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Jack Parlabane #9
Quite Ugly One Evening: Jack Parlabane is back in this ingenious locked-room mystery
'The plot is breathtaking, the setting beautiful and the characters are written with genuine depth. And smack bang in the middle of this Succession-meets-The Traitors novel is Brookmyre's most iconic the monumental Jack Parlabane. Irrepressible, acerbic and positively rubbing this hands with glee. Absolutely brilliant' M. W. Craven
'Brookmyre at his twisted best... Laugh out loud and perfectly conceived. What a bloody triumph' Helen Fields
An 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
'Brookmyre at his twisted best... Laugh out loud and perfectly conceived. What a bloody triumph' Helen Fields
An 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
359 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
September 16, 2025
4 - 5 stars, not sure which yet. RTC near publication as per requirements of the publisher.
Did Not Finish
April 20, 2026I'm very sorry to say but this one is a DNF for me. I've enjoyed several other books by Chris Brookmyre and I was really looking forward to reading this one. It left me very confused. There is so much political talk, so much ado, so many characters (I cannot concentrate on characters with strange names... one is them carries a first name that's actually a German surname, another is named after several small villages in the US and the UK, and one name is just some letters thrown together.) I could have done with a family tree, and I think there will be one in the book when it comes out, but it was not in my review copy.
So, I will not be giving a rating because I've read a lot of glowing reviews about this book, and my opinion is purely because I couldn't relate to it.
So, I will not be giving a rating because I've read a lot of glowing reviews about this book, and my opinion is purely because I couldn't relate to it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jack Parlabane, investigative journalist is approached by someone he knows at MI5 to investigate the decades-old death of an undercover agent. The agent in question was investigating rumours that a Russian spy had infiltrated a rich, influential family with connections to the higher echelons of the civil service, his death might have been natural or he could have been poisoned by the Russians. A recent release of information has made the latter seem more probable.
The family in question created a much beloved 1960s children's TV series (I was thinking like Thunderbirds but set in space). The series has fallen in and out of favour in the intervening period fuelled by nostalgia, the launch on video/DVD etc but has recently come in for a lot of criticism, not least from within parts of the family, for its antiquated and problematic themes (think Pidgeon English, goodies are white, baddies are people of colour etc). Anyway, the entire family will be attending a cruise from England to the USA which hosts a fan convention, which will give Jack some time to get close to the family and see what they can recall about the agent.
In terms of the family dynamics, there's the usual infighting between generations and siblings, added to which a Mitford-esque split in the younger generation between those who want the series to remain authentic (and argue that the Woke agenda would destroy the heart of the series) and those who want better representation and removal of the problematic themes. Added to which, a right-wing billionaire wants to buy the rights to the series from the family and the offer has divided the family in different ways again.
Inevitably, one of the family is murdered, and Jack appears to have been the designated fall guy - can he discover the identity of the murderer before he is charged?
Full disclosure, I think this is the ninth Jack Parlabane novel but the first one I have read, so I don't know whether they are always so political but there is a lot of discussion of the right wing agenda, Putin, Trump, etc. While I 100% agree with the politics I am not sure I wanted it to be so full on in a detective story - but again maybe if I had read the previous eight books I would be expecting it?
Anyway, I really enjoyed it, although Jack seems pretty athletic for a sixty-year old man (she says as an almost sixty-year old woman), I wonder if Chris Brookmyre is still writing him as the thirty-year old he was in the first book. My only gripe was that I thought the murderer's identity was a bit obvious.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Bumped for release.
The family in question created a much beloved 1960s children's TV series (I was thinking like Thunderbirds but set in space). The series has fallen in and out of favour in the intervening period fuelled by nostalgia, the launch on video/DVD etc but has recently come in for a lot of criticism, not least from within parts of the family, for its antiquated and problematic themes (think Pidgeon English, goodies are white, baddies are people of colour etc). Anyway, the entire family will be attending a cruise from England to the USA which hosts a fan convention, which will give Jack some time to get close to the family and see what they can recall about the agent.
In terms of the family dynamics, there's the usual infighting between generations and siblings, added to which a Mitford-esque split in the younger generation between those who want the series to remain authentic (and argue that the Woke agenda would destroy the heart of the series) and those who want better representation and removal of the problematic themes. Added to which, a right-wing billionaire wants to buy the rights to the series from the family and the offer has divided the family in different ways again.
Inevitably, one of the family is murdered, and Jack appears to have been the designated fall guy - can he discover the identity of the murderer before he is charged?
Full disclosure, I think this is the ninth Jack Parlabane novel but the first one I have read, so I don't know whether they are always so political but there is a lot of discussion of the right wing agenda, Putin, Trump, etc. While I 100% agree with the politics I am not sure I wanted it to be so full on in a detective story - but again maybe if I had read the previous eight books I would be expecting it?
Anyway, I really enjoyed it, although Jack seems pretty athletic for a sixty-year old man (she says as an almost sixty-year old woman), I wonder if Chris Brookmyre is still writing him as the thirty-year old he was in the first book. My only gripe was that I thought the murderer's identity was a bit obvious.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Bumped for release.
Want to Read
February 3, 2026I love locked room mysteries!
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
First of all, I wasn't at all aware that 'Quite Ugly One Evening' wasn't Jack Parlabane's first outing. This is part of a series, and also marks the 30th anniversary of Jack's first appearance in 'Quite Ugly One Morning'. That said, I never really felt like I had missed out on anything and I think this reads perfectly well as a stand-alone. However, this was definitely a tale of two halves for me.
The story begins with Jack stuck in a room. With a dead body. In the middle of the Atlantic. Someone is knocking on the door, trying to get in. Jack knows how this looks. After all, there's blood everywhere and some of it is his. But how did he manage to get himself into this tricky situation? For that, we need to go back to the start.
The start being that Jack is an investigative reporter who is very close to losing his job. When he's approached by someone from MI5 to try and solve a decades old murder, Jack decides to throw all caution to the wind and join a fan convention for a sixties tv show. He desperately needs a win, and he believes the cold case is somehow related to the Maskyn family, them what invented the tv show that's being celebrated.
This would be part one. Setting the scene, as it were. Finding out how Jack got onto the ship in the first place, and why. Getting to know the many, many members of the Maskyn family. I honestly could have done with a family tree because I couldn't keep the connections straight in my head. Grandmother, children, grandchildren, various spouses ... it became a bit much. I also felt this first half went on a bit too long. I nearly forgot we were supposed to get back to the point where Jack is stuck in the room with the dead body. Once that happened though, things definitely picked up and I began to swipe the pages faster. Suddenly, Jack is trying to solve two murders.
I felt like 'Quite Ugly One Evening' was more than just a double murder mystery though. It's very topical in that it mentions things like the orange idiot in the White House, the woke brigade, and how influencers often lead a life of lies just for clicks. Then there's the Maskyn family who can't decide if they should move with the times and appease the woke brigade by remaking their original series, or leave things the way the grandparents created them. Speaking of the family, not a likeable bunch. Some messed up and are reminded of it often, some grew up in the spotlight, some only live for the money, ... But, deep down, they do care about one another and they are still a family. Something Jack has never really known. There was a depth to this story I wasn't quite expecting but I thought it was brilliantly done.
All in all, I found 'Quite Ugly One Evening' to be a compelling and entertaining tale. I thought the balance between solving the murders and topical themes was executed really well. I enjoyed following Jack on this journey, not just on the cruise ship but also in the way it led him to a life-changing discovery. I'm not entirely sure he always took the smartest route, but I was definitely willing him to find a way out of a sticky situation. Sometimes tense, sometimes thought-provoking, and sometimes witty, 'Quite Ugly One Evening' is a complex murder mystery that definitely worked better for me in the second half. I didn't figure any of it out, by the way, but was satisfied by the conclusions and pleasantly surprised by another reveal. I wish I had met Jack sooner, but maybe some day I'll make the time to catch up on the older books in this series.
The story begins with Jack stuck in a room. With a dead body. In the middle of the Atlantic. Someone is knocking on the door, trying to get in. Jack knows how this looks. After all, there's blood everywhere and some of it is his. But how did he manage to get himself into this tricky situation? For that, we need to go back to the start.
The start being that Jack is an investigative reporter who is very close to losing his job. When he's approached by someone from MI5 to try and solve a decades old murder, Jack decides to throw all caution to the wind and join a fan convention for a sixties tv show. He desperately needs a win, and he believes the cold case is somehow related to the Maskyn family, them what invented the tv show that's being celebrated.
This would be part one. Setting the scene, as it were. Finding out how Jack got onto the ship in the first place, and why. Getting to know the many, many members of the Maskyn family. I honestly could have done with a family tree because I couldn't keep the connections straight in my head. Grandmother, children, grandchildren, various spouses ... it became a bit much. I also felt this first half went on a bit too long. I nearly forgot we were supposed to get back to the point where Jack is stuck in the room with the dead body. Once that happened though, things definitely picked up and I began to swipe the pages faster. Suddenly, Jack is trying to solve two murders.
I felt like 'Quite Ugly One Evening' was more than just a double murder mystery though. It's very topical in that it mentions things like the orange idiot in the White House, the woke brigade, and how influencers often lead a life of lies just for clicks. Then there's the Maskyn family who can't decide if they should move with the times and appease the woke brigade by remaking their original series, or leave things the way the grandparents created them. Speaking of the family, not a likeable bunch. Some messed up and are reminded of it often, some grew up in the spotlight, some only live for the money, ... But, deep down, they do care about one another and they are still a family. Something Jack has never really known. There was a depth to this story I wasn't quite expecting but I thought it was brilliantly done.
All in all, I found 'Quite Ugly One Evening' to be a compelling and entertaining tale. I thought the balance between solving the murders and topical themes was executed really well. I enjoyed following Jack on this journey, not just on the cruise ship but also in the way it led him to a life-changing discovery. I'm not entirely sure he always took the smartest route, but I was definitely willing him to find a way out of a sticky situation. Sometimes tense, sometimes thought-provoking, and sometimes witty, 'Quite Ugly One Evening' is a complex murder mystery that definitely worked better for me in the second half. I didn't figure any of it out, by the way, but was satisfied by the conclusions and pleasantly surprised by another reveal. I wish I had met Jack sooner, but maybe some day I'll make the time to catch up on the older books in this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I admit it. I never turn down an offer to read a Christopher Brookmyre ARC, although I should also admit that I haven't read all of Brookmyre's extensive back catalogue. There's something comforting about a Brookmyre book, that I only scan the bookshelves and pick one out when I really need to immerse myself in something other than the modern dumpster-fire of the world.
So, I jumped into Quite Ugly One Evening having not read its predecessor Quite Ugly One Morning, and had no knowledge of Jack Parlabane at all. I thought it might be an interesting experiment to see if a person needed that pre-read or any context.
Answer: No.
I didn't have any problem catching up quite quickly on Parlabane, his history and his character, so I'd definitely recommend this even if you haven't read the other.
The premise of this was interesting to me; a locked-roon mystery on a cruise ship. Actually, when you think about it, it's quite clever: he took away most of the technology (mobiles/internet), there's no escape from the ship (other than the obvious), and yet there are still lots of potential characters around that are just regular citizens uninvoled with the plot, so the claustrophobia hits different especially when there is the threat of another character witnessing what our protagonist is up to.
The plot was so similar to Succession in terms of a family rivalry to take over the amassed fortune, but the character arcs were much different, so if you didn't like Succession, you would probably enjoy this more. I found the tv show almost unwatchable at times because I didn't like or identify with even one character in it. But in Quite Ugly... there is plenty to like or sympathise with about the characters.
Brookmyre has always been a sharp shooter when it comes to character development, so was I surprised that he was able to juggle so many at once without compromising their development? Not at all. I was pleased though. (n.b. sometimes the worst giveaway in a mystery that someone isn't the killer is when the character is not fully formed or have any depth to them). But Brookmyre is very skilled at all aspects of misdirection and he was detailed enough with his characters that it was impossible to solve the mystery before he wanted me to.
I'm not going to outline the plot here, as the bookjacket will do that for me. But what I will say is that this locked-roon mystery is rooted on the cruise ship, but the activity around Parlabane's own personal mystery still ekes through from the outside world. I think Parlabane might be one of my favourite Brookmyre characters, and I'm quietly delighted that there is another book out there for me to read him in.
If you're looking for a mystery that's entertaining and will keep you guessing all the way through, then you've come to the right author. Brookmyre is a master, and so much more is contained in his storytelling through his talent and technique that you're much better off in his very safe hands than in a superficial airport paperback.
Highly recommend and I hope if it's your first Brookmyre that you'll stick around and check out his other books as well.
Many thanks to Little Brown Book Group (UK) for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.
So, I jumped into Quite Ugly One Evening having not read its predecessor Quite Ugly One Morning, and had no knowledge of Jack Parlabane at all. I thought it might be an interesting experiment to see if a person needed that pre-read or any context.
Answer: No.
I didn't have any problem catching up quite quickly on Parlabane, his history and his character, so I'd definitely recommend this even if you haven't read the other.
The premise of this was interesting to me; a locked-roon mystery on a cruise ship. Actually, when you think about it, it's quite clever: he took away most of the technology (mobiles/internet), there's no escape from the ship (other than the obvious), and yet there are still lots of potential characters around that are just regular citizens uninvoled with the plot, so the claustrophobia hits different especially when there is the threat of another character witnessing what our protagonist is up to.
The plot was so similar to Succession in terms of a family rivalry to take over the amassed fortune, but the character arcs were much different, so if you didn't like Succession, you would probably enjoy this more. I found the tv show almost unwatchable at times because I didn't like or identify with even one character in it. But in Quite Ugly... there is plenty to like or sympathise with about the characters.
Brookmyre has always been a sharp shooter when it comes to character development, so was I surprised that he was able to juggle so many at once without compromising their development? Not at all. I was pleased though. (n.b. sometimes the worst giveaway in a mystery that someone isn't the killer is when the character is not fully formed or have any depth to them). But Brookmyre is very skilled at all aspects of misdirection and he was detailed enough with his characters that it was impossible to solve the mystery before he wanted me to.
I'm not going to outline the plot here, as the bookjacket will do that for me. But what I will say is that this locked-roon mystery is rooted on the cruise ship, but the activity around Parlabane's own personal mystery still ekes through from the outside world. I think Parlabane might be one of my favourite Brookmyre characters, and I'm quietly delighted that there is another book out there for me to read him in.
If you're looking for a mystery that's entertaining and will keep you guessing all the way through, then you've come to the right author. Brookmyre is a master, and so much more is contained in his storytelling through his talent and technique that you're much better off in his very safe hands than in a superficial airport paperback.
Highly recommend and I hope if it's your first Brookmyre that you'll stick around and check out his other books as well.
Many thanks to Little Brown Book Group (UK) for the advanced copy in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well... Mr Parlabane, it's been a while - but boy are you well worth the wait...
Usual housekeeping first - although the main story is self-contained, this is the ninth book in the most excellent series featuring investigative journalist Jack Parlabane so you really do need to go back to the beginning and meet and get to know him properly. Warts and all! If you do fall into this category - you are so lucky as, for us stalwarts, it's been a long 9 years waiting for this new instalment But, as I already said, and I will repeat - It's definitely worth the wait...
In this book we catch up with Jack as he gets himself into hot water with his boss once again, although this only really serves as the best trigger for him to go off and do his own thing once again. I say own thing, I actually mean to once again be at the beck and call of MI5 to investigate the historic, never solved, death of one of their UC agents. It appears that the agent had dealings with the rumour of Russian infiltration of a rich and influential family. A family who, coincidentally, has hit the headlines once again with regard to the "updating" of their 1960s kids TV show. Something that has split both the family and the nation's opinions, especially around the whole problematic antiquated themes and standards and the whole woke issues that ensue.
Long story short and it transpires that the whole family is set to be travelling on a cruise between UK and USA, hosting a convention on the way. And Jack will be there to try and inveigle himself into the mix and, hopefully, get the answers the spooks want.
In the review copy I read there is space at the front with a placeholder for a family tree which would have been helpful for me as we do get introduced to a whole bunch of characters all at the same time. So I made my own rudimentary cast list / tree which helped! Although it wasn't too long until I had them all straight in my head and stopped referring to it! The family dynamic is popcorn tv at its very best too - talk about dysfunctional with a whole side order of nefarious goings on. Delicious!
Aficionados of the whole Parlabane world will immediately notice echoes of the series opener Quite Ugly One Morning in this book... locked room mystery, Jack as a suspect, and obviously also written by the same hand, but the rest of the story is unique... and well crafted and expertly executed. And the whole - antiquated theme, bring into the 20th centaury wokify, ruin, debate is quite topical at the moment... so it does get a wee bit on the political side but, you know, Brookmyre & Parlabane...!
Pacing is perfect and matches the narrative all the way through. There's a lot to set up and characters and their dynamics to introduce initially but it isn't long before off we go at a rate of knots (see what I did there - set on a ship! #notsorry) and eventually it becomes a race to what turns out to be a wholly satisfying ending.
It's been 30 years since we first met Parlabane, and 9 since his last outing. He is one of my vary favourite characters and I really hope it won't be long before we hear from him again... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Usual housekeeping first - although the main story is self-contained, this is the ninth book in the most excellent series featuring investigative journalist Jack Parlabane so you really do need to go back to the beginning and meet and get to know him properly. Warts and all! If you do fall into this category - you are so lucky as, for us stalwarts, it's been a long 9 years waiting for this new instalment But, as I already said, and I will repeat - It's definitely worth the wait...
In this book we catch up with Jack as he gets himself into hot water with his boss once again, although this only really serves as the best trigger for him to go off and do his own thing once again. I say own thing, I actually mean to once again be at the beck and call of MI5 to investigate the historic, never solved, death of one of their UC agents. It appears that the agent had dealings with the rumour of Russian infiltration of a rich and influential family. A family who, coincidentally, has hit the headlines once again with regard to the "updating" of their 1960s kids TV show. Something that has split both the family and the nation's opinions, especially around the whole problematic antiquated themes and standards and the whole woke issues that ensue.
Long story short and it transpires that the whole family is set to be travelling on a cruise between UK and USA, hosting a convention on the way. And Jack will be there to try and inveigle himself into the mix and, hopefully, get the answers the spooks want.
In the review copy I read there is space at the front with a placeholder for a family tree which would have been helpful for me as we do get introduced to a whole bunch of characters all at the same time. So I made my own rudimentary cast list / tree which helped! Although it wasn't too long until I had them all straight in my head and stopped referring to it! The family dynamic is popcorn tv at its very best too - talk about dysfunctional with a whole side order of nefarious goings on. Delicious!
Aficionados of the whole Parlabane world will immediately notice echoes of the series opener Quite Ugly One Morning in this book... locked room mystery, Jack as a suspect, and obviously also written by the same hand, but the rest of the story is unique... and well crafted and expertly executed. And the whole - antiquated theme, bring into the 20th centaury wokify, ruin, debate is quite topical at the moment... so it does get a wee bit on the political side but, you know, Brookmyre & Parlabane...!
Pacing is perfect and matches the narrative all the way through. There's a lot to set up and characters and their dynamics to introduce initially but it isn't long before off we go at a rate of knots (see what I did there - set on a ship! #notsorry) and eventually it becomes a race to what turns out to be a wholly satisfying ending.
It's been 30 years since we first met Parlabane, and 9 since his last outing. He is one of my vary favourite characters and I really hope it won't be long before we hear from him again... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Succession meets Thunderbirds in the latest offering from fabulous author, Chris Brookmyre. Thirty years after the first Jack Parlabane novel, Quite Ugly One Morning, Chris Brookmyre is back with a new Parlabane, Quite Ugly One Evening.
It’s always a treat when a new Jack Parlabane comes out, and this one is a riot. For the uninitiated, Jack Parlabane is an investigative journalist who doesn’t mind breaking a few laws, and even some breaking and entering, to get what he needs. Cynical, sarcastic and with a penchant for trouble, he’s not exactly flavour of the month with his current employers.
There are echoes of Quite Ugly One Morning in this book, especially in relation to the way in which Jack finds that he is likely to be suspected of murder, but it can easily be read as a standalone
Jack’s mother is newly in her grave when he is approached by MI5, who are looking for answers as to who killed one of their agents. Their chief suspects are from a prominent Media family, the Maskyns, currently aboard The Atlantic Queen, due to sail from Southampton to New York, as part of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of their TV puppet show, The Imaginators. On board, as well as the Maskyns,are a host of superfans of the series, attending a fan convention, eager to hear about the future of the series.
Jack’s not a fan of water at the best of times, but there’s a story in this family, who are currently fighting a takeover bid, and besides, M15 are beyond threatening him should he refuse.
The Maskyns are a divided family. The success of The Imaginators has stalled, and the creator of the series, the family patriarch, has recently died, leaving a void in the company. Some family members want to accept the takeover bid, pocket the money and live off it. Others, though, don’t want this iconic series to be spoiled by a woke reinvention. They’re not all likeable, and some are turning on the others in a bitter battle for control.
But I’m jumping ahead. This novel actually begins with Jack, in a cabin in the middle of the Atlantic, with a dead body and someone knocking hard on the door. He’s got blood all over him, and there’s no way he isn’t going to be the prime suspect for what has clearly been a murder.
Quite Ugly One Evening is the classic locked-room mystery, with great characters, family rivalry, espionage, murder, and Brookmyre’s own inimitable take on current world politics and contemporary culture wars.
It’s scathing, funny, and deadly, and yet Brookmyre manages to inject it with a personal journey for both Jack and some of the other characters. Though this family are at war, there’s still a bond between them, something Jack has never really had with his own family.
Verdict: Tense, thought-provoking, very funny, and surprisingly tender in places, this is a welcome return to water after 9 years in a desert for Jack Parlabane fans. Once the set-up is established, this murder mystery moves at a cracking pace. The characters are glorious, the set-up is genius. Witty and full of action, this is Brookmyre at his best. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Jack Parlabane, but if it is, it’s a cracking ending!
It’s always a treat when a new Jack Parlabane comes out, and this one is a riot. For the uninitiated, Jack Parlabane is an investigative journalist who doesn’t mind breaking a few laws, and even some breaking and entering, to get what he needs. Cynical, sarcastic and with a penchant for trouble, he’s not exactly flavour of the month with his current employers.
There are echoes of Quite Ugly One Morning in this book, especially in relation to the way in which Jack finds that he is likely to be suspected of murder, but it can easily be read as a standalone
Jack’s mother is newly in her grave when he is approached by MI5, who are looking for answers as to who killed one of their agents. Their chief suspects are from a prominent Media family, the Maskyns, currently aboard The Atlantic Queen, due to sail from Southampton to New York, as part of the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of their TV puppet show, The Imaginators. On board, as well as the Maskyns,are a host of superfans of the series, attending a fan convention, eager to hear about the future of the series.
Jack’s not a fan of water at the best of times, but there’s a story in this family, who are currently fighting a takeover bid, and besides, M15 are beyond threatening him should he refuse.
The Maskyns are a divided family. The success of The Imaginators has stalled, and the creator of the series, the family patriarch, has recently died, leaving a void in the company. Some family members want to accept the takeover bid, pocket the money and live off it. Others, though, don’t want this iconic series to be spoiled by a woke reinvention. They’re not all likeable, and some are turning on the others in a bitter battle for control.
But I’m jumping ahead. This novel actually begins with Jack, in a cabin in the middle of the Atlantic, with a dead body and someone knocking hard on the door. He’s got blood all over him, and there’s no way he isn’t going to be the prime suspect for what has clearly been a murder.
Quite Ugly One Evening is the classic locked-room mystery, with great characters, family rivalry, espionage, murder, and Brookmyre’s own inimitable take on current world politics and contemporary culture wars.
It’s scathing, funny, and deadly, and yet Brookmyre manages to inject it with a personal journey for both Jack and some of the other characters. Though this family are at war, there’s still a bond between them, something Jack has never really had with his own family.
Verdict: Tense, thought-provoking, very funny, and surprisingly tender in places, this is a welcome return to water after 9 years in a desert for Jack Parlabane fans. Once the set-up is established, this murder mystery moves at a cracking pace. The characters are glorious, the set-up is genius. Witty and full of action, this is Brookmyre at his best. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Jack Parlabane, but if it is, it’s a cracking ending!
May 7, 2026
Quite Ugly One Evening is the eighth book in the Jack Parlabane series about a maverick Scottish investigative journalist who can’t stay out of trouble, by one of my favourite authors. The series now spans nearly thirty years, and it’s been about nine years since the last one, so I was excited to find out what Jack’s been up to. Turns out he has not mellowed with age! You don’t need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one, although there are references to various events and characters from his past. This one felt more political than the previous instalments which I’m usually ok with but may deter some readers.
Jack is pushing 60 and struggling to stay relevant in a world where only clicks matter. When an attempted sting goes wrong, he needs a big story to save his job. Offered the opportunity to secretly investigate a decades old murder, he joins a convention cruise across the Atlantic for fans of a 1960s TV puppet show that has been triggering controversy on both sides of the “Culture War”. Going undercover, he starts befriending the large nepotistic family of the show’s creators - but then one of them is killed and he finds himself in the frame. How’s he going to get out this time?
I’ve been reading this series for over twenty years and always enjoyed the mix of black comedy, vicious social commentary and acerbic Scottish humour. Parlabane (and presumably Brookmyre) is unashamedly left wing, and this is all told from his first person present perspective, but I like that he’s got enough self-awareness to skewer the hypocrites on both sides of the political spectrum. Fans of the current leader of the supposedly free world will not appreciate his insights and should probably steer clear. This is in essence locked room mystery, but there’s a lot of digressing and long winded conversations between Jack and the various potential suspects which made it slower than it needed to be. By two thirds in I was getting restless, but then there’s a superb twist which changes everything.
This ends in a way that could mean the end of the series - and the way the title harks back to the first book, Quite Ugly One Morning, is probably a strong hint that this is the case. Brookmyre has been writing a variety of other types of novel, including the spectacular Ambrose Parry historical mystery books, so he may feel it’s time to say goodbye. If so, it’s a fitting send-off for a unique character.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown for the ARC. Quite Ugly One Evening is published today.
Jack is pushing 60 and struggling to stay relevant in a world where only clicks matter. When an attempted sting goes wrong, he needs a big story to save his job. Offered the opportunity to secretly investigate a decades old murder, he joins a convention cruise across the Atlantic for fans of a 1960s TV puppet show that has been triggering controversy on both sides of the “Culture War”. Going undercover, he starts befriending the large nepotistic family of the show’s creators - but then one of them is killed and he finds himself in the frame. How’s he going to get out this time?
I’ve been reading this series for over twenty years and always enjoyed the mix of black comedy, vicious social commentary and acerbic Scottish humour. Parlabane (and presumably Brookmyre) is unashamedly left wing, and this is all told from his first person present perspective, but I like that he’s got enough self-awareness to skewer the hypocrites on both sides of the political spectrum. Fans of the current leader of the supposedly free world will not appreciate his insights and should probably steer clear. This is in essence locked room mystery, but there’s a lot of digressing and long winded conversations between Jack and the various potential suspects which made it slower than it needed to be. By two thirds in I was getting restless, but then there’s a superb twist which changes everything.
This ends in a way that could mean the end of the series - and the way the title harks back to the first book, Quite Ugly One Morning, is probably a strong hint that this is the case. Brookmyre has been writing a variety of other types of novel, including the spectacular Ambrose Parry historical mystery books, so he may feel it’s time to say goodbye. If so, it’s a fitting send-off for a unique character.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown for the ARC. Quite Ugly One Evening is published today.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A locked room mystery on board a cruise ship with Chris Brookmyre at the helm? Sign me up!
When reporter Jack Parlabane is asked to join an anniversary cruise celebrating a puppetry tv show from the 60s, he is sceptical. With a culture war brewing and a family at war, the seas may not be as calm as expected…
I have read a few Chris Brookmyre books, but I had no idea when I started reading that Quite Ugly One Evening is the tenth book in the Jack Parlabane mysteries – a series which started with Quite Ugly One Morning. If I had known the title of the first book, I doubt I would have made that mistake! As it is, this book does work as a standalone in some respects – although I’m sure readers of the series will get a lot more out of the ending reveal than I did!
The story is an odd one, it focuses around a tv series which sounds a lot like Thunderbirds - the original creator has died and all three generations of his family are trying to make the brand relevant again, with wildly differing results. Unfortunately, the family is large, with a lot of interconnected dynamics and political opinions - I ended up having to stop reading at 30% and go back to re-read and focus on who each person was. Aside from Jack, whose narrative voice is the only one we hear from, the rest of the family all seem to have something to hide in order to make them interesting suspects. This meant that I couldn’t find any of them relatable or likeable which was a bit of a shame, and they all seemed to blur together in places. I also found it a bit unrealistic how all of them seemed fine with this random journalist tagging along and included him in so many meetings and private conversations.
The plot is action packed though and I did love Brookmyre’s wry commentary at times with paragraphs that made me laugh out loud in places. As I said before, there’s a big reveal which I’m sure will delight readers of the series, but I did find myself getting a little lost in the complicated plot full of red herrings and false conclusions.
Overall, if you’re a fan of the Jack Parlabane series, then I’m sure Quite Ugly One Evening is a great next instalment. For those unfamiliar, it’s perhaps not the best one to start with – with too many characters and a complicated plot. Thank you to NetGalley & Little Brown Book Group – Abacus for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
When reporter Jack Parlabane is asked to join an anniversary cruise celebrating a puppetry tv show from the 60s, he is sceptical. With a culture war brewing and a family at war, the seas may not be as calm as expected…
I have read a few Chris Brookmyre books, but I had no idea when I started reading that Quite Ugly One Evening is the tenth book in the Jack Parlabane mysteries – a series which started with Quite Ugly One Morning. If I had known the title of the first book, I doubt I would have made that mistake! As it is, this book does work as a standalone in some respects – although I’m sure readers of the series will get a lot more out of the ending reveal than I did!
The story is an odd one, it focuses around a tv series which sounds a lot like Thunderbirds - the original creator has died and all three generations of his family are trying to make the brand relevant again, with wildly differing results. Unfortunately, the family is large, with a lot of interconnected dynamics and political opinions - I ended up having to stop reading at 30% and go back to re-read and focus on who each person was. Aside from Jack, whose narrative voice is the only one we hear from, the rest of the family all seem to have something to hide in order to make them interesting suspects. This meant that I couldn’t find any of them relatable or likeable which was a bit of a shame, and they all seemed to blur together in places. I also found it a bit unrealistic how all of them seemed fine with this random journalist tagging along and included him in so many meetings and private conversations.
The plot is action packed though and I did love Brookmyre’s wry commentary at times with paragraphs that made me laugh out loud in places. As I said before, there’s a big reveal which I’m sure will delight readers of the series, but I did find myself getting a little lost in the complicated plot full of red herrings and false conclusions.
Overall, if you’re a fan of the Jack Parlabane series, then I’m sure Quite Ugly One Evening is a great next instalment. For those unfamiliar, it’s perhaps not the best one to start with – with too many characters and a complicated plot. Thank you to NetGalley & Little Brown Book Group – Abacus for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 4.2/5
I was quite a late arrival at the Chris Brookmyre party. I hadn't read any of his work until five years ago when he brought out "The Cut". I loved it and have read everything he has published since then. However, that does mean that I have not encountered the character of Jack Parlabane previously, although he has already featured in a number of the author's books over the past thirty years. Much as I have come to love Chris Brookmyre's writing, I did have a niggling worry that being unfamiliar with an already established central character may marr my enjoyment of "Quite Ugly One Evening". If any prospective readers find themselves faced with a similar quandary, I can happily inform you that it didn't hamper my reading experience one jot and this can quite easily be read as a standalone story.
Maverick journalist, Jack Parlabane, finds himself somewhere in the North Atlantic on a giant ocean liner that is hosting a fan convention for a puppet series from the 1960s that bears an uncanny resemblance to Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's "Thunderbirds". The series and the family behind it have had their troubles over the years, not least because many of its themes no longer seem to sit well with all sections of modern society. So, it wouldn't be surprising that an investigative journalist may find this worthy of attendance - but that isn't why Jack Parlabane is on board and it isn't long before he wishes he was anywhere but here.
As well as being a cleverly constructed mystery, "Quite Ugly One Evening" contains the acerbic wit and socio-political observations that Chris Brookmyre is known for. There is quite a list of dramatis personae and it does take a little while for the reader to become comfortable with precisely who is who. However, the characterisation is top notch and, although everyone contained within the pages of this book is purely a fictional creation, there will be some real life personalities who you may think have provided the inspiration for them. One of the things that differentiates and elevates this novel when compared with many others from the same genre, is that Chris Brookmyre not only recognises the importance of having an engaging and captivating central protagonist, but he also delivers precisely that in the form of Jack Parlabane.
This is yet another highly entertaining read from Chris Brookmyre and I have no doubt I will be returning for his next offering too.
I was quite a late arrival at the Chris Brookmyre party. I hadn't read any of his work until five years ago when he brought out "The Cut". I loved it and have read everything he has published since then. However, that does mean that I have not encountered the character of Jack Parlabane previously, although he has already featured in a number of the author's books over the past thirty years. Much as I have come to love Chris Brookmyre's writing, I did have a niggling worry that being unfamiliar with an already established central character may marr my enjoyment of "Quite Ugly One Evening". If any prospective readers find themselves faced with a similar quandary, I can happily inform you that it didn't hamper my reading experience one jot and this can quite easily be read as a standalone story.
Maverick journalist, Jack Parlabane, finds himself somewhere in the North Atlantic on a giant ocean liner that is hosting a fan convention for a puppet series from the 1960s that bears an uncanny resemblance to Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's "Thunderbirds". The series and the family behind it have had their troubles over the years, not least because many of its themes no longer seem to sit well with all sections of modern society. So, it wouldn't be surprising that an investigative journalist may find this worthy of attendance - but that isn't why Jack Parlabane is on board and it isn't long before he wishes he was anywhere but here.
As well as being a cleverly constructed mystery, "Quite Ugly One Evening" contains the acerbic wit and socio-political observations that Chris Brookmyre is known for. There is quite a list of dramatis personae and it does take a little while for the reader to become comfortable with precisely who is who. However, the characterisation is top notch and, although everyone contained within the pages of this book is purely a fictional creation, there will be some real life personalities who you may think have provided the inspiration for them. One of the things that differentiates and elevates this novel when compared with many others from the same genre, is that Chris Brookmyre not only recognises the importance of having an engaging and captivating central protagonist, but he also delivers precisely that in the form of Jack Parlabane.
This is yet another highly entertaining read from Chris Brookmyre and I have no doubt I will be returning for his next offering too.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I had no idea the title referred to the author’s first Jack Parlabane book ‘Quite Ugly One Morning’. I haven’t read any of the books of this series about an investigative journalist, only the standalones. I was drawn to this novel because it promised me a locked room mystery so I simply jumped right in and frankly it didn’t pose any problems, I was able to follow just fine.
Jack finds himself in quite a predicament at the start of the novel so my level of excitement was quite high from the very beginning but then the story moved onto the corporation The Imaginators, and the reason why Jack finds himself on the Atlantic Queen going undercover on a fan cruise and I completely lost sight of how it had all started until it came roaring back. I quite enjoy novels that go full circle and then take it from there.
What I did struggle with a little at the beginning was the cast. There weren’t any introductions and the who’s who of the big Maskyn family (10+ persons) confused me at first so I had to draw a family tree. Eliza and Neville Maskyn were the founders of the 60’s puppet show, they have 4 children of which two present with their husbands and there are 4 grown grandchildren. It looks easy now but with just names being thrown around it wasn’t clear at first who the children or grandchildren were. The family business is under attack because nowadays it is not woke enough so they have to vote if they want to sell the company or not. It is only the beginning because there are twists and turns, there’s murder and of course there are Russians aboard so are they involved? Meanwhile Jack’s assignment is actually to investigate the disappearance of someone who was acquainted to the family over 40 years earlier and he’s not getting anywhere. It’s not that he doesn’t have enough to sink his teeth in but I did wonder and this storyline certainly delivered in the end, as much as finding out who the murderer was on board that ship. I was pleasantly surprised with the revelations in both storylines. No way you’ll guess both!
I enjoyed the novel as a whole but I enjoyed it more from the second half where there was less talk and more action. Who would have thought? Anyway, if you like a complex mystery in Brookmyre’s signatory style then this one won’t disappoint.
Jack finds himself in quite a predicament at the start of the novel so my level of excitement was quite high from the very beginning but then the story moved onto the corporation The Imaginators, and the reason why Jack finds himself on the Atlantic Queen going undercover on a fan cruise and I completely lost sight of how it had all started until it came roaring back. I quite enjoy novels that go full circle and then take it from there.
What I did struggle with a little at the beginning was the cast. There weren’t any introductions and the who’s who of the big Maskyn family (10+ persons) confused me at first so I had to draw a family tree. Eliza and Neville Maskyn were the founders of the 60’s puppet show, they have 4 children of which two present with their husbands and there are 4 grown grandchildren. It looks easy now but with just names being thrown around it wasn’t clear at first who the children or grandchildren were. The family business is under attack because nowadays it is not woke enough so they have to vote if they want to sell the company or not. It is only the beginning because there are twists and turns, there’s murder and of course there are Russians aboard so are they involved? Meanwhile Jack’s assignment is actually to investigate the disappearance of someone who was acquainted to the family over 40 years earlier and he’s not getting anywhere. It’s not that he doesn’t have enough to sink his teeth in but I did wonder and this storyline certainly delivered in the end, as much as finding out who the murderer was on board that ship. I was pleasantly surprised with the revelations in both storylines. No way you’ll guess both!
I enjoyed the novel as a whole but I enjoyed it more from the second half where there was less talk and more action. Who would have thought? Anyway, if you like a complex mystery in Brookmyre’s signatory style then this one won’t disappoint.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Before I start I should probably say that Chris Brookmyre is one of my very favourite authors, and Quite Ugly One Morning is probably my favourite of his previous books (although that is a very competitive field as I have literally loved everything he has ever written). So, it is safe to say that I was very excited to get an advance copy of Quite Ugly One Evening!
While I usually rush through my books (the reason I prefer crime is because it is so pacy) with Brookmyre I like to read more slowly and savour every word. His writing style is soooooo good it would be a travesty to miss any of it. This is a Jack Parlabane novel, so I knew I would like it, but boy how much did I love it! Without giving any spoilers, this is vintage Parlabane and delivers everything fans would want. Thirty years on from his first appearance, Jack is older but not necessarily wiser. He learns a lot about himself during this book and it is interesting to see how that affects him, but he is still very much the combative and hotheaded Jack we know and love. Even if this is your first Brookmyre novel, it is still an excellent story with lots to love, but being familiar with the character of Jack does add an extra layer of enjoyment.
The plot revolves around a luxury cruise, to celebrate the Maskyn family, who are the creators of a children's programme (a la Thunderbirds) which has a special place in the hearts of those who grew up with it, but is struggling to adapt to the 21st century. This causes divisions within the family and there is a battle for control of the company behind the scenes, while the public celebrations continue. There is the usual mix of politics and violence, which are always part of a Brookmyre novel, and the whole builds to a satisfying conclusion.
What more can I say? It was great, I loved it and, as ever, I can't wait for the next one!
Thank you to the publishers for letting me have a copy via NetGalley, in return for an honest review.
While I usually rush through my books (the reason I prefer crime is because it is so pacy) with Brookmyre I like to read more slowly and savour every word. His writing style is soooooo good it would be a travesty to miss any of it. This is a Jack Parlabane novel, so I knew I would like it, but boy how much did I love it! Without giving any spoilers, this is vintage Parlabane and delivers everything fans would want. Thirty years on from his first appearance, Jack is older but not necessarily wiser. He learns a lot about himself during this book and it is interesting to see how that affects him, but he is still very much the combative and hotheaded Jack we know and love. Even if this is your first Brookmyre novel, it is still an excellent story with lots to love, but being familiar with the character of Jack does add an extra layer of enjoyment.
The plot revolves around a luxury cruise, to celebrate the Maskyn family, who are the creators of a children's programme (a la Thunderbirds) which has a special place in the hearts of those who grew up with it, but is struggling to adapt to the 21st century. This causes divisions within the family and there is a battle for control of the company behind the scenes, while the public celebrations continue. There is the usual mix of politics and violence, which are always part of a Brookmyre novel, and the whole builds to a satisfying conclusion.
What more can I say? It was great, I loved it and, as ever, I can't wait for the next one!
Thank you to the publishers for letting me have a copy via NetGalley, in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Quite Ugly One Evening
This was a real page turner of a mystery.
Jack Parlabane is desperately hanging onto his career as an investigative journalist when he takes on the job of investigating the murder of a British secret agent. Despite hating the sea and ships, this takes him on a voyage across the Atlantic as he becomes part of a fan convention for a beloved TV show that has become part of modern culture wars.
I loved this story from the dramatic opening when Jack is in danger of being killed to the amazingly plotted conclusion.
There is an extensive cast of characters and it was a bit tricky to keep all of the relationships straight to begin with - a family tree would have been helpful. However, once the characters became established, things flowed more easily.
I really liked the way that at first many of the characters were almost caricatures but as the novel progressed we began to see that they did have a lot more depth to them than at first appeared. This also applied to Jack too as he also went through a voyage of self discovery as he travelled across the ocean.
The mystery is closely linked to the modern culture controversies and the author pulled no punches in showing us how destructive this is for our society. There were one or two times when my eyes started to glaze over the complicated discussions or exposition but generally this was a fast paced novel that I didn’t want to put down.
I loved the conclusion and how the events built up to it so perfectly and the characters have taken up residence in my head for a few days which is always the mark of a well written book.
Although this is part of a series of novels featuring Jack Parlabane, it works perfectly as a stand alone and not having read any of the earlier books didn’t affect my enjoyment at all.
Huge thanks as always to Net Galley and the publishers, Little Brown Book Group UK, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was a real page turner of a mystery.
Jack Parlabane is desperately hanging onto his career as an investigative journalist when he takes on the job of investigating the murder of a British secret agent. Despite hating the sea and ships, this takes him on a voyage across the Atlantic as he becomes part of a fan convention for a beloved TV show that has become part of modern culture wars.
I loved this story from the dramatic opening when Jack is in danger of being killed to the amazingly plotted conclusion.
There is an extensive cast of characters and it was a bit tricky to keep all of the relationships straight to begin with - a family tree would have been helpful. However, once the characters became established, things flowed more easily.
I really liked the way that at first many of the characters were almost caricatures but as the novel progressed we began to see that they did have a lot more depth to them than at first appeared. This also applied to Jack too as he also went through a voyage of self discovery as he travelled across the ocean.
The mystery is closely linked to the modern culture controversies and the author pulled no punches in showing us how destructive this is for our society. There were one or two times when my eyes started to glaze over the complicated discussions or exposition but generally this was a fast paced novel that I didn’t want to put down.
I loved the conclusion and how the events built up to it so perfectly and the characters have taken up residence in my head for a few days which is always the mark of a well written book.
Although this is part of a series of novels featuring Jack Parlabane, it works perfectly as a stand alone and not having read any of the earlier books didn’t affect my enjoyment at all.
Huge thanks as always to Net Galley and the publishers, Little Brown Book Group UK, for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest 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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jack Parlabane is back and he's in a lot of trouble. So nothing new there then. His career is teetering on the edge of oblivion, his personal life isn't any better and now he's been asked to get on a ship to find out what happened to an MI5 agent decades ago. So nothing too difficult then?
As if that's not bad enough he's going to have to infiltrate a famous family, dodge Russians and Maga chuds, keep his true identity quiet and stay out of the way of a man who can tank his career. Oh and there's trying to dodge murderers and police thrown in just to stop things getting dull.
To add to the mayhem the family at the heart of the novel are the Maskyns, who brought the wildly popular Imaginators to the small screen way back when Jack was a boy. Unfortunately as a relaunch looms there are two opposing camps as part of the family wants a CGI update and the other half wants to keep the original puppet animation. Fans are equally divided and a new player wanting to throw his weight behind the anti-woke re-boot is just about to emerge, which will threaten the best laid plans of all involved.
This is Brookmyre's first Parlabane novel in 9 years and its good to have the irascible journo back again. The novel is, at the heart, a locked room mystery, being set almost entirely on board a cruise ship. Jack's terrible sense of direction certainly doesn't help him as he tries to solve a murder while ducking the Police in the guise of retired Superintendent Gardner.
Confession: I read all the early books but lost touch with Jack back in 2015 after Dead Girl Walking and note that I've several I missed before that. However he was my first introduction to the excellent Mr Brookmyre's books which have provided me 40 years of joy.
Highly recommended.
Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Lilly Cox @ LittleBrown for the digital review copy. Most appreciated.
As if that's not bad enough he's going to have to infiltrate a famous family, dodge Russians and Maga chuds, keep his true identity quiet and stay out of the way of a man who can tank his career. Oh and there's trying to dodge murderers and police thrown in just to stop things getting dull.
To add to the mayhem the family at the heart of the novel are the Maskyns, who brought the wildly popular Imaginators to the small screen way back when Jack was a boy. Unfortunately as a relaunch looms there are two opposing camps as part of the family wants a CGI update and the other half wants to keep the original puppet animation. Fans are equally divided and a new player wanting to throw his weight behind the anti-woke re-boot is just about to emerge, which will threaten the best laid plans of all involved.
This is Brookmyre's first Parlabane novel in 9 years and its good to have the irascible journo back again. The novel is, at the heart, a locked room mystery, being set almost entirely on board a cruise ship. Jack's terrible sense of direction certainly doesn't help him as he tries to solve a murder while ducking the Police in the guise of retired Superintendent Gardner.
Confession: I read all the early books but lost touch with Jack back in 2015 after Dead Girl Walking and note that I've several I missed before that. However he was my first introduction to the excellent Mr Brookmyre's books which have provided me 40 years of joy.
Highly recommended.
Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Lilly Cox @ LittleBrown for the digital review copy. Most appreciated.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jack Parlabane returns for his 9th outing in a thoroughly enjoyable, amusing and well thought out mystery thriller, with a few twists thrown in for good measure.
I read the first installment in this series, the similarly named 'Quiet One Ugly Morning' which was occasionally gruesome but plenty of humour. Jack wasnt exactly a loveable rogue, however in this story I found myself sympathising with him alot.
The story starts with Jack on a cruise ship, covered in blood in a cabin with a dead body at his feet. The majority of the book is the lead up to how he got himself into this situation.
In the 1960's, the Maskyn family created the hugely successful Imaginators TV series, made using puppets, which I pictured to be very similarly to the likes of The Thunderbirds. The Maskyns have lived off the back of that success ever since and are now hoping to reboot the series for the modern age. Though there are some fans against the idea of a new 'woke' version of a beloved classic.
Jack is hired to investigate if member of the Maskyn family has links to a Russian spy and is invited aboard a cruise ship on which the family are hosting a fan convention to celebrate 60th anniversary of The Imaginators.
Jack is charming and charismatic, the entire cast of characters are rich and diverse. I really enjoyed taking the cruise along with them all.
I don't believe you need to have read any of the other books in this series though there are a couple of references to book one, which I do recommend anyway.
I would like to convey my thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the chance to review this novel. All opinions are my own.
Quiet Ugly One Evening is due to be released on 7th May 2026.
I read the first installment in this series, the similarly named 'Quiet One Ugly Morning' which was occasionally gruesome but plenty of humour. Jack wasnt exactly a loveable rogue, however in this story I found myself sympathising with him alot.
The story starts with Jack on a cruise ship, covered in blood in a cabin with a dead body at his feet. The majority of the book is the lead up to how he got himself into this situation.
In the 1960's, the Maskyn family created the hugely successful Imaginators TV series, made using puppets, which I pictured to be very similarly to the likes of The Thunderbirds. The Maskyns have lived off the back of that success ever since and are now hoping to reboot the series for the modern age. Though there are some fans against the idea of a new 'woke' version of a beloved classic.
Jack is hired to investigate if member of the Maskyn family has links to a Russian spy and is invited aboard a cruise ship on which the family are hosting a fan convention to celebrate 60th anniversary of The Imaginators.
Jack is charming and charismatic, the entire cast of characters are rich and diverse. I really enjoyed taking the cruise along with them all.
I don't believe you need to have read any of the other books in this series though there are a couple of references to book one, which I do recommend anyway.
I would like to convey my thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for the chance to review this novel. All opinions are my own.
Quiet Ugly One Evening is due to be released on 7th May 2026.
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jack Parlabane #10
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 shows 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 already 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 blood. Now Jack has to solve two murders, otherwise the only way he is getting off this ship is in handcuffs - or in a body bag.
Jack Parlabane is an investigative journalist who is approached by someone at MI5 to investigate the decades old deathn of an undercover agent. He joins a transatlantic cruise liner that's hosting a convention for the 1960s TV show.
Although this book is part of a series, it does read well as a standalone. The story is told from Jack's perspective. The family of the deceased man all seem to have something to hide. None of them were likeable either. There were some parts of this story that made me laugh out loud. This twisted read has red herrings, a perfectly set pace, false conclusions, and a complicated plot. What more could you ask for?
Published 7th May 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #ChrisBrookmyre for my ARC of #QuiteUglyOneevening in exchange for an honest review.
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 shows 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 already 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 blood. Now Jack has to solve two murders, otherwise the only way he is getting off this ship is in handcuffs - or in a body bag.
Jack Parlabane is an investigative journalist who is approached by someone at MI5 to investigate the decades old deathn of an undercover agent. He joins a transatlantic cruise liner that's hosting a convention for the 1960s TV show.
Although this book is part of a series, it does read well as a standalone. The story is told from Jack's perspective. The family of the deceased man all seem to have something to hide. None of them were likeable either. There were some parts of this story that made me laugh out loud. This twisted read has red herrings, a perfectly set pace, false conclusions, and a complicated plot. What more could you ask for?
Published 7th May 2026
I would like to thank #NetGalley #LittleBrownBookGroupUK and the author #ChrisBrookmyre for my ARC of #QuiteUglyOneevening in exchange for an honest review.
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
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My thanks to Chris and NetGalley for allowing me to read Quite Ugly One Evening prior to the publication date.
This is a locked room(ship) mystery with the story playing out over 7 days.
Journalist Jack Parlabane’s career is hanging by a thread after his planned sting of a reality TV contestant went
horribly wrong.
Approached by a member of the security services, Jack is blackmailed into co-operating with them.
He has to use his investigative skills to determine what happened 40 years earlier to an agent, Simeon Wickham.
Wickham had been investigating links between the Maskyn family and the Russians when he disappeared.
The Maskyn family shot to fame when they made a puppet show, The Imaginators.
Over the years, the business has seen highs and lows as offshoots were created to meet market demand.
Now the family are at war. The younger generations of the family want to rewrite the show to comply with the cultural standards of today, but the fan base that supports the business don’t want the changes.
There is a 60th Anniversary Convention for the show on a cruise liner heading for the USA.
Jack is booked on the cruise where he sets out to learn more about the family.
He should have packed a lie detector as each member has at least 2 personas.
The author uses the 60th anniversary of the Imaginators puppet show to discuss the cultural differences since the show was first made and the current day.
It would have been helpful to have a family tree for the extended Maskyn family, particularly as they have unusual and androgenous names.
This is a locked room(ship) mystery with the story playing out over 7 days.
Journalist Jack Parlabane’s career is hanging by a thread after his planned sting of a reality TV contestant went
horribly wrong.
Approached by a member of the security services, Jack is blackmailed into co-operating with them.
He has to use his investigative skills to determine what happened 40 years earlier to an agent, Simeon Wickham.
Wickham had been investigating links between the Maskyn family and the Russians when he disappeared.
The Maskyn family shot to fame when they made a puppet show, The Imaginators.
Over the years, the business has seen highs and lows as offshoots were created to meet market demand.
Now the family are at war. The younger generations of the family want to rewrite the show to comply with the cultural standards of today, but the fan base that supports the business don’t want the changes.
There is a 60th Anniversary Convention for the show on a cruise liner heading for the USA.
Jack is booked on the cruise where he sets out to learn more about the family.
He should have packed a lie detector as each member has at least 2 personas.
The author uses the 60th anniversary of the Imaginators puppet show to discuss the cultural differences since the show was first made and the current day.
It would have been helpful to have a family tree for the extended Maskyn family, particularly as they have unusual and androgenous names.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have recently read the first book in this series, and I think it helped, as I have now read the latest. Jack Parlabane is an investigative reporter; he is not in the good books with his bosses at the moment, so when he gets an offer to look into a murder from years ago, he decides it might just gain him some brownie points.
So he sets sail, quite literally, the death involved a member of a family that produced a TV series, and there is a fan convention on board a ship. This means, hopefully, that having all the family there will allow Jack to open a conversation and try to flush out some answers. All is good until Jack finds himself in the middle of a murder!
I really enjoyed this book, having a basic glimpse into the life of Jack from the first book. This story is about an old murder, a family that is, well... toxic, for want of a better word. When death, family, and toxic relationships are thrown together, you know there is going to be more to follow, and follow it does in this story. Secrets, misdirection, a takeover bid, and some huge revelations are just the tip of the iceberg. Jack pursues his story but also discovers some interesting things along the way, some of which are a shock indeed.
This is quite a complex murder mystery story, but one that is laid out well, so it is not confusing; it is only as I write this review that I realise how many layers and twists there are. If you are a fan of stories that are procedural as far as gaining the truth and the facts, then this is one I would be very happy to recommend.
So he sets sail, quite literally, the death involved a member of a family that produced a TV series, and there is a fan convention on board a ship. This means, hopefully, that having all the family there will allow Jack to open a conversation and try to flush out some answers. All is good until Jack finds himself in the middle of a murder!
I really enjoyed this book, having a basic glimpse into the life of Jack from the first book. This story is about an old murder, a family that is, well... toxic, for want of a better word. When death, family, and toxic relationships are thrown together, you know there is going to be more to follow, and follow it does in this story. Secrets, misdirection, a takeover bid, and some huge revelations are just the tip of the iceberg. Jack pursues his story but also discovers some interesting things along the way, some of which are a shock indeed.
This is quite a complex murder mystery story, but one that is laid out well, so it is not confusing; it is only as I write this review that I realise how many layers and twists there are. If you are a fan of stories that are procedural as far as gaining the truth and the facts, then this is one I would be very happy to recommend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Quite Ugly One Evening by Chris Brookmyre
Having read other books featuring Jack Parlabane I was looking forward to reading this novel. The story begins with Jack’s career being put in jeopardy by trying to set up a woman with right wing attitudes only to find that he has been filmed attempting the set up. He has also just buried his mother and is dealing with all of the issues which this entails.
He is persuaded against his better judgement and against advice from a friend to join a fan convention aboard a cruise liner. The convention is all about a 1960’s TV series which is in the media due to its out-of-date views on race and equality. The right-wing fans are trying to highjack the themes for their cause and the family are attempting to exploit financially their renewed fame.
As always Jack sails close to the wind in all of his activities and it is unsurprising when he becomes embroiled in the murder. The title of the story reflects the initial story to feature Jack Parlabane Quite Ugly One Morning and brings his story to a conclusion.
Having said that you do not need to have read the previous 7 novels in order to enjoy this one, but I would recommend some of them in particular such as The Black Widow. He deals with current political issues in the novel and characters in the book resemble some people currently in the news.
I will be recommending this book to my various book groups and would like to thnk the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
Having read other books featuring Jack Parlabane I was looking forward to reading this novel. The story begins with Jack’s career being put in jeopardy by trying to set up a woman with right wing attitudes only to find that he has been filmed attempting the set up. He has also just buried his mother and is dealing with all of the issues which this entails.
He is persuaded against his better judgement and against advice from a friend to join a fan convention aboard a cruise liner. The convention is all about a 1960’s TV series which is in the media due to its out-of-date views on race and equality. The right-wing fans are trying to highjack the themes for their cause and the family are attempting to exploit financially their renewed fame.
As always Jack sails close to the wind in all of his activities and it is unsurprising when he becomes embroiled in the murder. The title of the story reflects the initial story to feature Jack Parlabane Quite Ugly One Morning and brings his story to a conclusion.
Having said that you do not need to have read the previous 7 novels in order to enjoy this one, but I would recommend some of them in particular such as The Black Widow. He deals with current political issues in the novel and characters in the book resemble some people currently in the news.
I will be recommending this book to my various book groups and would like to thnk the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Quite Ugly One Evening is the first Chris Brookymre book I’ve read, and so also the first book I’ve read in the Jack Parlabane series. For me, I didn’t feel that I missed anything crucial having not read others in the series.
Jack is on a cruise ship, undercover, instructed by MI5 to find out more about a certain man. - possibly a Russian spy - who was killed years ago. Jack is trying to ingratiate himself into the wealthy Maskyn family to find out more, which takes up a good chunk of the book, before a murder (which we actually learn about right at the start of the book) happens.
From then on the pace picks up and Jack has to not only clear his name but find out who did it and how this all links to the man he’s been sent to find out more about.
The storyline is a great mix of mystery and thriller, with humorous observations and topical references that I really enjoyed. I did find myself losing track of the characters at some points, especially the Maskyn family, as there was a lot of them with different relationships to each other and to the family business, so that took me slightly out of the story sometimes. A family tree would have come in handy! The family were also, on the whole, fairly unlikable as characters, but this added to the drama and tension.
Quite Ugly One Evening can definitely be read as a standalone novel, but I’m sure if you’ve read others in the series you might get even more out of it! It’s very enjoyable as it is.
Jack is on a cruise ship, undercover, instructed by MI5 to find out more about a certain man. - possibly a Russian spy - who was killed years ago. Jack is trying to ingratiate himself into the wealthy Maskyn family to find out more, which takes up a good chunk of the book, before a murder (which we actually learn about right at the start of the book) happens.
From then on the pace picks up and Jack has to not only clear his name but find out who did it and how this all links to the man he’s been sent to find out more about.
The storyline is a great mix of mystery and thriller, with humorous observations and topical references that I really enjoyed. I did find myself losing track of the characters at some points, especially the Maskyn family, as there was a lot of them with different relationships to each other and to the family business, so that took me slightly out of the story sometimes. A family tree would have come in handy! The family were also, on the whole, fairly unlikable as characters, but this added to the drama and tension.
Quite Ugly One Evening can definitely be read as a standalone novel, but I’m sure if you’ve read others in the series you might get even more out of it! It’s very enjoyable as it is.
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.
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