A Particularly Nasty Case

by Adam Kay

A chaotic young doctor might be the only person who can catch a killer in this "hilarious, macabre, and heartrending" (Lucy Foley) debut mystery from Adam Kay, former doctor and BAFTA-winning author of This is Going to Hurt.

“A thrilling, twisting mystery. . . . Impossibly funny but also deeply moving and often heartbreaking.” ― Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark

When his toxic medical director dies of a heart attack, fellow doctor Eitan Rose smells foul play. Nobody else does, though, including some quite crucial players like the police and the medical examiner. So Eitan vows to uncover the truth himself.

But Eitan's own past and reputation are far from spotless, despite his budding relationship with Cole, a handsome hospital porter, and reluctant camaraderie with his office mate, Margaret-with-the-cats. As his colleagues become increasingly concerned about his mental health, Eitan's investigation spirals out of control. Could a killer really be stalking the wards? Or is Eitan making a catastrophic mistake?

For lovers of Listen for the Lie and My Sister, the Serial Killer, this fiendishly clever and deathly funny debut is filled with acerbic wit, lovable characters, and plenty of twists—alongside texts, transcripts, medical reports, and all the evidence you’ll need to help solve this particularly nasty case.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Medical, Humor

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 28, 2025

About the author

Adam Kay is an award-winning comedian and writer. He previously worked for many years as a junior doctor. His first book "This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor" was a Sunday Times number one bestseller for over a year and has sold over two million copies. It has been translated into 37 languages and is winner of four National Book Awards, including Book of the Year, and will be a major new comedy drama for the BBC.

His second book "Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas" was an instant Sunday Times number one bestseller and sold over 500,000 copies in its first few weeks.

"Dear NHS", edited by Adam Kay, was an instant Sunday Times number one with all profits donated to charity. His first children's book "Kay's Anatomy" will be released in October 2020.

Reviews

[Nataliya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Adam Kay’s account of medical training, This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, is one of those books that resonated with me pretty hard — his memories of medical meatgrinder which you more or less survive on stubbornness, altruism and sheer exhausted determination (Kay is a British NHS gynecologist who is no longer practicing).

Write what you know is what usually works, and Kay follows this here, creating this fictional mystery story set in a British hospital, snarkily funny and yet seriously focused on very real issues — here specifically the stigma attached to mental health illnesses in medicine.

“We will arrange an employee health review for you, Dr. Rose,” said Peter Stone, “and, in the meantime, I know you’ll benefit from Thrive, our employee wellbeing program.”
Eitan didn’t entirely agree that he’d benefit from fortnightly Zumba classes, a half-hour chat with a call-center counselor and a 50 percent discount on a meditation app.

But while I really appreciated what he’s doing here, and enjoyed the dark undercurrents of frequently gallows humor, I have to say I don’t actually love it and strongly prefer Kay’s nonfiction. It’s not the plot — although I figured out the murderer way before the end, I don’t need twists and unpredictability to keep my attention. It’s rather that I couldn’t make myself care, and the awful and insufferable protagonist had me rooting against him the entire time. (Call me a square, but no matter how others may wrong you, I draw the line at buying and taking cocaine at work, while treating patients — our protagonist Eitan should have been fired quickly regardless of how much others may have wrongly stigmatized him.)

The frantically erratic selfish and self-destructive behavior made me feel very disengaged from even trying to care, and the increasingly absurdist outrageous situations of his makeshift murder investigation started becoming a bit too much rather quickly.

“Cole, if I can pull off a dead man’s trousers at a wake, I can poke around in a ward at my own hospital.”

Where I think it also lost me a bit was the difference in humor. Kay’s nonfiction has dark and biting humor, but with heart to it. Here it ventures a bit more into self-conscious slapstick, with farce overpowering the serious side, and that dilutes the impact. I don’t always find stupid actions and decisions funny, and here it relies on such situations quite a bit. And that leaves me somewhere between indifferent and annoyed.

I suppose it’s time for me to revisit Kay’s nonfiction to remind myself why I like his writing. And still I’ll read whatever fiction he publishes next since I know that he can write books that are wonderful, and this is just a hiccup.

2.5 stars.

——————

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company | Mulholland Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Also posted on my blog.

[Michelle (Murder Books and Wine) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

All I can say is that I did not find the writing funny, it was hard to follow, and I didn't enjoy the fact that the story included heavy gay male sexual content that the book synopsis left out. But hey, if that is your cup of tea, you might enjoy this book. This was a hard pass for me very early on. There's too many good books to read to waste anytime on a horrible one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown and Company and Mulholland Books for the chance to read this advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, A Particularly Nasty Case, by Adam Kay, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Eitan thinks a fellow Dr.s death is hinky, but nobody else believes him, until another doctor dies. I thought this was a good read, I could do without the language though.

[Debbie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 rounded up to 4 for the humor! Many LOL moments in this fast paced, who-dun-it!

Dr Eitan Rose is struggling mentally after the death of his sister years before. Just back from a forced sabbatical at the hospital, he’s being monitored by the uptight Dr Moran.

When Dr Moran turns up dead, Eitan seems to be the only one suspecting murder. When the new head Dr Stein also dies from a heart attack Eitan sets out with his new beau, Cole ,to track a killer.

Filled with hilarious dialogue, raucous situations, and a cast of engaging friends, despite a rather predictable ending, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and Mulholland Books publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Linda Galella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy for review purposes. All opinions are honest and mine alone.


If you’re looking for a read that will center on a young doctor, a hospital and patients in addition to A PARTICULARLY NASTSY CASE mystery, this is definitely not it.

What you will find between these too many pages is the story of an entitled young doctor with mental health issues. He’s ill mannered, foul mouthed and tortured by events from his youth. Eitan, our doctor, does have a heart, but doesn’t have any idea how to act in polite society. He has no relationship with his family, other than financial, and is tolerated professionally for a variety of reasons. His personal life is a hot mess and I wish it had remained a mystery.

Two of Eitan’s fellow doctors are found dead of apparent heart failure. He’s the only one that suspects foul play but no one believes him because of his behavior and history. He and his partner set out to prove the deaths are murder and Eitan ends up being arrested for it himself.

It’s only the last few chapters that are remotely interesting with a well held twist. Aside from that, which earned this wretched tome a second star, this was a nasty read I could have done quite well without. Misleading publisher’s blurb, lots of foul language and unnecessary gay groping add to the smarmy feel. Definitely no recommendation from me 📚

Read and Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC via Kindle, with thanks

[Rainbow Goth · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the current reviews, it's clear that I enjoyed this book more than some others. It presents a challenging review because while there were some excellent moments, I did encounter a few significant issues. In the end, I settled on a three-star rating which seems fair.

Having enjoyed Adam Kay's non-fiction, I was eager to dive into his debut novel. I appreciated the in depth exploration of the NHS and the complexities involved in loving a system that often fails both its patients and staff.

The whodunnit aspect was reasonably clever; I initially guessed the killer, but by the end, I had given up on trying to solve it because it could truly have been anyone.

However, the characters left much to be desired. I found it difficult to root for Eitan. While I acknowledge that he was mistreated in a system that often struggles with mental health issues, some of his actions were inexcusable and unethical. It’s hard to believe he could continue practicing after everything.

While I typically don’t mind bad language, here it sometimes felt unnecessary and used for the sake of it, rather than adding to the story.

Overall, I'm glad I read it. I believe some readers will undoubtedly love it, although I think my expectations were set too high given Adam Kay's reputation..

Thanks to the Author, publishers and Netgalley for the ARC of this book

[tomoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

kolejna książka, która zaczyna się beznadziejnie i blisko byłam DNF. beznadziejność okazała się celowym zabiegiem mającym coś pokazać i to uratowało tę historię. z jednej strony zwariowany kryminał, z drugiej kilka smutnych prawd o naszym świecie i stygmatyzacji. ostatecznie się broni, ale do kolejnych książek autora będę podchodziła z większą rezerwą.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since It’s Going To Hurt, I have read everything Adam Kay has written. So when I heard he was turning his hand to fiction, I was already sold.

Spoiler: he absolutely nailed it!!!

From start to finish, A Particularly Nasty Case had me howling. Adam’s razor-sharp wit, perfectly timed one-liners, and his uncanny ability to tackle serious topics (like mental health stigma) with both humour and heart is UNMATCHED!

This isn’t your average crime novel — it’s a laugh-out-loud, tea-through-the-nose (yes this happened to me), twisty, brilliantly bonkers whodunnit with brains and belly laughs. The plot is smart, the characters unforgettable, and the punchlines? Immaculate.

I genuinely loved this book and am already hoping this is the start of a whole new Kay-era.

[Sara Ayala · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was highly entertaining, silly, and funny!

I feel like a lot of the low ratings are from people that were caught off guard by the protagonist being gay.

I also was unaware, but this fact is made clear within the first 15 pages and *call and me crazy* didn’t bother me in the slightest??
Any sexual content included was incredibly mild and mainly referred to clothes and flirting.

It’s my personal opinion that some of the reviewers tanking this book’s rating MIGHT just be homophobic prudes that hate a morally grey character and don’t know how to have a silly fun time.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure what to say about A Particularly Nasty Case, author Adam Kay's first foray into fiction, after his non-fiction success with This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor and Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas. There are certainly many themes in common with his earlier work, as Kay again draws upon his own eyebrow-raising experiences as a junior doctor within the UK National Health Service.

Main protagonist Eitan ("rhymes with Spray-Tan") Rose, a fairly junior consultant rheumatologist, returns to work at St. Jude's Hospital, London, after a period of suspension. Eitan has suffered from bipolar disorder since a triggering traumatic experience in early adulthood, and a combination of failing to take his prescribed medication, while simultaneously self-medicating with alcohol and a range of illicit drugs, led to a crescendo of behavioural offences and a lack of impulse control that almost lost him his medical registration. Now Eitan is back at the coal face, having split with his long-term partner Mo, and facing the ignominy of being supervised in his patient interactions by his odious boss, St. Jude's Medical Director Douglas Moran. The only positive of his return to work is meeting a very good looking young staff member, Cole, on the hospital's rooftop while taking a smoking break. Eitan and Cole commence an intensely physical relationship, whilst Eitan continues to struggle to maintain his emotional equilibrium.

When Douglas Moran dies suddenly while jogging, the hyped-up Eitan is immediately suspicious that there's more to the death than meets the eye. With Cole's assistance and all-access keycard, Eitan begins a rather hapless investigation, focussing on one prime suspect amongst the medical staff after another. It's clear to any reader with basic understanding of bipolar disorder that Eitan is rapid-cycling and fast losing his grip on reality. A series of slapstick occurrences have him on the verge of being fired, before another fortuitous death occurs.

A Particularly Nasty Case is chock-full of Adam Kay's trademark acerbic wit, and frequently had me laughing out loud at Eitan's observations of the world and people around him. There are also several incidents of high-camp slapstick, that while humorous, felt somewhat overblown. The ending, while a little predictable, was satisfyingly complete, although I have to agree with the Occupational Physician that Eitan consulted with under sufferance, that

"I am glad that I do not require outpatient rheumatological care at this hospital."

I'd recommend A Particularly Nasty Case to readers seeking ribald uproarious comedy within a mystery/crime fiction context. Anyone who's ever worked or been a patient in the public health system will appreciate Adam Kay's razor-sharp satire of the environment, or it might just be too close to home...

[Jamie Josephson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

Thanks to Booktrovert for an ARC of A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay.

This book was an absolutely blast to read and I ate it up in 24hrs. The author had me laughing out loud constantly which made the book such an easy binge. It was the perfect balance of clever wit and twisty mystery that kept me hooked to the very end. I did manage to guess the twist before it was revealed, but that didn’t take away from the fun.

The only thing holding me back from giving 5 stars was that some of the UK-specific references were over my head which made me feel like was missing out on a bit of the flavor of the book. But honestly, that’s a small nitpick compared to how much I enjoyed the rest.

If you’re looking for a fast, sarcastically witty, and clever read, this one definitely delivers.

[Angie Miale · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny, irreverent, murder (?) mystery about a bipolar gay rheumatologist who is the only one who finds his colleagues heart attacks to be suspicious. I laughed out loud a lot, the story itself isn’t funny, but there is a ton of clever wordplay and over the top quirky British situational comedy.

A promising debut, this reminds me of I Might Be in Trouble for Daniel Aleman. A strong and flawed protagonist, you’re rooting for him to keep his job, solve the mystery, and maybe even find love. Well paced and witty dialogue, this was a fun mystery and character study. The characters were interesting and sometimes off-putting. I also appreciated the hospital setting.

I’m not sure if this qualifies as a “cozy” mystery but there is no gore and we don’t like the victim, so it does at least feel more lighthearted and unlikely to give you nightmares.

Critics may find the plot to be far fetched, but this was a fun mystery. I found the audio to be funny but a little harder to follow, so I picked up the physical book then found it to be much funnier.

3.5 stars

[Debbie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having thoroughly enjoyed Adam’s writing about his experiences working in the NHS, I was super excited to read his debut novel. I’m a huge fan of a cosy crime and when murder meets humour it makes for a thrilling read. I absolutely loved this book: it had me in stitches. I couldn’t help picturing Ben Whisham in the role of Eitan! His friends, boyfriends and colleagues were great supporting characters, who came out with such hilarious one-liners. The situations Eitan managed to find himself were simply too funny and had me laughing in anticipation. This book is such a page turner and Adam deals so well with serious issues throughout, maintaining a very clever balance between them and comedy. I can already see this on TV and look forward to whatever Adam has up his sleeve for us next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for a review.

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of A Particularly Nasty Case.

The premise sounded intriguing and I was pleased my request was approved.

I thought this was going to be a mystery with shades of Grey's Anatomy or ER.

Instead, this was about a self-loathing character who can't stand himself or anyone else.

He's not a rebel. He just hates himself. And so do I.

1. Eitan is an unpleasant, unlikable character. He's detestable, actually.

I understand he's still grieving the loss of his sister, wracked with guilt over her unexpected death, and struggling with his mental health.

But that's no excuse for the poor choices he makes; self medicating, bed hopping, the rude way he speaks to colleagues, his potty mouth, impersonating a cop, and conducting illegal searches of corpses.

Seriously?

If the author wanted to craft an anti-hero, a rebel who doesn't play by the rules, Eitan isn't it.

2. He's convinced two doctors at his hospital met with foul play but has no evidence to back up his suspicions.

He immediately points his finger to a number of suspects even though he has no evidence, other than the suspects didn't like the deceased.

What a shock.

The deceased was no saint and most of the hospital staff bore a grudge against him.

3. Apparently, the hospital system, infrastructure and staff is even worse than the American healthcare system.

Eitan spends a good portion of the narrative either boinking strangers and having one night stands and the other half bitching about the incompetent doctors he works with (like him).

4. It was so obvious who the murderer was; I clocked the perp right from the start.

5. The writing was good, but wordy, packed with filler and extraneous details and unnecessary descriptions.

If the mystery measured up, I might have given two stars. MIGHT.

[Papillon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is about a bipolar, drug-addict doctor named Eitan who is his own worst enemy - and has absolutely no business being in hold of an active license.

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where I felt so indifferent — about /everything/. I wasn’t particularly attached to Eitan. I didn’t wish him well; I didn’t wish him ill. I didn’t hate him; I didn’t like him. There wasn’t a point while reading when I was happy, upset, angry, curious, concerned, scared, amused — nothing.

It tried so incredibly hard to be funny and quirky, that all I could do sometimes was just stare into the invisible camera. The murder mystery is glaringly obvious almost from the moment the person is introduced. I think I lost count on how many times I sighed each time Eitan was playing right into their hands. It was too on the nose.

I’m actually floored about how nothing really intrigued me or completely put me off of the book - although the casual drug use left a sour taste in my mouth. I can recite this book from start to finish, so it wasn’t a matter of not comprehending or paying attention to what I read. But there’s not a single emotion I can attach to any of it. I had half a mind to reread it to see if I felt differently a second time, but the mere idea of doing so was the only point in which I felt /anything/ towards this book other than apathy.

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed A Particularly Nasty Case by Adam Kay. Eitan Rose was a fascinatingly flawed protagonist, paranoid, stubborn, and deeply human. I found myself rooting for him even as I wondered if he was losing it. The hospital setting felt vivid and authentic, and the mix of dark humor and suspense had me laughing one moment and holding my breath the next. I particularly appreciated the clever twists and sharp observations that kept the story unpredictable. This was witty, gripping, and genuinely unputdownable.

Multi POV
Not a romance although there is a touch of it
Triggers Mental Health Struggles, Substance Use, Death and Violence, Sexual Content, Workplace Stress and Conflict

[Sheree | Keeping Up With The Penguins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the rare case of a non-fiction writer producing quality fiction that doesn’t just feel like a roman a clef. A Particularly Nasty Case is rollicking good fun, sharp and funny. Your heart will be in your mouth, and your guts will fall to the floor as the unstable genius desperately tries to convince everyone around him that a wily murderer is on the loose.

My full review of A Particularly Nasty Case is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big thank you to NetGalley and Orion for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Dr Eitan Rose is back at work after some time off. The time off being a manic episode that led to a relationship breakdown, being sectioned, and generally not having a great time. But he’s back, working as a consultant in the NHS, and nothing will ruin his fresh start. Except maybe the sudden and suspicious death of a colleague. Surely he can pass his return to work supervision and solve a murder or two, right?

As someone who deeply loved Adam Kay’s previous work, I was very excited to receive a copy of his debut novel. The writing was full of Kay’s cynical wit and sharp one-liners, and as a doctor, I thoroughly enjoyed the NHS setting (and the jokes at its expense). Eitan himself was an interesting character. Dealing with returning to work following his bipolar relapse, helped along with some nasal spray (which may or may not contain cocaine), and generally being quite the bundle of chaos, Eitan is a complex protagonist whose saving grace is wearing his heart on his sleeve and genuinely - in his own way - trying to do the best he can. Our secondary characters were all pretty strong, with Margaret becoming an absolute favourite of mine in the latter half of the book. The plot was paced well, with enough intrigue to get me hooked, although I did solve the murder mystery pretty early on, but the whole thing was such a romp that I didn’t feel particularly miffed about getting it right. Sometimes, I prefer to guess the twist and it make sense, than be blindsided with something illogical.

I think the strength of this book - like the rest of Kay’s work - lies in the absolute love for the NHS. It’s a complicated thing, really, to have so much emotion tied up in this broken system. As a doctor working in mental health, I appreciated the book highlighting the specific struggles within psychiatry, as well as having a main character who was both a doctor and someone with a mental health condition. Due to all the murdery business, we didn’t get into much of the clinical stuff, but the glimpses we did get showed Eitan as a passionate, knowledgeable, and caring doctor, which I appreciated.

I think overall, I had a fun time. This was a wild romp through the hospital corridors paired a decent murder mystery. For real thriller lovers, this may come as a disappointment, but for those who love a bit of medical drama, you should have a great time with this!

3.5 🌟

[Callum Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adam Kay’s foray into fiction doesn’t grip quite the same as his diaries but was still a fun read. His particular brand of vulgar humour never fails to entertain but started to become a bit stale in the final few chapters.

Despite the very obvious twist, the characters displayed here are complex enough to keep you engaged. The protagonist being a prominent stand out, with the portrayal of his mental health a backdrop for his ongoing motivations. I’d compare it to a Richard Osman novel with a major lack of censorship.

I would give this 3.5 starts but Goodreads hasn’t had a decent update since Dr Kay was still practicing.

[Kimmy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally and professionally troubled doctor, Eitan Rose returns to work - then a couple of Very Important Doctors die suddenly, with a similar apparent cause. Eitan smells a rat, but given he had accessibility and reason, not too many of the professionals (police, coroners, hospital administrators) are listening to him. Add to that his recent extended time off for mental health issues, a long-embedded trauma, and all of a sudden, the reader is along for the very non-linear investigation. Featuring a plethora of puns, this first novel by the noted hospital memoir doctor Adam Kay (This Is Going To Hurt, amongst others) is an amusing and twisting crime read.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
Ja wiem, że ta książka nie dokonca zasługuje na tą ocenę widzę jej wady, ale mam wyjątkową słabość do autora i jego poczucia humoru pp wspaniałe.

[Lauren Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent book, truly 3.5 stars for the story but easy read & made me laugh

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨💉 ✨

First, I will say this book’s humor, language and content may not be for everyone. Now I throughly enjoyed it. I read this in one sitting during a plane ride. I frequently laughed out loud and had to show my husband pages for him to read, because I just had to share some of my favorite lines. I found it to be smart, witty, and diabolical.

The main character is a gay rheumatologist with bipolar disorder. I found him to be a really fun character. He was completely inappropriate at all times which made the story hilarious to me. The mystery in itself was pretty simple and felt the twist was pretty obvious but still an enjoyable who dunnit.

This book (in between the laugh out loud moments) does a great job of portraying the stigma individuals get with a mental health diagnosis, especially diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia etc. This is a reminder that a mental health diagnosis does not define a person.

I recommend for those who enjoy mysteries with dark humor.

[Rude Kadry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nie wiem, jak to się stało, ale ja naprawdę śmiałam się na kryminale. I to nie raz, nie dwa, tylko regularnie, niemal w każdym rozdziale. "Wyjątkowo trudny przypadek” Adama Kaya to powieść, która udowadnia, że trup w fabule wcale nie wyklucza parsknięcia śmiechem, a zagadka kryminalna może iść w parze z autoironią, absurdem i błyskotliwym dialogiem. Kay, którego znałam z jego medycznego debiutu "Będzie bolało”, wraca w pełnej formie - tylko tym razem zamiast pamiętnika lekarza dostałam szaloną mieszankę thrillera, komedii i dramatu obyczajowego. I powiem jedno: to działa.

Eitan Rose to bohater, którego nie da się pomylić z nikim innym. Lekarz po przejściach, z zaburzeniem dwubiegunowym, świeżo po powrocie do pracy i, jakby tego było mało, przekonany, że ktoś morduje jego przełożonych. Gdy umiera wyjątkowo antypatyczny dyrektor szpitala, Eitan zaczyna podejrzewać, że za "atak serca” odpowiada coś więcej niż stres i cholesterol. A jednak, gdy ginie kolejna osoba, Eitan postanawia działać - nawet jeśli wszyscy wokół uważają, że to właśnie on traci kontakt z rzeczywistością.

To, co w tej książce robi wrażenie, to ton. Kay balansuje na granicy między dramatem a groteską. Jego humor jest wyjątkowo brytyjski - suchy, kąśliwy, momentami wręcz okrutny, ale też wyjątkowo celny. Świetnie bawi się formą: oprócz klasycznej narracji dostajemy raporty medyczne, notatki, SMS-y i maile, które budują klimat i pozwalają czytelnikowi samemu bawić się w detektywa. Z jednej strony mamy więc klasyczne "co tu się wydarzyło?”, a z drugiej - parodię wszystkich możliwych tropów gatunkowych.

Eitan to postać przerysowana, i to bardzo. Chodzący stereotyp, przefiltrowany przez sarkazm autora: ekscentryczny, impulsywny, z ciętą ripostą zawsze na końcu języka. Ale za tą maską humoru i prowokacji kryje się człowiek z ogromnym bagażem. Kay nie ucieka od trudnych tematów - pokazuje, jak łatwo jest kogoś zaszufladkować, jak błyskawicznie społeczeństwo podważa wiarygodność osoby z chorobą psychiczną. Eitan może i jest nieprzewidywalny, ale jego zachowania mają źródło. Smutek, brak akceptacji, toksyczne relacje z ojcem - wszystko to rezonuje pod warstwą ironii.

„Wyjątkowo trudny przypadek” to książka z pogranicza kryminału i komedii, która bierze z obu gatunków to, co najlepsze. Ma w sobie dynamikę thrillera, absurd rodem z brytyjskich sitcomów i emocjonalny ciężar dramatu o człowieku na granicy wytrzymałości. Momentami jest przeszarżowana, momentami totalnie oderwana od realizmu, ale to właśnie w tym tkwi jej urok.

Nie wiem, czy to bardziej opowieść o morderstwach, czy o walce z samym sobą. Wiem natomiast, że dawno żadna książka nie była dla mnie taką jazdą bez trzymanki. Jeśli szukacie klasycznego kryminału, to możecie się rozczarować, ale jeśli lubicie czarny humor, ironię, trochę szaleństwa i bohatera, który nie mieści się w żadnych ramach - to trafiliście w dziesiątkę. Kay napisał powieść, która bawi, intryguje i momentami rozczula. Udowodnił, że o mroku można pisać z lekkością, a o chorobie z czułością i humorem. Ja tę książkę pochłonęłam, parskałam śmiechem i z ogromną przyjemnością pozwoliłam, by Eitan wciągnął mnie w swoje nie do końca racjonalne, ale za to absolutnie wyjątkowe śledztwo.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would find this man’s grocery list hilarious, loveeee Adam Kay🤭

[Wspieraj Kulture · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Wyjątkowo trudny przypadek” to książka, która zaskoczyła mnie swoją podwójną naturą. Z jednej strony niesie w sobie spory ciężar emocjonalny, bo Kay nie unika tematów, o których zwykle nie mówi się bez wahania. Z drugiej potrafi rozbroić ironią i tym charakterystycznym dla autora humorem, który nie tyle łagodzi powagę, ile pozwala spojrzeć na nią pod innym kątem.

Nie jest to gatunek, po który sięgam często, dlatego lektura okazała się dla mnie czymś więcej niż tylko kolejną książką do odhaczenia. To raczej spotkanie z autorem, który potrafi opowiadać o ludzkich słabościach z pewną czułością, choć nigdy sentymentalnie. Kay pokazuje, że życie bywa skomplikowane nawet dla tych, którzy powinni trzymać się jasno wyznaczonych ścieżek. Jego bohaterowie są nieidealni, pełni wątpliwości, a przez to zwyczajnie prawdziwi.

Cieszę się, że trafiłem na tę książkę, bo trudno dziś o prozę, która potrafi równocześnie bawić i zmuszać do zatrzymania się na chwilę. I choć nie jest to literatura, którą zwykle wybieram, wiem już, że będę wracał do tego autora. Jego sposób opowiadania o człowieku ma w sobie coś, za czym warto podążać.

Współpraca reklamowa.

[Amy Lee Corr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened on audiobook while obsessively gardening and that’s what this was good for. Love Adam Kay’s non fiction work, this carried the themes I appreciate and the same irreverent humour to create a perfectly fine crime thriller set in a hospital.

[Courtney Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was weird. Disappointing compared to this is going to hurt

[Liv Neale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the very British wit, hospital setting and character descriptions but this didn’t feel like the most clever or complex mystery.

[Aiysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

hilariously chaotic yet tenderly aware of what it's like battling your own mind and prejudice against mental health