about how religion in general has brought humanity no good and much harm.
There is some good stuff here - I liked the characterization of Larry the cop, and I liked Steff the Scottish photographer. Even the porn star with the heart of gold was tolerable. I enjoyed the brief scene mocking pretentious independent filmmakers, and hoped for more, but alas, Brookmyre needed those pages to describe Christian child abuse.
I like Brookmyre's writing style, and he can be very funny. I really enjoyed his Jack Parlabane books. While he's never exactly subtle when it comes to expressing his opinions on religion, politics, or anything else, this is the first time I've seen him allow his haranguing to overpower his story. I intend to read more of his work, so I hope this book is an anomaly.
It's a heavy-handed, tedious morality play. The heroes are rational atheists; the villains are an abortion clinic bomber and a televangelist willing to commit mass murder in order to steer America back to the path of righteousness.
The book savages easy targets: fundamentalist Christians, the sort who think God Hates Fags and believe the earth is 6,000 years old. It also saves a little venom for child-molesting Catholic priests. After the triumphant finale there's a wrap-up lecture about how religion in general has brought humanity no good and much harm.
There is some good stuff here - I liked the characterization of Larry the cop, and I liked Steff the Scottish photographer. Even the porn star with the heart of gold was tolerable. I enjoyed the brief scene mocking pretentious independent filmmakers, and hoped for more, but alas, Brookmyre needed those pages to describe Christian child abuse.
I like Brookmyre's writing style, and he can be very funny. I really enjoyed his Jack Parlabane books. While he's never exactly subtle when it comes to expressing his opinions on religion, politics, or anything else, this is the first time I've seen him allow his haranguing to overpower his story. I intend to read more of his work, so I hope this book is an anomaly.
September 5, 2014
Not the End of the World = ((Religious fundamentalists ^ self-righteous indignation) + B-movie convention) x chaos
The first Brookmyre without Parlabane, set in America with only one Scottish character… this book starts off not looking so promising. It is Brookmyre though, so give him the benefit of the doubt.
A slow and steady, but mysterious and intriguing start, I had to wonder where the hell this book was going. I made a few guesses, and of course was completely wrong, but if I'd have been right it would have been no fun.
I have a lot of hate and anger for aspects of this book, but that is hate and anger I was supposed to feel. As well as eliciting those emotions from me, Brookmyre also manages to squeeze a bit of pity out of me for the same character. Damn you, Brookmyre, you can't just let me hate a man in peace? You have to give him a back story and make me see how his insanity makes sense to him. You have to create well-written and well-rounded, believable characters.
I think this book is a marked improvement in the subtleties of Brookmyre's writing. It was while reading this book that I realised I would happily read anything Brookmyre wrote, because he would write it so well, and so interestingly. I decided he should write non-fiction books, hell, write text books for school children. He would make dull subjects interesting in the way he presented the facts. And so, when I subsequently learnt he had had to cut 20,000 words from this book because he had waffled on a little too much about the Minoans, I was not surprised, but disappointed, because I would have read them.
The first Brookmyre without Parlabane, set in America with only one Scottish character… this book starts off not looking so promising. It is Brookmyre though, so give him the benefit of the doubt.
A slow and steady, but mysterious and intriguing start, I had to wonder where the hell this book was going. I made a few guesses, and of course was completely wrong, but if I'd have been right it would have been no fun.
I have a lot of hate and anger for aspects of this book, but that is hate and anger I was supposed to feel. As well as eliciting those emotions from me, Brookmyre also manages to squeeze a bit of pity out of me for the same character. Damn you, Brookmyre, you can't just let me hate a man in peace? You have to give him a back story and make me see how his insanity makes sense to him. You have to create well-written and well-rounded, believable characters.
I think this book is a marked improvement in the subtleties of Brookmyre's writing. It was while reading this book that I realised I would happily read anything Brookmyre wrote, because he would write it so well, and so interestingly. I decided he should write non-fiction books, hell, write text books for school children. He would make dull subjects interesting in the way he presented the facts. And so, when I subsequently learnt he had had to cut 20,000 words from this book because he had waffled on a little too much about the Minoans, I was not surprised, but disappointed, because I would have read them.
March 26, 2020
The second half of this novel really dragged. For all Brookmyre's usual witty writing style was present here, for me the choice of plot and characters failed utterly to hold my interest. The crew disappearing from a marine research vessel, a photographer called to cover a film awards ceremony, the threat of terrorism, an odd fundamentalist Christian sect, a cynical LA cop.. at times it felt like the author was throwing ideas at the book and seeing what stuck. There were some stand-out moments, but it was one of the least appealing of Mr Brookmyre's oeuvre that I have had the fortune to read.
April 17, 2014
An enjoyable thriller, if not Brookmyre's best work. The bare bones of the plots involved form the backbone of a good story, and there are a fair number of memorably funny bits of dialogue. But what I like most about Brookmyre's work -- he is a "thinking person's thriller writer" -- derails this one a bit. There is a bit too much backstory on the central characters, and what could have been a satire on the Christian right wing falls short of that because one is left with the sense of deep anger which undercuts the humor. There is nothing wrong with an author having strong feelings, of course, but the result is a movie-like story which occasionally becomes ponderous.
I respect Brookmyre for reaching beyond story-telling to make real novels. The major characters are very carefully developed, and their biographies are inserted into the plot in bits and pieces. Note that these background stories in general seem to focus on a character's psycho-sexual development, and in a graphic way. You'll need a strong stomach for some of it.
The book is rather long (almost 400 pages) and is really conveying several different plots, some of which work better than others. To me, the book ended somewhat before it actually did, and reaches more of an anticlimax that the bigger impact I think was the author's intention. But Brookmyre is simply too talented to write an actually bad book, and if you enjoy his work (as I do) this is a lively way to spend a few days.
I respect Brookmyre for reaching beyond story-telling to make real novels. The major characters are very carefully developed, and their biographies are inserted into the plot in bits and pieces. Note that these background stories in general seem to focus on a character's psycho-sexual development, and in a graphic way. You'll need a strong stomach for some of it.
The book is rather long (almost 400 pages) and is really conveying several different plots, some of which work better than others. To me, the book ended somewhat before it actually did, and reaches more of an anticlimax that the bigger impact I think was the author's intention. But Brookmyre is simply too talented to write an actually bad book, and if you enjoy his work (as I do) this is a lively way to spend a few days.
September 5, 2021
A very funny protagonist in a not so funny novel.
A dry wit.
March 6, 2009
Brookmyre's third novel is not a Jack Parlabane book, although a character who made a flashback appearance in his first book Quite Ugly One Morning is a major character here.
The setting is Los Angeles, where photographer Steff Kennedy has newly arrived and is waiting for his assignment: photographing former porn star Madeleine Witherson as she touts her new career in legitimate acting in her new movie Angel's Claws. The event is happening at the American Feature Film Market, an annual event to display and sell rights to movies that would, with luck, go straight to video. Unfortunately, across the street is the Festival of Light, run by Luthor St. John, an evangelist of the Pat Robertson stripe. That it's 1999, and the milleniumists are predicting the end of everything, is not helping.
Sergeant Larry Freeman, assigned to liaison with the AFFM people, is not happy about what could be a potential for explosive tempers, but that turns out to be the least of his problems. One of the visitors has decided to take God's Justice into his own hands, and has set two bombs -- one on a tour boat, another in the hotel where the convention is to take place. The hotel bomb is just to prove he's serious. The tour boat bomb has a more complicated purpose: with the boat and bomb under observation to prevent escape and tampering, the bomber demands that Madeleine publicly kill herself to atone for her sins. If she does, the passengers will go free.
This is not the worst of it though. Freeman also has to figure out what happened to an oceanography vessel's crew, who have mysteriously vanished. Their disappearance is the start of an even worse terrorist plot, one which Freeman doesn't know exists yet.
The foreshadowing of 9/11 was somewhat eerie to me, but if anything that added to the emotion. The book works very well as a stand-alone novel -- no knowledge of the characters in the first two books is needed. The setting lets Brookmyre make many sarcastic observations about American film, TV, and religion, mostly deserved. The characters have more depth than in his previous two books, particularly the villains, who previously would be made of cardboard -- humorously made, but nonetheless cardboard. Some Britishisms (or Scottishisms) slipped into the speech of the American characters, but it's nothing fatal. More problematic is that the solution to Madeleine's situation is so obvious that everyone and the bomber should have thought of it, but since the threat to her is not the climax of the book, it's forgivable. Overall, a very good book.
The setting is Los Angeles, where photographer Steff Kennedy has newly arrived and is waiting for his assignment: photographing former porn star Madeleine Witherson as she touts her new career in legitimate acting in her new movie Angel's Claws. The event is happening at the American Feature Film Market, an annual event to display and sell rights to movies that would, with luck, go straight to video. Unfortunately, across the street is the Festival of Light, run by Luthor St. John, an evangelist of the Pat Robertson stripe. That it's 1999, and the milleniumists are predicting the end of everything, is not helping.
Sergeant Larry Freeman, assigned to liaison with the AFFM people, is not happy about what could be a potential for explosive tempers, but that turns out to be the least of his problems. One of the visitors has decided to take God's Justice into his own hands, and has set two bombs -- one on a tour boat, another in the hotel where the convention is to take place. The hotel bomb is just to prove he's serious. The tour boat bomb has a more complicated purpose: with the boat and bomb under observation to prevent escape and tampering, the bomber demands that Madeleine publicly kill herself to atone for her sins. If she does, the passengers will go free.
This is not the worst of it though. Freeman also has to figure out what happened to an oceanography vessel's crew, who have mysteriously vanished. Their disappearance is the start of an even worse terrorist plot, one which Freeman doesn't know exists yet.
The foreshadowing of 9/11 was somewhat eerie to me, but if anything that added to the emotion. The book works very well as a stand-alone novel -- no knowledge of the characters in the first two books is needed. The setting lets Brookmyre make many sarcastic observations about American film, TV, and religion, mostly deserved. The characters have more depth than in his previous two books, particularly the villains, who previously would be made of cardboard -- humorously made, but nonetheless cardboard. Some Britishisms (or Scottishisms) slipped into the speech of the American characters, but it's nothing fatal. More problematic is that the solution to Madeleine's situation is so obvious that everyone and the bomber should have thought of it, but since the threat to her is not the climax of the book, it's forgivable. Overall, a very good book.
March 29, 2014
Směs satiry, thrilleru a kritiky náboženství, což je na jednu knížku až až - vlastně až příliš. (A to není všechno, ještě to je detektivka a milostný příběh s happy endem a možná ještě něco.) Zachraňuje ji, že je napsaná svižně a že obsahuje pár překvapivých momentů, jež udrží čtenářovu pozornost. Hlavní kladnou hrdinkou je pornoherečka, která je však vlastně úplně ctnostná, bezmála panenská; kdo by to byl řekl? Hlavním padouchem je úspěšný televizní kazatel (místo děje: USA). Oba měli hodně ošklivé dětství. Pomineme-li několik desítek mrtvých, všechno dobře dopadne (mohlo jich být mnohem, mnohem víc).
Přečetl jsem to na základě rady Jana Vaňka, Jr., k níž došlo v rámci disputace o víře a Bohu. Velká část děje je založena na tom, že a) organizované náboženství vymývá mozek, b) a dá se zneužít ke zločinnému jednání. Jestli autor myslel vážně, že chce řešit morální dilema, pak ho měl postavit poctivě: porazit karikaturu vlastní výroby není problém. Jenže to by pak byla úplně jiná kniha. Jako oddychové čtení to mohu klidně doporučit i věřícím, u nás se těžko někdo bude identifikovat s následovníky Luthera St. Johna.
Přečetl jsem to na základě rady Jana Vaňka, Jr., k níž došlo v rámci disputace o víře a Bohu. Velká část děje je založena na tom, že a) organizované náboženství vymývá mozek, b) a dá se zneužít ke zločinnému jednání. Jestli autor myslel vážně, že chce řešit morální dilema, pak ho měl postavit poctivě: porazit karikaturu vlastní výroby není problém. Jenže to by pak byla úplně jiná kniha. Jako oddychové čtení to mohu klidně doporučit i věřícím, u nás se těžko někdo bude identifikovat s následovníky Luthera St. Johna.
April 30, 2016
First Impression: Christopher Brookmyre is one of my top favourite authors so I am slightly biased on this book, but it is his first stand alone book that is not part of one of his very awesome series' and it stands out nicely. It is a bold effort full of big events that will have you tearing through it to uncover the truth.
Summary of the Story:
Off the coast of Los Angeles a boat is found, it looks lived in but the crew is missing as though they were swept away in the middle of whatever they were doing. LA cop Larry Freeman is looking into this modern day Mary Celeste and his investigations produce very little evidence of anything fishy...excuse the pun.
Santa Monica is a town split in half, there is the American film makers peddling their various movies on the masses and there is The Festival Of Light, a religious gathering of hardcore Christian's there to protest the sin filled content the AFFM is peddling. Along with the FOL there is the American legion of decency and their leader Reverend Luther St John who is predicting a tidal wave will be coming to wash away all the sinners that plague the town. As 1999 syndrome fills the air so close to the millennium people are primed for thinking the END IS NIGH.
With religious protest under way and Luther St John declaring that 'The Whore of Babylon' and all the other sinners will be taken in the flood, there is apocalypse in everyone's minds. Madeleine A.K.A 'The Whore of Babylon' is a hardcore adult film actress/senator's daughter, she ignores Luther's campaign against her as she is out of the business and laying low. But when an Anonymous person threatens to blow up a boat load of innocent people if she doesn't kill herself on national TV at dawn the next day, she has to make some tough decisions.
Steff Kennedy is just a photographer from the U.K, but can he help save the world and get the girl...?
My Review:
Christopher Brookmyre picked the perfect time and setting for this story, my favourite part of this book straight off the bat is that each character has his or her own properly fleshed out back story, identity and writing style. CB doesn't just write one way for every character, he uses culture, speech and ideals to fuel each person's battle in this high octane story.
I have a very high opinion of CB and his work, but that doesn't count for much here, this is only his third book and he is still finding his signature style. This means it does not read like a typical Brookmyre piece which I found was a nice treat. Much like Bedlam, it is out of his usual comfort zone. I thought the story was solid, the characters were well put together in the sense that I agree that the life they have lived would produce the very people that they are in this story.
Larry Freeman has popped up previously in CB's first book, and it is great to see him back and fleshed out. He is a fairly standard character, cop with a tragic past but there are still a few unique touches to him that stop the eye-rolling, for example he uses his tragedy for a positivity instead of letting it hold him back. Larry is the glue that holds this story together and he is a very enjoyable character.
Luther St John is the star character in this piece, his story is tragic, humiliating, inspiring (to a minor degree), religious and ultimately evil. You can't help but feel bad for St John and understand why he is as he is. He is a man who overcame trials to become the man we see in this story and CB documents his life fully and the writing builds a great character who takes the story to many different places.
The other characters in this book are great too, I really enjoyed the love story between Steff and Madeleine, it brought the narrative back to the present moment and provided a sometimes much needed distraction in the heavier parts of the plot. Steff is funny, tough and smart. Madeleine is beautiful, wounded and but still has a lot of fight in her. Madeleine's back story deals with some strong themes including self harm and childhood sexual abuse, but its not overwhelming (though it is unacceptably tragic).
The plot was not too unbelievable if you stretch your mind a little, but with the right people and the right means then it could happen. It includes A LOT of religion and quite a bit of oceanography terminology which can bog down the plot slightly but I never found myself wanting to skip parts because I couldn't put up with it. Luther's story brings the other strong themes, religion in it's more extreme boundaries, as well as dedication to the Lord's way.
My main criticism of the piece is that it is not a very smooth read, it can be choppy in places and it can be annoying to have to go back and re-read parts to get a better understanding, this is only in certain places but still. This is me personally though, you may find it a piece of cake and that I am just a bit slower than the norm...
Overall this book captures the era it was set in perfectly, the new millennium brought plenty of chaos to our civilisation and CB paints this picture nicely and cooks up a decent plot and a handful of great characters to really bring it to life again.
8/10
Check this out and many more reviews @ alwaystrustinbooks.blogspot.co.uk, or add us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @AlwTrustInBooks. We are also on Goodreads and post on Amazon UK/US. Thanks for reading and feel free to leave me some feedback from this review.
Summary of the Story:
Off the coast of Los Angeles a boat is found, it looks lived in but the crew is missing as though they were swept away in the middle of whatever they were doing. LA cop Larry Freeman is looking into this modern day Mary Celeste and his investigations produce very little evidence of anything fishy...excuse the pun.
Santa Monica is a town split in half, there is the American film makers peddling their various movies on the masses and there is The Festival Of Light, a religious gathering of hardcore Christian's there to protest the sin filled content the AFFM is peddling. Along with the FOL there is the American legion of decency and their leader Reverend Luther St John who is predicting a tidal wave will be coming to wash away all the sinners that plague the town. As 1999 syndrome fills the air so close to the millennium people are primed for thinking the END IS NIGH.
With religious protest under way and Luther St John declaring that 'The Whore of Babylon' and all the other sinners will be taken in the flood, there is apocalypse in everyone's minds. Madeleine A.K.A 'The Whore of Babylon' is a hardcore adult film actress/senator's daughter, she ignores Luther's campaign against her as she is out of the business and laying low. But when an Anonymous person threatens to blow up a boat load of innocent people if she doesn't kill herself on national TV at dawn the next day, she has to make some tough decisions.
Steff Kennedy is just a photographer from the U.K, but can he help save the world and get the girl...?
My Review:
Christopher Brookmyre picked the perfect time and setting for this story, my favourite part of this book straight off the bat is that each character has his or her own properly fleshed out back story, identity and writing style. CB doesn't just write one way for every character, he uses culture, speech and ideals to fuel each person's battle in this high octane story.
I have a very high opinion of CB and his work, but that doesn't count for much here, this is only his third book and he is still finding his signature style. This means it does not read like a typical Brookmyre piece which I found was a nice treat. Much like Bedlam, it is out of his usual comfort zone. I thought the story was solid, the characters were well put together in the sense that I agree that the life they have lived would produce the very people that they are in this story.
Larry Freeman has popped up previously in CB's first book, and it is great to see him back and fleshed out. He is a fairly standard character, cop with a tragic past but there are still a few unique touches to him that stop the eye-rolling, for example he uses his tragedy for a positivity instead of letting it hold him back. Larry is the glue that holds this story together and he is a very enjoyable character.
Luther St John is the star character in this piece, his story is tragic, humiliating, inspiring (to a minor degree), religious and ultimately evil. You can't help but feel bad for St John and understand why he is as he is. He is a man who overcame trials to become the man we see in this story and CB documents his life fully and the writing builds a great character who takes the story to many different places.
The other characters in this book are great too, I really enjoyed the love story between Steff and Madeleine, it brought the narrative back to the present moment and provided a sometimes much needed distraction in the heavier parts of the plot. Steff is funny, tough and smart. Madeleine is beautiful, wounded and but still has a lot of fight in her. Madeleine's back story deals with some strong themes including self harm and childhood sexual abuse, but its not overwhelming (though it is unacceptably tragic).
The plot was not too unbelievable if you stretch your mind a little, but with the right people and the right means then it could happen. It includes A LOT of religion and quite a bit of oceanography terminology which can bog down the plot slightly but I never found myself wanting to skip parts because I couldn't put up with it. Luther's story brings the other strong themes, religion in it's more extreme boundaries, as well as dedication to the Lord's way.
My main criticism of the piece is that it is not a very smooth read, it can be choppy in places and it can be annoying to have to go back and re-read parts to get a better understanding, this is only in certain places but still. This is me personally though, you may find it a piece of cake and that I am just a bit slower than the norm...
Overall this book captures the era it was set in perfectly, the new millennium brought plenty of chaos to our civilisation and CB paints this picture nicely and cooks up a decent plot and a handful of great characters to really bring it to life again.
8/10
Check this out and many more reviews @ alwaystrustinbooks.blogspot.co.uk, or add us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @AlwTrustInBooks. We are also on Goodreads and post on Amazon UK/US. Thanks for reading and feel free to leave me some feedback from this review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2025
A load of rubbish. Tried so hard to be funny in EVERY SIGNLE SENTENCE, but very few jokes actually hit the mark for me. Too many characters and too much going on.
January 4, 2013
As an unrepentant, welded-on, dedicated Christopher Brookmyre fan I do have to ration these books a bit. So NOT THE END OF THE WORLD has been lurking here for quite a long time, although I was a little startled to learn it was originally published in 1998. Not because it's been lurking for that long but because the central themes, in particular rabid evangelical religious fanatics, intolerance, insistence, terrorism and short-sighted idiocy works just as well now as it did then. Actually make that less startled, more disgusted.
NOT THE END OF THE WORLD does take a little while to get started, which, (weak pun alert - I tried / can't resist) is not the end of the world. Because the guts of the book made me stop and think, and increasingly made me more and more disgusted with the way that the things haven't changed and the lunatics are still out there waving their intolerance in everyone else's faces and shoving their messages down everybody's throats. When I wasn't laughing at their portrayal, I was more than just a little bit annoyed with the sorts of things that Brookmyre was holding a magnifying glass on - right up close and very very pointedly as Brookmyre does best.
This was one of my particular choices for "please myself month". Worked perfectly.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
NOT THE END OF THE WORLD does take a little while to get started, which, (weak pun alert - I tried / can't resist) is not the end of the world. Because the guts of the book made me stop and think, and increasingly made me more and more disgusted with the way that the things haven't changed and the lunatics are still out there waving their intolerance in everyone else's faces and shoving their messages down everybody's throats. When I wasn't laughing at their portrayal, I was more than just a little bit annoyed with the sorts of things that Brookmyre was holding a magnifying glass on - right up close and very very pointedly as Brookmyre does best.
This was one of my particular choices for "please myself month". Worked perfectly.
http://www.austcrimefiction.org/revie...
February 5, 2016
It’s a little bit Day of the Locust and a little bit Christopher Hitchens, with a dash of Carl Hiaasen thrown in for good measure. It’s 1999, and millennial fever has drawn a collection of loony right wing god botherers to Santa Monica to prepare for the End Times. There is the inept abortion clinic bomber who wants to stage a ritual suicide/redemption act starring a former porn star turned legitimate actress. There is the happy clappy Legion of Decency staging a massive pro abstinence rally directly across the street from the annual convention of Feature Film Producers. There is the megalomaniac televangelist whose earlier failed bid for the presidency has made him determined to succeed in his second attempt, even if he has to wipe out a serious chunk of the west coast in the process. And there is the visiting Militia group from Texas. And a hijacked marine research submarine.
Into all of this chaos, Larry Freeman, overworked LA cop, Steff Kennedy, a Scottish free lance photographer, and Maddy Witherson, aspiring actress trying to make her own way in spite of her right wing senator father, are trying to hold off multiple catastrophes, solve crimes and protect the public. And themselves.
It’s elaborately plotted, with some very sympathetic characters, very funny in spots, very angry in others, with an unforgettable cast of really bad “good” guys.
Into all of this chaos, Larry Freeman, overworked LA cop, Steff Kennedy, a Scottish free lance photographer, and Maddy Witherson, aspiring actress trying to make her own way in spite of her right wing senator father, are trying to hold off multiple catastrophes, solve crimes and protect the public. And themselves.
It’s elaborately plotted, with some very sympathetic characters, very funny in spots, very angry in others, with an unforgettable cast of really bad “good” guys.
June 6, 2024
Christopher Brookmyre is a new Author for me, I have read many reviews of his works so I have been forewarned :-)
There is a evangelist, righteous man, politician, prostitute, children, abuse, biblical verses, moralizing, police, weapons, criminals, I thought… is this going to be a snuff movie ??? - an occasional topic of discussion in late 80’s when some households had a Video player, electric blue / soft porn had a story line, were found on the regular shelves at the Video store, where we hired them along with comedy, horror, action, kung fu, westerns and thriller movies.
For me, this was a really funny laugh out loud book, the characters, circumstances, crimes, goals, gravity are all aspects of human nature, that as a student of history, life, philosophy and theology ticked the boxes for me. I loved the rambling tangents and mundanity the characters think in, their disconnect from rational behaviour when realization steps in, the acknowledgment of futility, individuality and purpose.
Thank you for your collected words Christopher Brookmyre and your eloquence William Hope, very much appreciated gentlemen. (-:
There is a evangelist, righteous man, politician, prostitute, children, abuse, biblical verses, moralizing, police, weapons, criminals, I thought… is this going to be a snuff movie ??? - an occasional topic of discussion in late 80’s when some households had a Video player, electric blue / soft porn had a story line, were found on the regular shelves at the Video store, where we hired them along with comedy, horror, action, kung fu, westerns and thriller movies.
For me, this was a really funny laugh out loud book, the characters, circumstances, crimes, goals, gravity are all aspects of human nature, that as a student of history, life, philosophy and theology ticked the boxes for me. I loved the rambling tangents and mundanity the characters think in, their disconnect from rational behaviour when realization steps in, the acknowledgment of futility, individuality and purpose.
Thank you for your collected words Christopher Brookmyre and your eloquence William Hope, very much appreciated gentlemen. (-:
August 11, 2014
I've enjoyed all of his books that I've read so far; as I've said before, he's like a Scottish Ben Elton, writing thrillers with an entertaining cast of characters so he can rant about whichever topic he's select, in this case religion.
Here a Christian fundamentalist hatches a plot to set off a tidal wave (this was written in 1998 before we all started calling them tsunami) to destroy LA, as he has predicted. Meanwhile an ex-porn star is targeted by another religious terrorist also trying to make a point. There are Unlikely heroes, some fairly black comedy, and some very serious points made. If you are even remotely religious, don't read this book, as the first reviewer on this page, who gives it 1 star because he or she didn't like the criticism did even though it should be obvious from the summary what it's about did, of course you'll hate it. Sorry for the last sentence, terribly ungrammatical, can't be bothered editing it.
Here a Christian fundamentalist hatches a plot to set off a tidal wave (this was written in 1998 before we all started calling them tsunami) to destroy LA, as he has predicted. Meanwhile an ex-porn star is targeted by another religious terrorist also trying to make a point. There are Unlikely heroes, some fairly black comedy, and some very serious points made. If you are even remotely religious, don't read this book, as the first reviewer on this page, who gives it 1 star because he or she didn't like the criticism did even though it should be obvious from the summary what it's about did, of course you'll hate it. Sorry for the last sentence, terribly ungrammatical, can't be bothered editing it.
January 29, 2019
What a fucking disappointing bore. I was so excited to read this, as the reviews and the premise made it sound like it'd be a fantastic Brookmyre book, but I feel as though I'd read a different one entirely. This is about as bad as COUNTRY OF THE BLIND, Brookmyre's second novel (this one being the third), and there's a common thread the two share: the pacing is horrendous. What could've been a great thriller with a few laughs ended up being plodding, overly long and dull.
Thankfully I know Christopher Brookmyre is capable of so much better.
Thankfully I know Christopher Brookmyre is capable of so much better.
February 22, 2022
A good read, enjoyable and very ingenious plot. Loved the take on religion and if you're religious I'd give this a miss if you don't want your faith ridiculed or exposed depending on how you see it.
Spoliers blow.
My only gripe was the ending. It was satisfying and certainly didn't spoilt the book, but wouldnt the Rev actually have held out, especially after going through school and surviving the beatings for his faith there?
Spoliers blow.
My only gripe was the ending. It was satisfying and certainly didn't spoilt the book, but wouldnt the Rev actually have held out, especially after going through school and surviving the beatings for his faith there?
September 14, 2021
a while since I read this - marvellous
I can’t remember when I read this the first time. Recently, I decided to revisit Brookmyre and chose to read all the Parlabane books first. Consequently, I really enjoyed the little references to Jack here and there.
This is a good read. There are so many characters that could have Parlabane-like series of their own.
I can’t remember when I read this the first time. Recently, I decided to revisit Brookmyre and chose to read all the Parlabane books first. Consequently, I really enjoyed the little references to Jack here and there.
This is a good read. There are so many characters that could have Parlabane-like series of their own.
August 13, 2022
Good, not great, for me.
There is a lot of living in the characters' heads in this book, pushing the boundaries of what I wanted, particularly the pseudo Christians and their justifications for evil deeds. Mr. Brookmyre is a fine writer and *just* pulled it off, I think. The protagonists are great; I enjoyed Steff quite a lot. Nice ending.
There is a lot of living in the characters' heads in this book, pushing the boundaries of what I wanted, particularly the pseudo Christians and their justifications for evil deeds. Mr. Brookmyre is a fine writer and *just* pulled it off, I think. The protagonists are great; I enjoyed Steff quite a lot. Nice ending.
May 18, 2024
A brilliant, tightly-plotted, righteous takedown of organised religion and in particular US fundamentalist Christians. Spot on in every respect of course. Hugely entertaining and deserves to be much better known - I keep recommending Brookmyre's earlier output since no-one I speak to appears to have heard of him!
September 24, 2018
Returning to Brookmyre who was a student favourite I find that the style, whilst still entertaining, grates a little bit more than it used to. The hectoring which impressed the young me wearies the older one. Still tremendous fun, though.
September 21, 2015
Arguably not one of his best, but Brookmyre is at least one cut above the rest even then. The expected black humour, strange character gallery and extreme situations.
July 23, 2021
The story line was good but the story telling got bogged down with to much back story. I finished but thought about stopping a few times LOL
February 15, 2023
Good fun, but the 'bigger' part of the plot was quite rushed at the end.
November 23, 2024
Los Angeles 1999. Das Ende des Millenniums ist nahe und damit auch das Ende der Welt wie viele vermuten. Die Stadt ist zum Treffpunkt von Predigern und Gruppen geworden die Erlösung verheißen. Doch auch das Geschäft muß weitergehen und so findet sich der schottische Fotograf Steff Kennedy auf einem zweitklassigen Filmfestival wieder um eine Pornodarstellerin auf ihrem Weg ins seriöse Filmgeschäft zu begleiten. Kathy Koxx, so ihr Künstlername, ist nicht nur vom größten Prediger der USA als "Hure von Babylon" verrufen sondern auch zufällig die Tochter eines US-Senators. Daher ist es kein Wunder dass sie die Aufmerksamkeit auf sich zieht. Diese Aufmerksamkeit bringt nicht nur ihre zweite Karriere ins Rollen, sondern auch jede Menge Menschen in Gefahr denn Kathy Koxx soll für ihre Sünden büßen. Tut sie das nicht müssen Menschen sterben.
Der Autor nimmt in diesem Buch die Ängste der Menschen vor dem Wechsel ins neue Jahrtausend auf die Schippe und zeigt die Auswüchse, die diese Furcht gerade in den USA genommen hat. Abgesehen davon schlägt er ungewohnt nachdenkliche Töne an und berichtet von Kindesmußbrauch durch die eigenen Eltern, Eltern die ihre Kinder verlieren und wohin falsch verstandener Glaube führen kann. Ich muß sagen dass mir diese bis jetzt unbekannte Seite von Christopher Brookmyre gefallen hat. Aber natürlich kommt sein ganz besonderer Sinn für Dramatik und böser Humor nicht zu kurz.
Der Autor nimmt in diesem Buch die Ängste der Menschen vor dem Wechsel ins neue Jahrtausend auf die Schippe und zeigt die Auswüchse, die diese Furcht gerade in den USA genommen hat. Abgesehen davon schlägt er ungewohnt nachdenkliche Töne an und berichtet von Kindesmußbrauch durch die eigenen Eltern, Eltern die ihre Kinder verlieren und wohin falsch verstandener Glaube führen kann. Ich muß sagen dass mir diese bis jetzt unbekannte Seite von Christopher Brookmyre gefallen hat. Aber natürlich kommt sein ganz besonderer Sinn für Dramatik und böser Humor nicht zu kurz.
July 9, 2023
This was a very interesting, and at parts a fascinating read.
I found the main plot to be something like you’d see in a James Bond movie, a megalomaniac, in this case a tv evangelistic preacher, whose twisted logic has him believing America has lost its way and only he can save it. But unlike other tv preachers, he has the money, connections and resources to make the apocalypse he has repeatedly warned America about actually happen. His actions and those of his followers bring together an unlikely motley crew who, through different circumstances, find themselves working together to thwart his diabolical plans.
The story moves at a consistent pace and kept me gripped until the very end. The main characters were believable and relatable with real issues and complex backstories which had me rooting for them, and at times, and worryingly I found myself understanding the main villain’s perspective, might need help with that.
The only real negative aspect of the novel was there were parts of it which delved into the some of the main characters backstory, but they tended to ramble on, and they could’ve been reduced as I found myself skimming through them as I found them distracting from the main plot.
To summarise if you enjoy crime fiction and thrillers this novel is for you.
I found the main plot to be something like you’d see in a James Bond movie, a megalomaniac, in this case a tv evangelistic preacher, whose twisted logic has him believing America has lost its way and only he can save it. But unlike other tv preachers, he has the money, connections and resources to make the apocalypse he has repeatedly warned America about actually happen. His actions and those of his followers bring together an unlikely motley crew who, through different circumstances, find themselves working together to thwart his diabolical plans.
The story moves at a consistent pace and kept me gripped until the very end. The main characters were believable and relatable with real issues and complex backstories which had me rooting for them, and at times, and worryingly I found myself understanding the main villain’s perspective, might need help with that.
The only real negative aspect of the novel was there were parts of it which delved into the some of the main characters backstory, but they tended to ramble on, and they could’ve been reduced as I found myself skimming through them as I found them distracting from the main plot.
To summarise if you enjoy crime fiction and thrillers this novel is for you.
June 12, 2018
I tend to purchase the audio version as I spend a lot of time in the car and find I can easily absorb a good book and it can make the hours melt away. Almost all of the books I had purchased previously (particularly the Jack Parlabane series) were narrated by a Scot, Angus King who does a superb job. This book was narrated by an American (not too surprising as this novel is set in California) but his Scottish accent is diabolical (in fact, as a Glaswegian, I would go so far as to say it was offensive!) So, I was disappointed when it started playing but had little option but to keep listening. Very soon, the disappointment had turned to intrigue and excitement as I got swept up in the story. This is classic Brookmyer, multi layered, with relatable characters who you root for. There's a strong moral debate which has left some readers with a little distaste but in my opinion was central to the storyline and thought provoking. There were issues of a sensitive nature which were handled perfectly. Overall, one of the best and that's in spite of the awful attempt at a Glasgow accent!
November 28, 2017
Again, Brookmyre brings thrills, chills, social commentary, violence, and hilarity in this book. It was written in 1998 and is set in Los Angeles at the height of the pre-Y2K excitement and panic. The setting is a flashy LA hotel near the ocean, where a big convention of "alternative" film-makers, producers, and distributors is being held. To that convention's surprise, a charismatic Christianist preacher (of the mega-church type) has set up his own huge counter-convention across the street: the end may well be nigh, and America must be saved before the Y2K apocalypse. Alas, the preacher has a secret plan to nudge the apocalypse along.
This one is not a Jack Parlabane novel, although there is a cool Scottish photographer involved, as well as a Senator's daughter, a very smart and likable young woman who just happened to venture into pornographic film stardom. I loved them both. This is a fast, fun, sharp read.
This one is not a Jack Parlabane novel, although there is a cool Scottish photographer involved, as well as a Senator's daughter, a very smart and likable young woman who just happened to venture into pornographic film stardom. I loved them both. This is a fast, fun, sharp read.
September 30, 2025
Brookmyre uses this book to go on a full-blown rant against Christian fundamentalists—long before Trump, though there’s even a jab at MAGA ideology. Published in 1999, the chilling mention of potential terrorist attacks on the WTC or the White House feels eerily prescient.
The story is very engaging, especially the first part where a bomb threat on a cruise ship is thwarted—it’s tense and well-executed. However, the way they defuse the second bomb feels rushed and less satisfying. The book also gets repetitive with the evangelical characters’ thoughts and motivations, which start to drag after a point.
Still, it’s a bold, thought-provoking thriller with Brookmyre’s trademark edge. Not his funniest, but definitely one of his more politically charged works.
The audible narration by William Hope is excellent.
The story is very engaging, especially the first part where a bomb threat on a cruise ship is thwarted—it’s tense and well-executed. However, the way they defuse the second bomb feels rushed and less satisfying. The book also gets repetitive with the evangelical characters’ thoughts and motivations, which start to drag after a point.
Still, it’s a bold, thought-provoking thriller with Brookmyre’s trademark edge. Not his funniest, but definitely one of his more politically charged works.
The audible narration by William Hope is excellent.
January 18, 2017
Yes, it's entertaining again, if again a tad too long. We've come to expect that from Brookmyre.
But as already mentioned, he's incredibly heavy-handed in this one. And I'm saying that as an agnostic that agrees with almost all of the points he makes.
Granted, subtlety has never really been Brookmyre's strong suit, but he really goes over the top here, and not in a good way.
Two and a half, rounded up to three.
But as already mentioned, he's incredibly heavy-handed in this one. And I'm saying that as an agnostic that agrees with almost all of the points he makes.
Granted, subtlety has never really been Brookmyre's strong suit, but he really goes over the top here, and not in a good way.
Two and a half, rounded up to three.
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