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Quite Ugly One Evening
Not yet published
Expected 7 May 26An Atlantic voyage. A family at war. A secret worth killing over.
Reporter Jack Parlabane thrives on chasing stories in unlikely places, and where could be less likely than a fan convention on a cruise liner celebrating a contentious Sixties TV series? But unlike the media family exploiting their show's renewed relevance, he's not there to stoke he's there to solve a murder.
Already in deep water with his employer, Jack desperately needs a win, and solving this decades-old mystery could be it. Problem is, he's in the middle of the Atlantic, and someone onboard has already killed once to keep their secret.
And that's not even the tricky part. No, the tricky part is definitely the dead body locked in a stateroom with him, covered in his blood. Now Jack has to solve two murders, otherwise the only way he's getting off this ship is in handcuffs - or in a body bag.
Quite Ugly One Evening is a zeitgesty locked-room mystery that sees the return of rogue journalist Jack Parlabane thirty years after his first appearance in Quite Ugly One Morning.
Praise for Chris
'Chris Brookmyre is a genius' - Richard Osman
'In the pantheon of great crime writers' - Elly Griffiths
'There's nothing he can't do' - Mick Herron
'Chris Brookmyre is a storytelling mastermind' - Chris Whitaker
Reporter Jack Parlabane thrives on chasing stories in unlikely places, and where could be less likely than a fan convention on a cruise liner celebrating a contentious Sixties TV series? But unlike the media family exploiting their show's renewed relevance, he's not there to stoke he's there to solve a murder.
Already in deep water with his employer, Jack desperately needs a win, and solving this decades-old mystery could be it. Problem is, he's in the middle of the Atlantic, and someone onboard has already killed once to keep their secret.
And that's not even the tricky part. No, the tricky part is definitely the dead body locked in a stateroom with him, covered in his blood. Now Jack has to solve two murders, otherwise the only way he's getting off this ship is in handcuffs - or in a body bag.
Quite Ugly One Evening is a zeitgesty locked-room mystery that sees the return of rogue journalist Jack Parlabane thirty years after his first appearance in Quite Ugly One Morning.
Praise for Chris
'Chris Brookmyre is a genius' - Richard Osman
'In the pantheon of great crime writers' - Elly Griffiths
'There's nothing he can't do' - Mick Herron
'Chris Brookmyre is a storytelling mastermind' - Chris Whitaker
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
September 16, 2025
4 - 5 stars, not sure which yet. RTC near publication as per requirements of the publisher.
November 23, 2025
I’ve read a couple of Chris Brookmyre’s standalone novels, having, first came across him as one of his books was a book club choice.
His novels have a unique way of mixing thrills, laughs and satirical truth. The central character of Quite Ugly One Evening is Jack Parlabane, an investigative journalist with a somewhat flexible attitude towards the laws covering trespass and burglary. He thrives on chasing stories in unlikely places. In this story he’s in a most unlikely place - a fan convention on a cruise liner celebrating a contentious Sixties TV series. Unlike the media family who are trying to exploit their show's renewed relevance and controversy: he's there to solve cold case.
Jack has already got himself in hot water with his employer and hopes that solving a decades old mystery could offer him some redemption. It is essentially a locked room mystery - in the middle of the Atlantic. One of the passengers has already killed to keep their secret.
Oh, and the tricky part is that Jack is locked in a stateroom with a dead body that is covered in his blood! So, now he has two murders to solve - or the only way he is getting off the ship in New York is in handcuffs, or a body bag.
Looking at Goodreads there are 8 previous novels in the series with this protagonist. I haven’t read any of the preceding episodes but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of this book. So, if you are new to Chris Brookmyre / Jack Parlabane, you can still jump in and enjoy the story. The plot stands on its own feet. Obviously, it may be that reading earlier stories may add some interesting background nuggets, but this novel is complete without any further backstory being required. You may even want to read earlier stories as a result.
The plot is brisk and cleverly knotted, and the attitude matches my previous experience of Brookmyre. The title is a wink to an earlier story - Quite Ugly One Morning, the debut that introduced Jack Parlabane.
Family sits at the heart of this story. This is true of both Jack and the family at the centre of the story. The book understands the chemistry of family, a mix of tenderness and exasperation, and it uses that insight to drive choices that feel both surprising and inevitable. The story is a thriller with an aftertaste is emotional truth. The focus on family gives the book’s climax a satisfying feel. There are a lot of family, three generations in fact, which makes it initially a little confusing about who is who. As the story progresses it becomes easier as one is more familiar with the characters
The story is narrated by the central character, giving it a Philip Marlowe type feel. From the start it is obvious that Jack Parlabane has the ability to talk his way into trouble with the same flair that he uses to escape it. The narration and plot also offer an element of satirical humour, with thinly disguised cameos of current leaders and multimillionaire business people. There’s also a little humour aimed at political correctness in the media and the fact that things change over time. This may give the story a limited lifespan.
As one might expect from a continuation novel set well after the first, you can feel the accumulated experience of the central character. He is quick with his quips and sharp, but there is a feeling of maturity in how he he reads a person, room, or himself.
The family focus gives the climax a satisfying weight. Choices land harder when they carry the charge of shared history. Secrets feel more dangerous when they threaten not only freedom or safety but the stories a family tells about itself. The book understands that protection and control can look similar from the outside, and that trust is a fragile bridge built from a thousand small truths. That insight elevates the thrills into something that lingers after the final scene fades.
So here is my verdict: Quite Ugly One Evening is a fast, funny and heartfelt story that accords with my earlier Chris Brookmyre reads. It kept me tapping those Apple Books pages with an eager grin.
If you’ve read the previous works with this character then you’ll be eagerly awaiting its release (in 2026). If not, then maybe you could warm up by reading Jack’s previous adventures. That is what I will be doing.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Little Brown Book Group UK / Abacus publishers for the opportunity to get an ARC for an honest review.
His novels have a unique way of mixing thrills, laughs and satirical truth. The central character of Quite Ugly One Evening is Jack Parlabane, an investigative journalist with a somewhat flexible attitude towards the laws covering trespass and burglary. He thrives on chasing stories in unlikely places. In this story he’s in a most unlikely place - a fan convention on a cruise liner celebrating a contentious Sixties TV series. Unlike the media family who are trying to exploit their show's renewed relevance and controversy: he's there to solve cold case.
Jack has already got himself in hot water with his employer and hopes that solving a decades old mystery could offer him some redemption. It is essentially a locked room mystery - in the middle of the Atlantic. One of the passengers has already killed to keep their secret.
Oh, and the tricky part is that Jack is locked in a stateroom with a dead body that is covered in his blood! So, now he has two murders to solve - or the only way he is getting off the ship in New York is in handcuffs, or a body bag.
Looking at Goodreads there are 8 previous novels in the series with this protagonist. I haven’t read any of the preceding episodes but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of this book. So, if you are new to Chris Brookmyre / Jack Parlabane, you can still jump in and enjoy the story. The plot stands on its own feet. Obviously, it may be that reading earlier stories may add some interesting background nuggets, but this novel is complete without any further backstory being required. You may even want to read earlier stories as a result.
The plot is brisk and cleverly knotted, and the attitude matches my previous experience of Brookmyre. The title is a wink to an earlier story - Quite Ugly One Morning, the debut that introduced Jack Parlabane.
Family sits at the heart of this story. This is true of both Jack and the family at the centre of the story. The book understands the chemistry of family, a mix of tenderness and exasperation, and it uses that insight to drive choices that feel both surprising and inevitable. The story is a thriller with an aftertaste is emotional truth. The focus on family gives the book’s climax a satisfying feel. There are a lot of family, three generations in fact, which makes it initially a little confusing about who is who. As the story progresses it becomes easier as one is more familiar with the characters
The story is narrated by the central character, giving it a Philip Marlowe type feel. From the start it is obvious that Jack Parlabane has the ability to talk his way into trouble with the same flair that he uses to escape it. The narration and plot also offer an element of satirical humour, with thinly disguised cameos of current leaders and multimillionaire business people. There’s also a little humour aimed at political correctness in the media and the fact that things change over time. This may give the story a limited lifespan.
As one might expect from a continuation novel set well after the first, you can feel the accumulated experience of the central character. He is quick with his quips and sharp, but there is a feeling of maturity in how he he reads a person, room, or himself.
The family focus gives the climax a satisfying weight. Choices land harder when they carry the charge of shared history. Secrets feel more dangerous when they threaten not only freedom or safety but the stories a family tells about itself. The book understands that protection and control can look similar from the outside, and that trust is a fragile bridge built from a thousand small truths. That insight elevates the thrills into something that lingers after the final scene fades.
So here is my verdict: Quite Ugly One Evening is a fast, funny and heartfelt story that accords with my earlier Chris Brookmyre reads. It kept me tapping those Apple Books pages with an eager grin.
If you’ve read the previous works with this character then you’ll be eagerly awaiting its release (in 2026). If not, then maybe you could warm up by reading Jack’s previous adventures. That is what I will be doing.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Little Brown Book Group UK / Abacus publishers for the opportunity to get an ARC for an honest review.
October 16, 2025
Investigative journalist Jack Parlabane has just agreed to act unofficially for MI5 by heading off on a luxury seven day cruise to New York. This is not the first encounter he’s had with Five, and he would have rejected the approach except that his career has just suffered a set-back and he needs something to rescue him from imminent unemployment. Among other things, the cruise includes a convention celebrating sixty years of “The Imaginators”, a TV puppet show which has since become a cult. The show was originated by the late Neville Maskyn and his wife Eliza in 1963, and its legacy and spin-offs are now managed by the family. It is as un-woke as possible (i.e. totally sixties) but there is a rumour that it will be brought up to ‘modern’ standards, so tensions within the fandom and with the Maskyn family are high. Ostensibly Jack, a well-known Anti-woke warrior, will be investigating this aspect, but his actual remit is to find out what led to the death of Simeon Wickham, forty years ago. By that time the family had risen high within the Establishment and Wickham’s task had been to identify a suspected Russian agent or fellow-traveller within the wider family. The long dead case has been revived because of recent new intelligence. So a week of luxury, a culture wars story, and a dubious spy story. Sounds like fun!
This is the tenth Jack Parlabane novel covering the last thirty years. Jack is now touching sixty, but he hasn’t lost his cynical, sceptical outlook, heightened in recent years by the outbreak of political correctness, conspiracy theorists and woke-peddling influencers. Jack is not shy about these views, lending a comedic edge to the writing style; which is flippant even when he fears he is in a life or death situation, or two, or three. The plot is quite complex; solving the central question appears straight forward, but perhaps it wasn’t really the central question after all. Some characters from previous books appear, but you don’t need to know any background. Nevertheless, if you haven’t read the others I would encourage you to do so; including the short story “Bampot Central”.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
This is the tenth Jack Parlabane novel covering the last thirty years. Jack is now touching sixty, but he hasn’t lost his cynical, sceptical outlook, heightened in recent years by the outbreak of political correctness, conspiracy theorists and woke-peddling influencers. Jack is not shy about these views, lending a comedic edge to the writing style; which is flippant even when he fears he is in a life or death situation, or two, or three. The plot is quite complex; solving the central question appears straight forward, but perhaps it wasn’t really the central question after all. Some characters from previous books appear, but you don’t need to know any background. Nevertheless, if you haven’t read the others I would encourage you to do so; including the short story “Bampot Central”.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
November 26, 2025
Quite Ugly One Evening is book nine in the long running Jack Parlabane series, it almost seems to have a cult status amongst fans. I must admit that this is my very first read featuring Jack. I clearly have missed a lot of our protagonist’s history, as the first book in this long running series was written and set 30 years ago.
Jack is an old school investigative journalist, who finds himself increasingly out of step with the online clickbait trend of modern journalism. After a particularly demoralising outcome from what was hoped to be a big scoop, a family bereavement is followed swiftly by a strange and intriguing proposition. His gut is telling him to run in the opposite direction, that he is being set up. Can he resist the draw of a big story?
The characters feel very real, you see the whole gamut of humanity. From the decent, to the thoroughly obnoxious narcissists, who will do and say anything, just to get their social media figures up, regardless of the impact of their words. I really felt that the writing depicted some of the vacuous extremists so well, who seem to be increasingly present in our current world. There are a lot of characters, so I advise making notes, particularly of the Maskyn family, so you can keep track of their complex relationships.
I thoroughly enjoyed this “locked room” style thriller, I found Jack’s humour and observations to be razor sharp. I loved the description of a character’s behaviour being, “Trashy. Trumpy”. It says so much, in so few words, and the description of this individual’s accent is fabulous. I genuinely laughed out loud at these moments.
This is a complex story, which travels at a good pace, and is packed with wry wit, which I loved. It feels so relevant to our current social environment, I’m sure many readers will be nodding along whilst reading, just as I was.
Jack is an old school investigative journalist, who finds himself increasingly out of step with the online clickbait trend of modern journalism. After a particularly demoralising outcome from what was hoped to be a big scoop, a family bereavement is followed swiftly by a strange and intriguing proposition. His gut is telling him to run in the opposite direction, that he is being set up. Can he resist the draw of a big story?
The characters feel very real, you see the whole gamut of humanity. From the decent, to the thoroughly obnoxious narcissists, who will do and say anything, just to get their social media figures up, regardless of the impact of their words. I really felt that the writing depicted some of the vacuous extremists so well, who seem to be increasingly present in our current world. There are a lot of characters, so I advise making notes, particularly of the Maskyn family, so you can keep track of their complex relationships.
I thoroughly enjoyed this “locked room” style thriller, I found Jack’s humour and observations to be razor sharp. I loved the description of a character’s behaviour being, “Trashy. Trumpy”. It says so much, in so few words, and the description of this individual’s accent is fabulous. I genuinely laughed out loud at these moments.
This is a complex story, which travels at a good pace, and is packed with wry wit, which I loved. It feels so relevant to our current social environment, I’m sure many readers will be nodding along whilst reading, just as I was.
November 15, 2025
Quite Ugly One Evening by Chris Brookmyre is a darkly comic, fast-paced crime novel that blends murder mystery with biting social commentary. Jack Parlabane is a sharp witted and often irreverent investigative reporter that has a knack for getting himself into messy situations.
Quite Ugly One Evening takes you on a thrilling and darkly humorous ride across the Atlantic, blending the intrigue of a locked-room mystery with biting satire and a refreshing return of rogue journalist Jack Parlabane. The novel, which reintroduces Parlabane three decades after his debut in Quite Ugly One Morning, feels both like a nostalgic trip down memory lane for fans of the character and a sharp commentary on celebrity culture, media exploitation and family dysfunction.
Brookmyre's writing is sharp, and his skillful use of humor adds a unique layer to the crime genre. Parlabane's cynical, sarcastic persona is both hilarious and relatable as he navigates a world of culture war, media manipulation and, of course, murder. The combination of Brookmyre’s biting wit and an intricate plot full of unexpected twists and turns keeps you hooked from the first page to the last.
Quite Ugly One Evening is a clever, fast-paced mystery with a sharp edge of satire. Chris Brookmyre proves once again that he is a master of combining suspense, dark humor and social commentary. The return of Jack Parlabane is more than just a nostalgic trip, it’s an opportunity for readers to witness the evolution of a character and enjoy a story that’s both thrilling and thought provoking. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to Brookmyre’s work, this novel is a compelling read that won’t disappoint.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.
Quite Ugly One Evening takes you on a thrilling and darkly humorous ride across the Atlantic, blending the intrigue of a locked-room mystery with biting satire and a refreshing return of rogue journalist Jack Parlabane. The novel, which reintroduces Parlabane three decades after his debut in Quite Ugly One Morning, feels both like a nostalgic trip down memory lane for fans of the character and a sharp commentary on celebrity culture, media exploitation and family dysfunction.
Brookmyre's writing is sharp, and his skillful use of humor adds a unique layer to the crime genre. Parlabane's cynical, sarcastic persona is both hilarious and relatable as he navigates a world of culture war, media manipulation and, of course, murder. The combination of Brookmyre’s biting wit and an intricate plot full of unexpected twists and turns keeps you hooked from the first page to the last.
Quite Ugly One Evening is a clever, fast-paced mystery with a sharp edge of satire. Chris Brookmyre proves once again that he is a master of combining suspense, dark humor and social commentary. The return of Jack Parlabane is more than just a nostalgic trip, it’s an opportunity for readers to witness the evolution of a character and enjoy a story that’s both thrilling and thought provoking. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to Brookmyre’s work, this novel is a compelling read that won’t disappoint.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.
November 7, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for a copy in exchange for a review.
I’ve read a few Chris Brookmyre books before, and particularly loved his last book, The Cracked Mirror, but this was my first from the Jack Parlabane series which started 30 years ago! And I definitely felt like I was missing a huge back story. However, I did still really enjoyed this!
Investigative journalist Jack Parlabane is on thin ice with his employer. He’s then not so much offered as forced into a job by MI5. Jack has to join a boat cruise celebrating 60 years of an animated series, The Imaginators and find out what he can about the Maskyn family behind the show. And most importantly, what their connection is to a murdered spy from the 80s.
Now at this point, I spent half of the book confused by all the members of the Maskyn family, their entourage, and their relationships to one another. I struggled to remember who everyone was and should have drawn a family tree at the beginning!
Anyway, by the time I got about 3/4 through the confusion subsided and I really got into the story as Jack finds himself embroiled in the family drama and becoming prime suspect in a murder!
Amongst the family politics and wider politics (The Imaginators being appropriated by far right groups and using it to support their agenda), is a locked room (well, locked boat) mystery/whodunnit with espionage, deceit and so many surprises!
Although I struggled a bit with the pace in the middle, which had a lot of plodding around the family’s decision to sell or not to sell the Imaginators brand, the twists, turns and surprises of the last quarter more than made up for it!
I’ve read a few Chris Brookmyre books before, and particularly loved his last book, The Cracked Mirror, but this was my first from the Jack Parlabane series which started 30 years ago! And I definitely felt like I was missing a huge back story. However, I did still really enjoyed this!
Investigative journalist Jack Parlabane is on thin ice with his employer. He’s then not so much offered as forced into a job by MI5. Jack has to join a boat cruise celebrating 60 years of an animated series, The Imaginators and find out what he can about the Maskyn family behind the show. And most importantly, what their connection is to a murdered spy from the 80s.
Now at this point, I spent half of the book confused by all the members of the Maskyn family, their entourage, and their relationships to one another. I struggled to remember who everyone was and should have drawn a family tree at the beginning!
Anyway, by the time I got about 3/4 through the confusion subsided and I really got into the story as Jack finds himself embroiled in the family drama and becoming prime suspect in a murder!
Amongst the family politics and wider politics (The Imaginators being appropriated by far right groups and using it to support their agenda), is a locked room (well, locked boat) mystery/whodunnit with espionage, deceit and so many surprises!
Although I struggled a bit with the pace in the middle, which had a lot of plodding around the family’s decision to sell or not to sell the Imaginators brand, the twists, turns and surprises of the last quarter more than made up for it!
October 12, 2025
What a pleasure to dive once more into the twisted, sarcastic, intricately-plotted exploits of the flawed Jack Parlabane, this time set on a cruise ship, with family machinations crossed with MI5, and Russian oligarchs thrown in for good measure.
All Brookmyre's signature dissection and vilification of society's more ridiculous trends is still on point, while he still manages to create credible and rounded characters, an addictive plot, breathless pacing and the ultimate satisfying conclusion.
It took me ages to get around to writing this review because I felt impelled to re-read, after so many years, both the original, and several others in different series, just for the joy of his Scottish cynicism and ability to encapsulate so much derision into perfect, acidic, multi-clause sentences. And it is interesting to compare how Brookmyre has tightened his style and delivery, to give maximum effect. It might be argued that this latest book is so tight as to be verging on formulaic, but if you want Jack Parlabane, this is how he is, and you can't have it both ways.
It might also be argued that the ending is a smidge contrived and - heavens forfend - just a tad saccharine, but then, this is the 30th anniversary of the poor fictional hero, and he has spent quite some time in horrendous circumstances over the years, courtesy of his brutal author, so I think he deserved, in what looks like his last outing, to get something like a happy ending.
An engrossing and entertaining read, as always.
I received this DRC from Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
All Brookmyre's signature dissection and vilification of society's more ridiculous trends is still on point, while he still manages to create credible and rounded characters, an addictive plot, breathless pacing and the ultimate satisfying conclusion.
It took me ages to get around to writing this review because I felt impelled to re-read, after so many years, both the original, and several others in different series, just for the joy of his Scottish cynicism and ability to encapsulate so much derision into perfect, acidic, multi-clause sentences. And it is interesting to compare how Brookmyre has tightened his style and delivery, to give maximum effect. It might be argued that this latest book is so tight as to be verging on formulaic, but if you want Jack Parlabane, this is how he is, and you can't have it both ways.
It might also be argued that the ending is a smidge contrived and - heavens forfend - just a tad saccharine, but then, this is the 30th anniversary of the poor fictional hero, and he has spent quite some time in horrendous circumstances over the years, courtesy of his brutal author, so I think he deserved, in what looks like his last outing, to get something like a happy ending.
An engrossing and entertaining read, as always.
I received this DRC from Netgalley, all opinions are my own.
November 14, 2025
Jack's back! So, thirty years may have passed since that amazing morning, and that infamous mantlepiece artwork, and Jack Parlabane may have grown up somewhat, but the undercurrent of sweary words is there, just beneath his surface, just waiting to explode - and because of (or despite of?) all the misadventures along the way, he's reining some of them in, having probably upset one person too many.
He may be nudging 60, but he can't and won't knuckle down and toe the company line, and he's banished from the newspaper he's still trying to hunt down a good story for. In steps a blast from the past, with an ultimatum (he's had a few of those over the years!) - get himself on to a transatlantic cruise ship, join a fan convention from a 1960s tv series and infiltrate the family (the dynasty?) who own the show. The task - find a Russian infiltrator from decades ago, except life gets complicated by, oh, a murder of two? Sure. Jack revels in complications, and really should be used to the danger by now...
This is a spy slash murder escapade with some perfectly-timed moments of the trademark Brookmyre humour; I guess I do miss some of the rants that populated some of the earlier instalments but hey, that's what happens when we all grow up! No, not Jack. I don't think he ever will, though he does have a moment when he checks himself out, all dressed up, and reckons there's something in all this grown-up stuff. But I reckon he'll be back to less than a smart casual next time. Joyous.
Come back to your Review on the pub date, 7 May 2026, to post to
He may be nudging 60, but he can't and won't knuckle down and toe the company line, and he's banished from the newspaper he's still trying to hunt down a good story for. In steps a blast from the past, with an ultimatum (he's had a few of those over the years!) - get himself on to a transatlantic cruise ship, join a fan convention from a 1960s tv series and infiltrate the family (the dynasty?) who own the show. The task - find a Russian infiltrator from decades ago, except life gets complicated by, oh, a murder of two? Sure. Jack revels in complications, and really should be used to the danger by now...
This is a spy slash murder escapade with some perfectly-timed moments of the trademark Brookmyre humour; I guess I do miss some of the rants that populated some of the earlier instalments but hey, that's what happens when we all grow up! No, not Jack. I don't think he ever will, though he does have a moment when he checks himself out, all dressed up, and reckons there's something in all this grown-up stuff. But I reckon he'll be back to less than a smart casual next time. Joyous.
Come back to your Review on the pub date, 7 May 2026, to post to
September 14, 2025
‘Quite Ugly One Evening’, by Chris Brookmyre, is the long awaited second book in the Jack Parlabane series.
This time around the rogue journalist is pressurised through the threat of losing his job into boarding a celebrity type cruise to New York,with the task of digging into a disappearance many years ago.The media family at the centre of his journalistic snooping are hosting a floating celebration of their puppet led sixties TV series that is currently adrift in muddy politically incorrect waters and sinking in dire financial straits.
This all makes for a complicated investigation as Jack deals with his own issues from the past and present combining to make his sense of isolation overwhelming among a variety of duplicitous characters focused on their own agendas.
The author skilfully draws the reader into caring deeply about the cast of characters as Jack tries to make sense of the flawed individuals at the centre of this intriguing mystery that crosses political and international borders.Here’s to hoping that we don’t need to wait as long for the the next instalment in this thoroughly enjoyable series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK ,for an Advance Readers Copy.
This time around the rogue journalist is pressurised through the threat of losing his job into boarding a celebrity type cruise to New York,with the task of digging into a disappearance many years ago.The media family at the centre of his journalistic snooping are hosting a floating celebration of their puppet led sixties TV series that is currently adrift in muddy politically incorrect waters and sinking in dire financial straits.
This all makes for a complicated investigation as Jack deals with his own issues from the past and present combining to make his sense of isolation overwhelming among a variety of duplicitous characters focused on their own agendas.
The author skilfully draws the reader into caring deeply about the cast of characters as Jack tries to make sense of the flawed individuals at the centre of this intriguing mystery that crosses political and international borders.Here’s to hoping that we don’t need to wait as long for the the next instalment in this thoroughly enjoyable series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK ,for an Advance Readers Copy.
September 28, 2025
Somewhere in a locked room is the outrageous talent of the erstwhile Christopher Brookmyre, while out here is an imposter waiting to be unmasked.
I don’t expect Brookmyre to be condemned, like an ageing rock star, to endlessly reprise the hits of his youth, but since the title of Quite Ugly One Evening explicitly references the first Parlabane novel, I think it is fair to make the comparison.
What happened to those pages-long rants with their somersaulting multi-clause sentences? Those grotesque characters with their baroque conspiracies? Where are the jokes? The politics is there but, even though I broadly agree with Brookmyre, I find myself wanting to argue because they are so predictably laid out. And the characters all feel like stereotypes. The plot is fiendish but formulaic.
I really enjoyed Black Widow and Fallen Angel, which combined the complexity and depth of his early novels with a more understated voice. Since then though, I’ve been increasingly disillusioned. It’s as if the early Brookmyre prose has been cranked through Grammarly and the plots are the consequence of real-time collaboration with a beach-reading focus group.
Oh well. It was fun while it lasted.
*
Copy from NetGalley
I don’t expect Brookmyre to be condemned, like an ageing rock star, to endlessly reprise the hits of his youth, but since the title of Quite Ugly One Evening explicitly references the first Parlabane novel, I think it is fair to make the comparison.
What happened to those pages-long rants with their somersaulting multi-clause sentences? Those grotesque characters with their baroque conspiracies? Where are the jokes? The politics is there but, even though I broadly agree with Brookmyre, I find myself wanting to argue because they are so predictably laid out. And the characters all feel like stereotypes. The plot is fiendish but formulaic.
I really enjoyed Black Widow and Fallen Angel, which combined the complexity and depth of his early novels with a more understated voice. Since then though, I’ve been increasingly disillusioned. It’s as if the early Brookmyre prose has been cranked through Grammarly and the plots are the consequence of real-time collaboration with a beach-reading focus group.
Oh well. It was fun while it lasted.
*
Copy from NetGalley
October 1, 2025
Very happy to have Jack Parlabane back, and more so that this is a return to the exuberant and over the top style of books like Be My Enemy and …Rubber Ducks after the more understated recent entries in the series. There are strong Succession vibes as the Maskyn family (and boy is there a lot of masking going on in this book) struggle with the future direction of their family business, on a sea cruise that becomes a microcosm of the ongoing culture war. Set in our world of divisive politics and online opinions. It’s no surprise where Brookmyre’s and Parlabane’s allegiances lie, but he is a smart enough writer to avoid the easy right wing = bad, left wing = good trap, and you will find your take on characters on each side of the divide changing as the story progresses.
Basically, I loved this. It’s twisty, turny, funny, dramatic, compassionate and exciting, as good as any previous Parlabane adventure. I did worry that the title, referencing as it did the very first Jack Parlabane novel, was an indication that this could be the end of the series, a capstone to the whole lot. It may yet be, of course, but there’s no air of finality, and the ending leaves a whole new direction Jack could go in, should the author choose. I’ll keep reading them as long as he keeps writing them!
Basically, I loved this. It’s twisty, turny, funny, dramatic, compassionate and exciting, as good as any previous Parlabane adventure. I did worry that the title, referencing as it did the very first Jack Parlabane novel, was an indication that this could be the end of the series, a capstone to the whole lot. It may yet be, of course, but there’s no air of finality, and the ending leaves a whole new direction Jack could go in, should the author choose. I’ll keep reading them as long as he keeps writing them!
November 10, 2025
There are so many series of novels where the protagonist is perpetually the same age or ages incredibly slowly. This works well for some as it keeps up the fantasy however it gets incredibly interesting when authors allow their characters to age with them
This novel shows us a much older and more self reflective Jack Parlablane. He is still the same fire brand opinionated reporter with a chip on his shoulder but as the novel progresses he shows a degree of open mindedness and acceptance of differing opinions albeit only marginally.
The man plot takes on the style of a closed room murder mystery and this plays out really well with all the characters taking the chance to point fingers at each other and muddy the waters. When the reveal came it completely blind sided me.
Speaking of reveals there is another surprise that comes completely out of no where that I’m honestly in two minds about. It was a great reveal that really shook up the entire story but I’m not sure if it was too much of a stretch to justify.
The political and social commentary that’s been a stalwart of the series is there in abundance and won’t disappoint fans of the author.
Overall the whole story was an excellent continuation of Jacks story and I look forward to seeing what’s next.
This novel shows us a much older and more self reflective Jack Parlablane. He is still the same fire brand opinionated reporter with a chip on his shoulder but as the novel progresses he shows a degree of open mindedness and acceptance of differing opinions albeit only marginally.
The man plot takes on the style of a closed room murder mystery and this plays out really well with all the characters taking the chance to point fingers at each other and muddy the waters. When the reveal came it completely blind sided me.
Speaking of reveals there is another surprise that comes completely out of no where that I’m honestly in two minds about. It was a great reveal that really shook up the entire story but I’m not sure if it was too much of a stretch to justify.
The political and social commentary that’s been a stalwart of the series is there in abundance and won’t disappoint fans of the author.
Overall the whole story was an excellent continuation of Jacks story and I look forward to seeing what’s next.
October 1, 2025
f you regularly read pre release books, you’ll know that feeling when a favourite author pops up. That soaring hopeful gush that this book will be just as good as all the others you have read, tempered slightly by the faint dread that it might not be. This feeling is even more extreme when not only is it your favourite author - but he has chosen to revisit your favourite protagonist… Jack Parlabane is back.
Violent, gritty, political - oh and, of course, ridiculous and impossible, Brookmyre is back at his scathing best. You might think that the luxury resort setting has been ‘done’ by Brookmyre but I don’t care. This was just as good as any of the others.
Something is rotten in the state of Maskyn, and against the indomitable Tim Vale’s advice, Parlabane is seeking to revive his ruined career (again?) to investigate. The Thunderbirds-esque show has made the family rich but can they revive it in this oh-so-woke new society? The political references are sharp and contemporary - details I may have missed in earlier Parlabane novels set in the years of my childhood are frighteningly pertinent and prescient in my now slightly more politically aware adult brain.
Violent, gritty, political - oh and, of course, ridiculous and impossible, Brookmyre is back at his scathing best. You might think that the luxury resort setting has been ‘done’ by Brookmyre but I don’t care. This was just as good as any of the others.
Something is rotten in the state of Maskyn, and against the indomitable Tim Vale’s advice, Parlabane is seeking to revive his ruined career (again?) to investigate. The Thunderbirds-esque show has made the family rich but can they revive it in this oh-so-woke new society? The political references are sharp and contemporary - details I may have missed in earlier Parlabane novels set in the years of my childhood are frighteningly pertinent and prescient in my now slightly more politically aware adult brain.
October 4, 2025
Quite Ugly One Evening is a locked-room mystery with a wicked sense of humour and a setting that’s anything but ordinary—a fan convention aboard a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic. Jack Parlabane, rogue journalist and reluctant hero, finds himself in deep water (literally and figuratively) when a murder turns personal, and the only way out might be in handcuffs… or worse.
Brookmyre’s writing is sharp, irreverent, and full of clever twists. The plot dances between nostalgia, celebrity culture, and the kind of secrets that people kill to protect. It’s a return to form for Parlabane, thirty years after his first appearance, and he’s as delightfully cynical and quick-witted as ever.
If you love mysteries that mix classic whodunnit structure with modern edge and a touch of chaos, this one’s a treat. Think Agatha Christie meets Richard Osman—with a splash of dark comedy and a body count.
Perfect for fans of smart thrillers, flawed heroes, and stories that know how to have fun while keeping you guessing.
Thank you to Chris Brookmyre, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Brookmyre’s writing is sharp, irreverent, and full of clever twists. The plot dances between nostalgia, celebrity culture, and the kind of secrets that people kill to protect. It’s a return to form for Parlabane, thirty years after his first appearance, and he’s as delightfully cynical and quick-witted as ever.
If you love mysteries that mix classic whodunnit structure with modern edge and a touch of chaos, this one’s a treat. Think Agatha Christie meets Richard Osman—with a splash of dark comedy and a body count.
Perfect for fans of smart thrillers, flawed heroes, and stories that know how to have fun while keeping you guessing.
Thank you to Chris Brookmyre, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
October 16, 2025
Jack Parlabane, an investigative journalist, has been recruited by MI5 to investigate the death of a man called Simeon Wickham, who died 40 years previously. To do this he needs to join a luxury cruise to New York - his cover is that he is writing a feature story on the Maskyn family and their celebrations of 60 years of their puppet series ,'The Imaginators'.
As he inveigles his way into the family group, he discovers that all is not as it seems - the family is due to vote on whether to sell 'Imaskynations', the company that brought 'The Imaginators' to life and the decision has torn them apart. Some of the family are ready to betray others and secrets are unmasked.
When one of the family is found dead in his cabin. Jack becomes chief suspect and finds himself racing against time to solve two murders. As the mystery unfolds, the web becomes more tangled and has some unexpected turns.
Foe me. this novel was 'Spitting Image' in novel form due to the caricatures of political figures and political commentary very cleverlyhidden in the narrative. Another clever read from Chris Brookmyre who is swiftly turning out to be one of my favourite authors.
As he inveigles his way into the family group, he discovers that all is not as it seems - the family is due to vote on whether to sell 'Imaskynations', the company that brought 'The Imaginators' to life and the decision has torn them apart. Some of the family are ready to betray others and secrets are unmasked.
When one of the family is found dead in his cabin. Jack becomes chief suspect and finds himself racing against time to solve two murders. As the mystery unfolds, the web becomes more tangled and has some unexpected turns.
Foe me. this novel was 'Spitting Image' in novel form due to the caricatures of political figures and political commentary very cleverlyhidden in the narrative. Another clever read from Chris Brookmyre who is swiftly turning out to be one of my favourite authors.
September 7, 2025
Wow. I was still up reading at an obscene time of the morning. This had well-developed, three-dimensional characters, an abundance of twists and turns, and suspense wrapped around an intriguing mystery. But all good crime novels have that. What really stood out for me about this book was its compassion.
I'm not usually much of a crime reader, but Brookmyre's The Cracked Mirror is my favourite crime novel of all time, so that prompted me to give this a shot. The reason crime doesn't usually appeal is that it tends towards a rather dispiriting view of human nature, but this novel breaks the mould by showing flawed characters who are inspired to change for the better, and how family bonds can restore our humanity and shift entrenched and polarising views. I particularly loved how the protagonist's journey of grieving his mother's death, a minor subplot, was integrated as one of the novel's major themes.
Masterfully navigating big discussions about politics and culture with a humane and balanced hand, this is a compelling and fun mystery with an uplifting conclusion.
I'm not usually much of a crime reader, but Brookmyre's The Cracked Mirror is my favourite crime novel of all time, so that prompted me to give this a shot. The reason crime doesn't usually appeal is that it tends towards a rather dispiriting view of human nature, but this novel breaks the mould by showing flawed characters who are inspired to change for the better, and how family bonds can restore our humanity and shift entrenched and polarising views. I particularly loved how the protagonist's journey of grieving his mother's death, a minor subplot, was integrated as one of the novel's major themes.
Masterfully navigating big discussions about politics and culture with a humane and balanced hand, this is a compelling and fun mystery with an uplifting conclusion.
October 2, 2025
I can still remember reading “Quite ugly one MORNING” almost 30 years ago and being hooked and then eagerly awaiting the next paperback in the series. Alas I read no paperbacks these days but digital reading makes reading a lot easier with eyesight diminishing with the years.
Chris Brookmyre and his investigative journalist Jack Parlabane have both aged too and it is no surprise the current novel in the series is a lot less frenetic and OTT then the first. The JP books became a little stale over time and I think this more laid back approach suits the times and reinvigorates the series.
There is still plenty of enjoyable silliness and good one liners in the writing and towards the end plenty of major surprises.
Throw in some Russians, online influencers , a media mogul , MI6 and the once great Maskyn family trying to revive their fortunes and their old TV series, and set them all together on a transatlantic voyage and there is plenty of scope for murder and intrigue.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little,Brown Book Group for the ARC
October 1, 2025
I wouldn’t go as far as to say that Chris Brookmyre can do no wrong, but he comes pretty close.
Jack Parlabane is back in a twisty locked-room murder mystery set on a trans-Atlantic liner.
A bad decision leaves Jack unsure if he still has a job, and he is….’persuaded’ to join a cruise, ostensibly reporting on the Maskyn family, and their attempt to reenergise their family business. But there’s a hidden agenda, and Jack has only 7 days to pull it off. Then things start to go horribly wrong…
There are a lot of characters in this story and it was a bit confusing at first. It’s not a beach read; it definitely requires a bit of concentration.
But Brookmyre writes very believable characters; like real life, his characters are many-layered. And a story with more twists than an Alpine pass, laced with drama, tension and his signature wit. There were several’Well,I never saw that coming!’ moments.
A most enjoyable read!
Jack Parlabane is back in a twisty locked-room murder mystery set on a trans-Atlantic liner.
A bad decision leaves Jack unsure if he still has a job, and he is….’persuaded’ to join a cruise, ostensibly reporting on the Maskyn family, and their attempt to reenergise their family business. But there’s a hidden agenda, and Jack has only 7 days to pull it off. Then things start to go horribly wrong…
There are a lot of characters in this story and it was a bit confusing at first. It’s not a beach read; it definitely requires a bit of concentration.
But Brookmyre writes very believable characters; like real life, his characters are many-layered. And a story with more twists than an Alpine pass, laced with drama, tension and his signature wit. There were several’Well,I never saw that coming!’ moments.
A most enjoyable read!
November 5, 2025
I struggled to get into this book but carried on for a while and then gave up I am afraid. If I am honest I found it too complex and maybe this is why I did not get to grips with the writing. I found there were too many strands, characters and not any I got to grips with. On saying this I did finish it. Jack Parlabane is an aging journalist. He made a mistake on a story he was investigating which may lead to losing his job. Into the story comes an MI5 operative giving him a job to redeem himself. He has to cruise on a luxury ship to New York and delve into a story which was never solved. He is mixing with the Maskyn family – Neville and Elize being the couple who started “The Imaginators” for tv etc. The younger members of the family are trying to update it and make it more relevant but there are the old school fans who want it to remain as it has been for 60+ years so drama begins. The “woke” culture comes into play. Not a book for me
December 7, 2025
I was provided an advanced copy of this book for review by the publisher but this review has not been paid for.
This was a wonderful read!! You have all the usual you expect from a Jack Paralabane book but this time you get a real inside peak of Jack and some of his vulnerabilities.
Set on a Cruise ship really contains all the twists and turns. A closed setting can be a tricky thing for authors as the limiting of players in the scenes, scope of their movements makes things predictable for the reader.
Not the case in this instance. It’s a big enough setting for all sorts of permutations of the outcomes to play out in the readers minds that you keep guessing until the reveal. Brookmyre also brings his inevitable jaw dropping twists that you never saw coming.
This was everything I enjoy about Chris Brookmyre’s books…that ‘just one more page’ feeling and just when you think you have got it all worked out…he spins you around with a twist you never saw coming.
This was a wonderful read!! You have all the usual you expect from a Jack Paralabane book but this time you get a real inside peak of Jack and some of his vulnerabilities.
Set on a Cruise ship really contains all the twists and turns. A closed setting can be a tricky thing for authors as the limiting of players in the scenes, scope of their movements makes things predictable for the reader.
Not the case in this instance. It’s a big enough setting for all sorts of permutations of the outcomes to play out in the readers minds that you keep guessing until the reveal. Brookmyre also brings his inevitable jaw dropping twists that you never saw coming.
This was everything I enjoy about Chris Brookmyre’s books…that ‘just one more page’ feeling and just when you think you have got it all worked out…he spins you around with a twist you never saw coming.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2025
Jack Parlabane is back and what a glorious romp this book is. This time Jack, his career at rock bottom, has an unlikely encounter with an MI5 agent and finds himself reluctantly agreeing to go under cover on a cruise ship crossing the Atlantic to investigate a prominent family connected to an old crime.
The dysfunctional Maskyn family are generally unlikable and Jack has his work cut out trying to get close to them and also to decide who of them, if any, he can trust.
Then to his horror Jack finds himself in a locked room with a dead body and it all kicks off big time.
It’s quite a complicated storyline with lots of characters and just when you think you’ve sussed it the plot veers off in a different direction. However Brookmyre’s trademark mocking humour is to the fore and it’s a hugely enjoyable action packed read.
The dysfunctional Maskyn family are generally unlikable and Jack has his work cut out trying to get close to them and also to decide who of them, if any, he can trust.
Then to his horror Jack finds himself in a locked room with a dead body and it all kicks off big time.
It’s quite a complicated storyline with lots of characters and just when you think you’ve sussed it the plot veers off in a different direction. However Brookmyre’s trademark mocking humour is to the fore and it’s a hugely enjoyable action packed read.
October 15, 2025
I have read other Jack Parlabane investigative journalist novels but I really enjoyed this one more. Maybe it was the nostalgia as it was set around a cruise to celebrate a family who created a legendary puppet series clearly based on Thunderbirds. Ther were a lot of twists and turns as Jack attempts to find out who Simeon Wickham was and what he meant to the Masky family who created the Imaginators. There were a lot of different characters, but I did guess who did it fairly early on, by luck.
I certainly would read others in this series as they are very enjoyable. It’s a shame that Brookmyre has Jack now in his 60s. He could end up with a Rebus situation if he ages in real time.
I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers. I recommend this series and and this episode in particular.
I certainly would read others in this series as they are very enjoyable. It’s a shame that Brookmyre has Jack now in his 60s. He could end up with a Rebus situation if he ages in real time.
I read an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publishers. I recommend this series and and this episode in particular.
October 31, 2025
Jack Parlabane is back, but his job is the line and he's feeling old and he is out of touch. As a way of saving himself, Jack agrees to work undercover for MI5, taking a cruise across the Atlantic to infiltrate a family run convention.
For me, the book was saved by the second half of the story. The first half was slow paced and nothing much happened. Having been given a glimpse of what was to happen, it seemed to take forever for the story to catch up with itself. Once we reached the halfway point the story really took off. Plenty of action and twists and a complicated scenario. The characters were mostly rather flat and the humour of the earlier books in the series was missing but this did eventually become an enjoyable read.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
For me, the book was saved by the second half of the story. The first half was slow paced and nothing much happened. Having been given a glimpse of what was to happen, it seemed to take forever for the story to catch up with itself. Once we reached the halfway point the story really took off. Plenty of action and twists and a complicated scenario. The characters were mostly rather flat and the humour of the earlier books in the series was missing but this did eventually become an enjoyable read.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.
September 14, 2025
Brookmyre again hits the spot with this Parlabane adventure on the high seas.
Parlabane is on the verge of being sacked when he is recruited to help solve the murder of a spy 30 years earlier. The task requires that Jack take a cruise dedicated to a longstanding puppet show (definite Gerry Anderson vibes) where the members of the family firm have all congregated.
Like a version of Succession at sea, Parlabane uses his natural charms and devious nature to explore the complex relationships within the family and avoid incriminating himself. All told in Brookmyre’s typically laconic style.
A real page turner, proving that, even at the age of 60, there’s still plenty of life in the old hack.
(I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review)
Parlabane is on the verge of being sacked when he is recruited to help solve the murder of a spy 30 years earlier. The task requires that Jack take a cruise dedicated to a longstanding puppet show (definite Gerry Anderson vibes) where the members of the family firm have all congregated.
Like a version of Succession at sea, Parlabane uses his natural charms and devious nature to explore the complex relationships within the family and avoid incriminating himself. All told in Brookmyre’s typically laconic style.
A real page turner, proving that, even at the age of 60, there’s still plenty of life in the old hack.
(I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review)
November 15, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
I was pleased to be allowed to read this book ahead of publication, having loved this series in the past and it being 8 years since the last instalment, but I did not enjoy this as much as I expected. Part of this was the number of characters so quickly introduced, particularly those in the family, what with them having such weird names too e.g. Devant. The plot line seemed a bit weird too, I mean, who would suggest a Russian spy would have infiltrated the company that made ‘Thunderbirds’ for example?
I did enjoy working out what and who the author was parodying though.
I was pleased to be allowed to read this book ahead of publication, having loved this series in the past and it being 8 years since the last instalment, but I did not enjoy this as much as I expected. Part of this was the number of characters so quickly introduced, particularly those in the family, what with them having such weird names too e.g. Devant. The plot line seemed a bit weird too, I mean, who would suggest a Russian spy would have infiltrated the company that made ‘Thunderbirds’ for example?
I did enjoy working out what and who the author was parodying though.
December 5, 2025
The continuing life of Jack Parlabane. Jack’s an investigative reporter who has overstepped the line of fair reporting once too often and finds himself on the wrong side of everyone. The only way to redeem himself is by accepting the challenge to solve a long-time mystery. But being on a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic, surrounded by a feuding family, none of whom appear to be able to tell the truth and dead bodies doesn’t make it an easy task. I’d not read a Jack Parlabane story before but enjoyed this; a good story with lots of twists to keep you guessing. My thanks to NetGalley and the author for an ARC.
October 13, 2025
A cruise ship on the Atlantic provides the locked room setting for the return of beloved fictional character Jack Parlabane, quite some time after his first fictional appearance.
With the tensions created by reuniting the cast of a cult 60s TV show, and nowhere to go when a murderer strikes on board the ship, there is plenty of action for Jack to be juggling.
This is a well written and entertaining read. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
With the tensions created by reuniting the cast of a cult 60s TV show, and nowhere to go when a murderer strikes on board the ship, there is plenty of action for Jack to be juggling.
This is a well written and entertaining read. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
October 26, 2025
Quite Ugly One Evening by Chris Brookmyre was an old fashioned spy thriller, with murders included to make life more interesting. An Atlantic, voyage,a family at war, a secret worth killing for.
Jack Parlablane thrives on investigating stories in unlikely places. A cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean being one, he is there with a convention of fans celebrating a contentious 1960’s TV series. There is also a few murders to investigate whilst he is there and a locked room mystery to solve.
Recommended
Jack Parlablane thrives on investigating stories in unlikely places. A cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean being one, he is there with a convention of fans celebrating a contentious 1960’s TV series. There is also a few murders to investigate whilst he is there and a locked room mystery to solve.
Recommended
November 1, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, Chris Brookmyre and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
I hadn’t realised going into reading this that it was such a long running series. Whilst I don’t think it was required to read the previous volumes I think it would have helped contextualise some of the references.
The story had quite a slow start but did pick up at the halfway mark. I was intrigued by the prologue so that kept me going. The twists and turns didn’t feel predictable and I enjoyed my time with it.
I hadn’t realised going into reading this that it was such a long running series. Whilst I don’t think it was required to read the previous volumes I think it would have helped contextualise some of the references.
The story had quite a slow start but did pick up at the halfway mark. I was intrigued by the prologue so that kept me going. The twists and turns didn’t feel predictable and I enjoyed my time with it.
November 17, 2025
This is a fast-paced mystery with a lot of unusual twists and turns that kept the pages turning. The set up - a celebration of an iconic TV show on a transatlantic cruise is unique. The idea of a locked-room mystery always appeals and this did not disappoint and I found the contemporary references to the simmering culture wars both astute and amusing. There were a lot of Maskyn family members and I did lose track a couple of times in relation to names/roles in the company and who was aligned with whom. A gripping read nevertheless.
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