The Strange Attractor

by Desmond Cory

Winner of the Sunday Times' Best Crime novel of the year, Desmond Cory returns with a near-perfect mystery novel , written with intelligence and laced with wit.For John Dobie, absent-minded maths professor, the death of a student provokes bewilderment, but little else. Who was Sammy Cantwell, after all?But being drugged, tied up and made witness to another murder forces his usually dormant curiosity, especially when the murdered woman turns out to be his errant wife.With the discovery of a second murdered woman in his bed in the space of a few hours, it is obvious he needs help. The police? No, help from someone with sense. Who better than the ex-student's agreeable landlady, pathologist Kate Coyle, to mould him, albeit unwillingly, into amateur sleuth?"Rich in wonders of computers and intangibles. Wry, scatty with a decisive byte" SUNDAY TIMES"A gas - even for high-tech dunces" THE GUARDIAN"Cory goes in for complex plots, but the joy of the book lies in the wit of its writing" TABLET

Genres: Mystery

192 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 1992

Reviews

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading Desmond Cory and I found his humor and quirkiness invigorating. I loved when the facts would be presented and then turn out to be totally different from the facts. It was a fun read with puzzling puzzles and the characters were well written and totally individual in character. The professor was a bit illogical to me, he was a hard man to pin down in the likability scale, but he did indeed win me over right about the time things started to get confusing.

You have to like a man that can face the confusion of a convoluted crime and survive wits intact. I realized that this was to be series and I was happy to hear that. There is more of this character to go around. I found the Strange Attractor to be a fun and interesting read and one I enjoyed figuring out. I did not figure this mystery out until it was told to me. That is the norm for me, but it sure kept me fascinated.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: THE STRANGE ATTRACTOR by Desmond Cory

THE STRANGE ATTRACTOR is in the tradition of the classic British whodunit, with its own delightful twists and divergences. Welsh Mathematics Professor John Dobie, age 48, is no Hercule Poirot--rather more like Columbo. Insulated from contemporary culture and from students, faculty, and social life, Dobie is nonetheless the possessor of a high intellect and much more imagination than is usually suspected of a mathematician. Most don't know that, though, and so he is readily drawn into a web of deceit, deception, and multiple murders, for which he quickly becomes the chief suspect of the ridiculous Detective Superintendent, whose incompetence is farcical. Don't expect a DS as intelligent as for example, Duncan Kincaid. This one is clownish, and subsequently a fine foil for the actual detection, carried on by Professor Dobie.

[Christie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good mystery; throw in a little murder and I’m hooked. In Desmond Cory’s first book in the Professor Dobie series – The Strange Attractor – he delivers just that.

John Dobie is a math professor who becomes entangled in a mystery when he is drugged and tied up and then forced to witness a murder. When the murdered victim turns out to be his estranged wife, in addition to the finding of another murdered woman in his bed only hours later, he becomes a prime suspect in the opinion of the police. This was all following the apparent suicide of one of his students. Now Professor Dobie, with the help of a love interest – pathologist Kate Coyle – he must become an amateur sleuth in order to solve the murders and the seemingly unrelated suicide that he thinks foul play had a hand in.

What appeals most to me about this novel is that the murders are very puzzling and the professor solves these puzzles in a very logical way. It also appealed to me that the book was not too long. I also enjoyed that there was just enough suspense that had me wanting to turn the pages but not enough that it went over my head.

Any lover of true mysteries is sure to love this book as much as I did.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the strangest mystery stories I have ever read a professor dough be finds out one of his students who he doesn’t even remember committed suicide he becomes curious about the case and one thing leads to another his wife gets murdered but she wasn’t the only one in danger and no one can really get the story straight especially Professor Dovey. I know this isn’t the greatest summary but you must read the spot this is one crazy smartly done humorous mystery. I absolutely couldn’t wait to read it and what I started found it hard to put down a definite five star read and a must read for mystery fans. I absolutely love this book! I receive it from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes I am blind and dictate my review.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

`Who is Susan Strange? You mentioned her before.'

Fascinating to find that 24 years after the 1991 publication of Desmond Cory's novel THE STRANGE ATTRACTOR it has survived to the point of becoming a Kindle book. Probably Cory with his futuristic imagination knew his books would survive the myriad permutations of the publishing world. For those who may not remember, Desmond Cory is a pseudonym used by British mystery/thriller writer Shaun Lloyd McCarthy (Lancing, Sussex, February 16, 1928 - January 2001) - a writer whose novels were overshadowed by Ian Fleming's mega-success with the 007 series. THE STRANGE ATTRACTOR is the first in the PROFESSOR DOBIE SERIES - the others being THE MASK OF ZEUS and THE DOBIE PARADOX. With the addition of John Dobie, `a Welsh professor of mathematics who solves cases by developing syllogistic chains on an IBM computer' as a main character, the public came to expect even more from Cory's colorful action, copious carnage, elaborate intrigue, frequent surprises. Now available to an even wider audience thanks to the Kindle format, Desmond Cory's characters once again some stage forward as stars of the mystery/thriller mode.

As is expected in Cory's works, he provides a synopsis worthy of being included in the novel: ``Jackson?' `Sir?' `What's a pundit?' `I think it's one of them Indian geezers, sir, as comes up and strangles you from behind.' `Yes, that sounds very likely.' With policemen around like Detective-Inspector Michael Jackson (a.k.a. Wacko Jacko), who, you may reasonably ask, needs a detective? Of the many perplexing puzzles here facing the gentle reader, this is almost the only one that permits of a ready answer. Dobie isn't an Indian geezer - in fact he's a professor of mathematics - and he hasn't strangled anyone from behind, or at least not lately. But when his errant wife and friend are both spectacularly bopped one dark and stormy evening, he is not only a witness to the event but a principal suspect. His search for the true mastermind behind these BRUTAL SLAYINGS, a sinister figure known to him only as Agatha Christie, leads him to the in-house clinic of Dr Kate Coyle, pathologist extraordinaire, to the hi-tech administrative offices of Corder Acoustics Ltd (where everyone else appears to him to be equally extraordinaire), and finally to the murky depths of an IBM computer, into which he disappears as into a Baskervillean boghole. His mission: to VERIFY the murderer's identity and CANCEL. No easy task, with Wacko Jacko hard on his heels and with Agatha Christie spinning an elaborate web of total befuddlement. A previous murder has to be uncovered, and an industrial spinach network (as Jackson would call it) unraveled, and then of course there's Sinful Susan lurking in the background... To say nothing of the strange attractor...'

Class, Style, Wit and fabulous reading here, and we can only hope that all of Desmond Cory's novels are to be re-released in Kindle format! Highly Recommended

[Charlie Latham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I feel like I’ve been slightly blown away by this book.

A great mix of humour and thoughtfulness. Definitely a very funny read, that had me giggling multiple times.

This is a incredibly gripping murder mystery novel that keeps you guessing right up until the end. The way it is written is very clever and it keeps an air of believability and likelihood which some authors don’t manage to keep as well as Desmond has.

The lead character must solve a series of murders that are all somehow related, but it isn’t until the end that you realise quite just how these all came about.

Full of plot twists and unexpected twists and turns, I was intrigued throughout the entire read and I finished the book feeling content at the way all the questions had been answered and the loose ends tied up.

I can’t wait to read the other two in the series.

[Elizabeth Alsobrooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character of this story reminded me of the Tell-Tale Heart narrator. Not that math prof John Dobie is crazy (or the killer), but Shaun McCarthy (aka Desmond Cory) gets the reader so solidly into his head they can actually experience the intellectual genius personality of a man who is so engrossed in his mathematical world-view he is out of step with the rest of the world, or the norms by which others perceive and react. It makes him the perfect logic-only amateur sleuth, and his no-clue bumbling and odd social quirkiness.

When one of his students commits suicide, he can't even recall the student, but finds it interesting that there seems to be no logical reason for the act. The total irony of how and why he is motivated reflects nerd to today's audience. Though this book was published in 1991, readers can still relate to the mystery and plot. Some characterizations may seem a bit outdated, but when one recalls Cory wrote during the reign of the 007 series, it makes sense.

Cory did, in fact, help spawn the "Spy Novel" genre, with his Johnny Fedora novels - spy thrillers set in the world of the secret agent. His Lindy Grey novels - detective puzzlers featuring a charismatic protagonist were preceded by his Mr. Pilgrim novels - which introduced Cory’s readers to life behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. Then there were some of my favorites, his Psychological thrillers – which achieved great success, some being made into TV series and movies by 20th Century Fox (featuring international celebrities such as Michael Caine in "Deadfall"). Which brings us to his Prof. John Dobie series- a Mathematics professor embroiled in many ingenious (and humorous) mystery murders.

Cory wrote over 45 thriller/detective novels published in over 10 languages (winning accolades such as the Sunday Times' Best Crime novel of the year, and Crime Critic’s choice of the year).

The Strange Attractor is the first in Cory's 3 book Prof. John Dobie mystery series. It's witty dialogue, and entertaining nerd sleuth have me eager to read the next two.

Book Bling gives this FIVE STARS!

[C.J. Anaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This murder mystery was not what I expected, but it deviated from my expectations in a most pleasing and surprising way. The idea that a mathematician, using his vast knowledge of abstract math to solve the murder of his wife and his wife's best friend was an original approach to a genre that tends to follow specific writing formulas and expectations.

Dobie appears to be a rather awkward, boring individual at first, but a keen mind, sharp intellect and admirable persistence soon surfaces as he relentlessly pursues the identity of the killer, an identity that eludes him much to his frustration. There were some brilliant moments of levity in this book, especially because Dobie so unintentionally delivered most of those moments, making the snappy, fast-paced dialogue that much more humorous. Jackson and Kate add to the hilarity with their own surprisingly dry and bewildered reactions to him. The normal response to someone under a murder suspicion is to be...well...suspicious of them. Kate takes Dobie under her wing, and Jackson doesn't really know what to think of the mathematician. They behave around him as if he was an unusual specimen worth studying under a high resolution microscope.

Some of the mathematical references went completely over my head, though I got the gist of what a strange attractor is and how it applied to the murders, but you don't necessarily need to be at the level of a physicist to enjoy this book. I'm from the USA so a few references and slang were also unfamiliar to me, but I just looked them up and then moved on from there usually laughing once I got the joke.

I thought it brilliant to eventually name the murderer Agatha since Dobie's explanation of events would have been bogged down by the term "the murderer". It also helped to picture an actual person rather than some abstract threat.

I enjoyed this fun mystery, and I think the author found a way to stand out in a fairly competitive genre. Bravo, I say.

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much as I despise mathematics, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. In mathematics terms, a strange attractor is an unknown factor that pulls things out of the pattern. It's something that cannot be included in the original equation and need to be chased down and identified in order to solve the equation.

In terms of this novel, quirky, distracted Welsh professor of mathematics, John Dobie, strives to find that stranger attractor that would explain the suspected suicide of one of his mathematics students, the not one - but two - dead women found in his bed, and his general sense of absolute confusion.

Dobie is definitely an acquired taste, and it took me a while to fully get into this novel, but once there I was captivated by the richly detailed plot, the character development of a wide range of strange folks, the unlikely start of a romance between Dobie and Dr. Kate Coyle, and the ultimate solution which indeed was a strange attractor. 5 stars.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Marc Stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Strange Attractor" Is Quite A Romp

Let me open this review with a little disclaimer: I recently read one of the Johnny Fedora novels by Desmond Cory and I became an instant fan. Johnny Fedora out-Bonded 007 himself. Just reading that novel, I was hooked, eagerly awaiting the next release of one of the famed author’s novels. That happened recently when I had the chance to read the first of the John Dobie detective novels. Cory, considered the dean of Brit Grit novels, was a crackerjack author whose career spanned nearly half-a-century. His Dobie series is considered some of his best work.

I heartily concur as I think you will if you have the chance to read “The Strange Attractor,” recently re-released for modern consumption in ebook format. It first appeared in 1991.

Briefly, “The Strange Attractor” introduces us to a rather charmingly bewildering mathematician, John Dobie. It seems that one of his former students, a fellow he knew but couldn’t remember very well. Sammy Cantwell, it seems, had gone and had apparently committed suicide, as a result of a work issue. At a loss, Dobie just had to find out more and as he did things began to unravel around him. Suddenly, he hears from a friend’s wife Jane that she had to speak to him and nearly as suddenly she turns up dead, at first in his bed in her undies, and then, after disappearing altogether, she reappears fully clothed, only floating in the ocean. Meanwhile, his wife, sans clothing, turns up dead in the same bed Jane occupied a short time before.

Are you confused, well think about the poor schnook Dobie? Away from his IBM computer and his mathematical theories he is lost and somewhat infuriating to everyone around him because he makes about as much sense, sometimes, as one of his math theories. His mind, you see, is the classical mind of a very absent-minded mathematician. And, since he would rather interact with his computer and numbers than with people, he is the perfect foil for a rather cunning nemesis who is bent on discrediting the number-cruncher and, perhaps, even getting him framed for the murders.

Into this mix arrives Dr. Kate Coyle, pathologist and who is to become Dobie’s main squeeze. She meets Hobie at the inquest of Sammy Cantwell where she testifies about the apparent suicide. Little did she or the police, for that matter, realize that the apparent suicide is actually a well-concealed murder.

The only one who can solve this miasma of crime is John Dobie and his trusty computer. By running syllogistic chains our mathematician cum detective is able figures out three murders even before Det. Supt. Pontin, a real plodder who is trying to pin everything on Dobie (That Man Hobie, the superintendent says), realizes everything just isn’t as it seems.

Indeed, nothing is as it seems in “The Strange Attractor” – a mathematical construct that can turn a syllogistic chain on its head. It is the introductory novel of the John Dobie series, as noted, and it is a fun romp.

[Stephanie Palmerin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this author's writing style, it has a great plot that really gets you thinking and trying to figure out who would do this to the main character Dobie, the novel does start out a little slow and I caught my mind drifting off a couple of times while starting the book but it picked up and turned into a very entertaining read, I did not expect the ending at all and that is what made this book even better
a little dense with math but even those who hate math can appreciate this murder mystery
immerse yourself in the character's world and try to put things together, it won't be hard with this novel, will be reading more from this author
I shared this novel with my sister and she absolutely loved it, comparing it to one of her favorite series, Sherlock Holmes

[Robin Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is obvious how much the author enjoyed writing this book. His lightness of touch, his literary confidence and his towering intellect permeates every page. Desmond Cory wrote during the Indian summer of the golden age of British thriller writers and it is time all his books were brought back into print for a new generation of readers.
There's plenty of wit, and homage is paid to the great fictional detectives and their authors in a deliciously academic tease (including naming the murderer Agatha Christie!)
It's all great fun to read and Prof. John Dobie is a fabulous creation with his mathematician's logic and unique crime solving skills. I can't recommend this mystery thriller highly enough. It really is a literary gem.

[Carla Remy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea of a professor using mathematics to solve mysteries. A Strange Attractor is a physics thing, and there was a character with the last name Strange, so... i kind of liked it. From 1991.

[Valerie Caraotta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This murder mystery, although off to a slow start, will begin the ball rolling when lead character John Dobie discovers one of his ex-students Sammy Cantwell commits suicide. Dobie, a mathematics professor, takes an interest in this ordeal that happened a year ago. An initial interest in his suicide, followed by the murders of his wife and friend consequently will spin Dobie on a quest of his life-for both answers and to clear him of authorities' suspicion.

An invitation by Jane Corder, wife of a prominent businessman, would be greeted by a sign on the door, a welcome in, and a solitary glass of whiskey that would drug Dobie and begin the mental torment of who tied him up and was the mastermind behind the deaths. Amidst Dobie and investigators believing he is out of his mind would be Dobie's desperate attempts night and day to solve this case through computerized logic. Evidence that Jennie was having an affair and the discovery of Sammy Cantwell's tape recording and raincoat the night he was tied up will lead to panic urgency to find the culprit. Was Sammy's death a suicide...or something else? And who might be the next victims?
"This time he wasn't up against some elusive mathematical abstraction...this was a bird of a different feather...an enemy who had stolen Dobie's wife and later killed her...Sammy's room was the dark-shaded Hades to which Jenny had been rapt..."

Desmond Cory, you will discover, has an ingenious way to escalate the climatic feel with skillful twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. This British mystery thriller is the first of 3 books in the Professor Obie Series.

[Shanell Meek · Rating 4 out of 5]

So it took me awhile to get into this book, I almost gave up before the first chapter ended! But I stuck it out and I definitely do not regret it! Desmond Cory really knows how to put together a story with and interesting twist! Prof. Dobie goes on an adventure of solving murders using mathematics. What? Mathematics?!?! Yeah. It floored me too! But it worked and now I'm looking forward to reading more about Prof. Dobies adventures!
I had never heard of Desmond Cory before now but this book was written originally in 1991, so I'm not sure how I missed out on this gem until now! I'm sure glad i finally found it though! It was definitely worth the wait.

I recommend this book to anyone who has a love of mysterious adventures, Professor Dobie will lead you on an adventure you don't want to miss out on!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Math professor John Dobie isn't crazy about his wife Jennie's best friend Jane, whose successful industrialist husband is an old friend. But of course he says yes when Jane asks to meet with him while Jennie is out of town on a business trip. He finds himself bound and gagged, and hears a burglar attacking Jane, who was uncharacteristically late for their meeting. Jane's body disappears until Dobie returns to his apartment after talking to suspicious police, when he finds her on his bed. But when the police show up again, it's Jennie's body they discover. Only the fact that he was with the police at the time the pathologist believes Jennie was killed saves him from arrest. But Dobie is ready to think about the problem, with the help of a new-fangled computer (the book was originally published in 1991), and realizes that someone else is at risk, too. Sui generis.

[Ian Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Professor Dobie is a mathematician, and generally considered not to be with it. The story starts with a report that one of his previous students had committed suicide. Despite the fact that Dobie cannot even recall the student, he goes to the inquest. Around here, I found the book to be a little confusing. Eventually, he cannot puzzle out why the student would have committed suicide, since he had a good job at a successful company. Or had he? A little more questioning, and it appears that the student had been fired for participating in industrial espionage. Then the bodies start to turn up, in a rather bizarre fashion, and some rather stereotyped policemen plods suspect Dobie.

I found the book strangely hard to follow, particularly at the beginning, and in my opinion, it badly needs a structural edit. It is not that long, and a little more text to clarify some points would not go astray. If there are some points that are not subtle clues but are important to the story, it is important to make sure the reader will pick up on them, possibly even by subtly repeating them. However, the major repetitions are references to a "strange attractor" scattered throughout the book, but I have no idea why, or what they refer to. We see things like Lorenzian equations, but no explanation as to what they are, and my Concise Encyclopedia of Mathematics, where the conciseness reflects the time spent on an explanation, does not list them. I was misled by timing, so that when I first read it, I do not believe that the events that took place could take place within the given time. Maybe I am wrong, and maybe it could, but if so, the text was unclear. The problem for me was, Dobie frequently starts thinking about something, such as a wig, with no particular reason. Yes, it might be a clue, but if clues are to be introduced, they should be introduced naturally, and not out of the blue. All of which is a pity because the last half of the book is quite good, and the final resolution is quite exciting. A good structural edit and this might approach five stars, but for me, as it is, it was annoying for the first half.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dobie is instantly likeable. Easily one of the best parts of the novel, from the first time he speaks you’ll be hooked. And his character effectively sums up the entire experience: fun. This is a very fun novel to read. The tone is perfect and the characters are well situated. You never wonder how they ended up in a certain situation. Yes, the subject matter itself is heavy, but it settles well with the tone of the novel. It flows well, from excited comedy to darker thoughts or reflections. At times, yes, it can be incongruous, which is one of my only complaints, but it’s quickly swept away by the frenetic nature of the novel.
The characters are well dimensioned as well. They fit the situations they’re in well. Sometimes serious, sometimes fun, they develop well and fit the purposes they’ve found bestowed upon themselves.
Desmond Corey is on form with his third person perspective, also. It masterfully carries the novel with his own individual insight on the situations within the plot. It is interesting and witty. Much like the characters he can fit the writing around the situation, and so if darker subject matter is being tackled, the narration isn’t as light as it is at other points, but if it is lighter, it flies.
The dialogue is also impressive. It comes across as minds melding or tackling each other to delve to the depths of the developing mystery. At times, however, I would’ve liked to see more description in between two characters discussing something. Although the limelight is clearly and deliberately placed upon the dialogue, as it should be, there are elements that could be added by saying in more detail what the characters are up to when they’re discussing such topics as suicide and murder.
As well as this, sometimes the novel feels a bit too referential. It can come across as unnecessary and just there for the sake of it at times.
Overall, however, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It was fun, dark, and intriguing, and sucked me in more and more after every flick of a page.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an easy 5 star book, however, the formatting is about a 3, so I'll go with a 4 star rating. The plot centers around a droll mathematician named John Dobie. At times he's quite literal without meaning to be and he ends up being hilarious, also without meaning to be. Very clever who-dunit focusing on him witnessing one murder and then finding his younger wife, Jenny, dead in the bed.
The problem was the formatting of the digital version. If you can overlook it, I'd highly recommend this book. At first there seemed to be no chapter breaks as the first chapter went on forever. Halfway through the book, I reached chapter 3. There were no scene breaks which was a headache as you'd be well into the next scene without realizing that there was a change in scene. I don't know if this was a stylistic point on the writer's part but it was distracting from a great story. There was also some head hopping in one or two scenes which was jarring.

[Sharyn Hutchens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely charming

Love, love, love this book! It's a nice break from the fast-paced modern mystery with too much gore and not enough writing talent. This is not the first charming British murder mystery I have read. Lord Peter Wimsey comes to mind. But this one had me chuckling most of the way through and laughing out loud on numerous occasions. Must find more by this author. (I realize that this review is embarrassingly gushing, I swear I am no relation to the author, have no connection to him other than as a reader, and didn't even receive a free copy in exchange for a review)

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great mystery story. I’m usually good at figuring out the story before the ending, but this one kept me guessing and intrigued! Professor Dobie to me seemed a little scatter brained, but I liked his eccentric character. I can see where being a mathematician, Dobie likes to get to the bottom of things while asking a lot questions. Murders are happening and the ones that are close to home, are seemingly bothersome to Dobie. There are a lot of twists in the story and a perfect read to all of us mystery seekers!

[Nancy Pinter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky

The story was interesting. The lack of chapters made it difficult to read. Very quirky in the writing. I found the references to other books fun. Not sure who I would recommend this book to.

[Jan Hart]

Really enjoyable book so far - clever (and funny) plot with good characters in it. The author writes in a very classic "english" style which is refreshing these days.

[MJ James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Strange Attractor seems to be a Numbers episode put into a Sherlock Holmes book.

The book focuses on the main character John Dobie. Dobie is a Mathematics professor and as such the book is presented from that view point. The logical and structured thought process of Dobie makes for a unique voice. This very voice provides a humorous context to the entire story that is present even while investigating multiple murders.

I found the setting of the early technological era to be quite interesting combined with a main character who seems to be more of an applied mathematician making use of emerging computer technology. This played an important part in the story. However, Dobie’s ability to make logical deductions pulled me into the whole mystery of the story.

I was not a huge fan of how the police were portrayed. They were all incompetent cookie cutter characters until the very last part of the book. I think it would have made for a better story if they were not so over the top incompetent. I was also not a huge fan of the narrator randomly calling the killer Agatha Cristy to hide the identity. It didn’t fit, since any notion of the author was just introduced a scene earlier with completely different characters. That and it was fairly obvious who was behind it all by that point anyway.

There is one other aspect of the story that was distracting, that may just be a formatting issue in the Kindle book. There were no breaks in between scenes. The narration would just jump and I would have to realize that there were new characters in new scenes. Simple line breaks would have improved the flow immensely.

Overall I really enjoyed the book. It was fairly light reading, but still a book you will think about after you finish reading it.

[Richie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Strange Attractor by Desmond Cory is a murder mystery set in England. Though I liked its pace and character detail, I found it often confusing and the writing style unorthodox. I understand that the Brits use single quotation marks for speaking, but I found the lack of paragraphs and the author's jumping from one setting to the next rather disquieting at best. The storyline centers around a Dr. John Dobie, a Professor of Mathematics at a well known University there in London. He has been accused of killing a student, his wife and the wife of his best friend. With the help from a female Medical Doctor/part time Medical Examiner, Kate, and the use of his prodigious mathematical skills and understanding of Statistical Analysis, the two set out not only to prove his innocence but to identify, and kill if need be, the culprit. Unfortunately, the good doctor soon discovers that some of his dearest and closest friends can not be trusted. All in all, I liked the book and would probably read other of Mr. Cory's works.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get through the first bit of the book and then the twists and turns really start to happen! At first, I was a bit concerned that this book wouldn't be my cup of tea. It starts out very wordy and if you do not have an understanding of math, the book could be a bit daunting. However, once I was able to wrap my mind around the protagonist's personality, I was able to enjoy the book. This is my first Desmond Cory book and I did enjoy reading it. Lots of puzzles within the plot. The characters were easy to imagine and were enjoyable. It kept me guessing until the end. On a side note, I will say that I would have liked the chapters to have been better marked in the kindle version. At times I didn't realize we were moving into a different "scene" or speaking with a different character until a paragraph or two into it. I do enjoy British mysteries and would suggest continuing on with the series.

[Chukwudi O. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Strange Attractor is a debut for Professor John Dobie, Welsh professor of Mathematics (I had already read the sequel, The Mask of Zeus) and reveals the events leading to his venture into solving mysteries.
A bizarre turn of events leads to the death of a former undergrad student and current employee to a friend. Notably is that the deceased worked in R&D department of the firm, and was currently involved in high-profile information linked to the unveiling of the company’s next innovation. And then Dobie's wife, who is out of town, on work - related duties, get murdered in his home. And then, strangely, so is Dobie's friend's spouse - also in Dobie's home!
The Strange Attractor describes the curiously scary, but highly intriguing tale of events as they unfold, leading to a remarkable and just in time conclusion. Immensely engaging read!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The strange attractor is a fairly complex read but it does contain a good few puzzles and plenty of humour. The main character, Dobie, is a mathematics professor and is rather strange but very likeable. It's classic who done it storyline that’s completely unpredictable. Both the storyline and the characters evolve and unfold really well. As this book is well behind the times of technical advances it’s fascinating to read how knowledge is used for analysis. When Dobie finds himself a prime suspect in a murder investigation you immediately know it’s going to be a thrilling ride to find out who the killer is and how he will use his intelligence to crack the codes.

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25/5 stars! This book was an example of when the author wanted to show the audience how smart they are. The use of vocabulary didn't really add to the story at all. It felt pedantic and I quickly fell out of paying attention. There was some enjoyable humor but it didn't balance it out enough for me.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sianne Wardle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read, the passion for the story really came through. Very intelligent without showing off. Would enjoy read8ng this again