A Streetcar Named Aberystwyth

by Malcolm Pryce

Malcolm Pryce is the King of Welsh Noir—Sunday Telegraph

As Aberystwyth’s only private eye, Louie Knight was used to clients losing hats, coats, umbrellas ... their lives.

But Cornelius Pingüinos was the first client to lose his memory. And it was no ordinary memory. It contained the solution to the most enduring mystery of the Patagonian War – that conflict known as the Welsh the fate of the 32nd Airborne Division, who vanished into thin air while trying to lift the siege of Nueva Aberystwyth.

‘Big Penguin’, the penguin industrial complex, threatens to kill Louie if he solves the mystery.

The Druid gangsters say it’s curtains if he doesn’t.

And to make matters worse, Louie breaks his cardinal he falls in love.

Welcome to the mean streets of a surreal seaside world of broken hearts, broken dreams and broken ice-cream cornets.

A Streetcar Named Aberystwyth is the seventh novel in Malcolm Pryce’s celebrated Aberystwyth Noir series. Dark, funny, twisted and touching, it presents an Aberystwyth that never quite happened.

Grab your copy today.

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 24, 2024

About the author

Malcolm Pryce is a British author, mostly known for his noir detective novels.

Born in Shrewsbury, England, Pryce moved at the age of nine to Aberystwyth, where he later attended Penglais Comprehensive School before leaving to do some travelling. After working in a variety of jobs. including BMW assembly-line worker in Germany, hotel washer-up, "the world's worst aluminium salesman", and deck hand on a yacht in Polynesia, Pryce became an advertising copywriter in London and Singapore. He is currently resident in Oxford.

Pryce writes in the style of Raymond Chandler, but his novels are incongruously set on the rainswept streets of an alternate universe version of the Welsh seaside resort and university town of Aberystwyth. The hero of the novels is Louie Knight, the best private detective in Aberystwyth (also the only private detective in Aberystwyth), who battles crime organised by the local Druids, investigates the strange case of the town's disappearing youths, and gets involved in its burgeoning film industry, which produces What The Butler Saw movies.

Reviews

[Stephen Hull · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a hiatus of many years, a new Aberystwyth noir has reappeared! I snapped it up, happy to have the chance to return to the strange, dark and yet comic alternate world of Druids, donkey rides, ice cream and hard-boiled detectives living in a caravan in Ynyslas. The original 6 novels were a delight, if one that tended to diminish as the series carried on. While I still enjoy the concept, I have to admit that this is the weakest of the series.

Balancing the tropes of detective fiction with a slightly surreal sense of humour cannot be easy, but the author largely succeeded at this in his earlier novels. I can't help but wonder if the depression that he revealed interrupted his writing knocked things a bit too far out of balance. The serious side is still worthwhile, but it imposes itself perhaps a bit too much on the universe he has created. Despite this, I'm still glad I had the chance to revisit this fictional Aberystwyth – even if he still can't write female characters.

[Bron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was over the moon when I heard Malcolm Pryce had written another book in the Aberystwyth series. I bought it as soon as it was available - and it did not disappoint. He's back on top form even though it's been a long wait. His very words evoke the unique feeling of being in Aberystwyth, even though this is an Aberystwyth with a somewhat different history than the place I lived in for a while. I don't think I know another author who can do descriptions so succinctly yet so original and so real you can see it as though you were there.

Louie Knight, Aber's only private eye, is in trouble again when a penguin bumbles into his office and leaves a teddy bear on his desk. It sets off a train of events encompassing every conceivable emotion - greed, revenge, anger, despair, love, sorrow, reconciliation and forgiveness. Have some Kleenex handy.

[Mike Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I re-read the series, to reacquaint myself with the noirness of being in Aberystwyth, ahead of reading this, the most recent book of the series. Writing a series of books must be difficult - continuity has to be maintained; there has to be some reference to previous events, but not too much; the quality of writing has to be maintained. All of the books in this series are, in my view, good, but the last 30% or so of this one gives it my five-star rating. Humour, joy, disaster and despair all occur within just a few pages. Tears of joy turn into weeping and sorrow. Our Hero's life has never been a breeze, but in this book, that breeze becomes a veritable force 10 gale.
I thoroughly enjoyed this rollercoaster of a book and hope that we'll see more from Aber in the future.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good to have a new Aberystwyth after such a long time. All the usual elements are in place Louie Knight, his father Eeyore, Herod the antagonist and Soucpan , the ice cream man.
There was a new love interest ( I know…. Don’t care if Mfawny forever out of reach.)
I loved that Herod was somewhat humanized in this one. the plot, as in all noir, was somewhat outlandish , but actually capable of being followed and the ending was very satisfying.

[D MACKEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Utterly bonkers, but strangely charming and philosophic. I'm not often moved to write a review, but will make an exception for 'Streetcar'. I've read all the other Aberystwyth novels in the series and can thoroughly recommend them all. I read this in one sitting.

[Ian Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome return of Louis knight

Thoroughly enjoyable addition to the Aberystwyth Noir series. I really rate it as the best one of the lot. Full of little twists and turns and some surprising outcomes.

[Hermien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it but if you're not a fan it may be different for you.

[Phil Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are a truly wonderful series of books and this one is the best yet.

[Peter Thejll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haaaaah! Magnificent, much-awaited! Must read the other books first to understand the gallery of characters, and prior events! Deeper, sadder than the others - but More, adding (finishing?) the fairytale. If you have ever been to Aberystwyth, you need these books, and your maps. Can recommend, strongly.