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Angelique De Xavier #1
A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away
Back when they were students, just like everybody else, Ray Ash and Simon Darcourt had dreams about what they'd do when they grew up. In both their cases, it was to be rock stars. Fifteen years later, their mid-thirties are bearing down fast, and just like everybody else, they're having to accept the less glamorous hands reality has dealt them. Nervous new father Ray takes refuge from his responsibilities by living a virtual existence in online games. People say he needs to grow up, but everybody has to find their own way of coping. For some it's affairs, for others it's the bottle, and for Simon it's serial murder, mass slaughter and professional assassination.
502 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
106 people are currently reading
3793 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Brookmyre
40 books1,541 followersChristopher Brookmyre is a Scottish novelist whose novels mix politics, social comment and action with a strong narrative. He has been referred to as a Tartan Noir author. His debut novel was Quite Ugly One Morning, and subsequent works have included One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night, which he said "was just the sort of book he needed to write before he turned 30", and All Fun and Games until Somebody Loses an Eye (2005). Brookmyre also writes historical fiction with Marisa Haetzman, under the pseudonym "Ambrose Parry."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
September 11, 2013
Any of you who may be considering reading a number of Brookmyre's books should appreciate knowing what order in which to read them, since characters recur and previous incidents often play a big part in what's currently going on. Let me save you some trouble. For the Angelique de Xavier series you need to read this one first, then "The Sacred Art of Stealing", then "A Snowball in Hell". This one not only sets up Angelique, but also gives all the background you need on arch-villain Simon Darcourt. This book contains superb character development, an engaging plot which will keep you guessing and all the hilarity you expect from Brookmyre's version of mass murder.
February 7, 2020
‘You got any experience of this sort of thing?’Angelique asked.
‘What? Runnin’ around in caverns and corridors, takin’ on a team of headcases armed to the teeth? I’m a virtual expert.’
‘A vir ... Oh that’s right. Games. Tomb Raider and all that stuff.’
Ray bit back a response. If Quake was the new Punk, Tomb Raider was the games world’s Mariah Carey.
‘You can’t start again if you get killed,’ Angelique helpfully reminded him.
‘I’ll try and bear that in mind.’
What Fun! Brookmyre does it again! He takes the most serious subject of our modern world (terrorism) and turns it into a black comedy of errors heavily salted with his acerbic rants against a variety of subjects more or less related to the plot. I first came across him in a thriller about a high school reunion on an oil rig that morphs also into a terrorist attack [“A Fine Day in the Middle of the Night”] , followed by several crime novels featuring an investigative journalist [Jack Parlabane] . The present novel has some similarities to what came before : high school reunion of some sort between Ray Ash and Simon Darcourt, former art students and indie rock group members, a terrorist plot, a diminutive police officer with a short-fuse named Angelique de Xavier, and numerous rants about middle-class lifestyle, gaming, teaching, parenting, bullying, popular music, etc
For example, this is the opening chapter:
SSCs. Death was too good for them.
Seriously.
These fuckers deserved to live forever. The sleepwalking suburban slave classes in their Wimpey mock-Tudor penal colonies. A jail that needed no walls because the inmates had been brainwashed into believing they wanted to be there. Incarceration by aspiration, all the time mindlessly propagating and self-replicating, passing on their submissive DNA to the next generation of glazed-eyed prisoners.
[note: SSC stands in for Suburban Sad Cunts in this here rant]
As a thriller, the novels is taking too long to get off the ground, slowed down mostly by these fun, yet long rants on a variety of themes. Being the first episode in a planned series, even as it is working very well as a stand-alone, the novel also takes a long time to establish the characters : Ray the geek gamer who tries to take his responsibilities seriously once he becomes a father; Simon the angry musical genius (in his own non-humble opinion) who goes from local school bully to international terrorist; Angelique the token ethnic woman on the police force who tries to control her anger in the face of relentless inconsiderate jokes.
Yet the finale is very rewarding for those readers willing to put down the time to slog through the action-deprived sections. It helps if they’re in the mood for the sort of dialect flavored back humour that is the signature move of mr. Brookmyre.
‘Is the burden of independent thought wearing you down? Do you dread the indecision that awaits every time you open your wardrobe? Are you embarrassed by your reticence when you hear other people discuss current affairs, music, relationships, etcetera? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Help is just a pair of clippers away! We’ve helped thousands of sad losers avoid confronting their loneliness and inadequacy, and we can do the same for you. We’ll tell you what to wear. We’ll tell you what to think. We’ll tell you what music to listen to. And most importantly, we’ll bring you together with lots of people exactly the same as yourself – it’s just like having friends!’
The quote above is a fake recruitment ad for neo-Nazis, in case anyone wondered. Bullying could in fact be considered the central theme of the novel, if I were to sort through the numerous side-issues. Ray is derided for his gaming passion and for his inexperience as a young teacher; Angelique for the skin colour and for her short stature; suburban people for their simple acceptance of life. What can you do?
Human experience taught that when people wanted to look tough, they picked on easy targets. A short-arsed megalomaniac picked Jews. A Lilley-livered political mediocrity picked single mothers. A deludedly ambitious cardinal picked gays. A bloated Ugandan dictator picked Asians. And endless halfwit non-entities in Leeside had picked the wee darkie lassie with the funny name.
Consequently, she had serious anger-management issues around the whole bullying thing.
One thing Brookmyre does well is righteous anger, and the poster woman for getting back at the bully is Angelique de Xavier, nominally the lead character, although she has far less dedicated chapters in the novel than Ray or Simon, even less than the two clowns who go AWOL from school and end up mixed up in the big events of the endgame [Lexy and Murph]. But I would say this about Angelique: the author saved the best for last, and when she finally takes center stage, she kicks some serious a$$
Secret Agent X, Sergeant Glenn. In action. She’s a black belt in three different martial arts. It would have been four, but when she was a brown belt she killed the Kempo instructor during training, and he was the only one in Scotland.
A big part of the charm of the novel comes from the efforts to expand our English vocabulary with some local colour. Much like that infamous elevator sketch about the Scottish accent, Brookmyre likes to pepper the text with idiomatic expression like stushie, borked, rammy, havering or numpties. I usually deduce the meaning from context, as I’m not entirely sure I could find these words in an academic dictionary, although I may have come across the term ‘a gun-toting bampot’ before. In here it is used to describe the dangerous Black Spirit mastermind behind the main terrorist threat. Here’s one more example before I let myself out:
‘Where you gaun?’
‘There’s a wee hole in that shutter. I’m gaunny have a keek through it.’
‘You’ll never get your arse up that high.’
‘Very good. I says a keek, no’a keech.’
>><<<>>><<<
Conclusion: not a classic action thriller, but a joy ride for the patient reader. Will read the next Angelique de Xavier caper. And thanks mr Brookmyre for the Lobey Dosser bit of trivia.
The only two-legged horse statue in the world, dedicated to Bud Neill, 1911 – 1970, Cartoonist and Poet
‘What? Runnin’ around in caverns and corridors, takin’ on a team of headcases armed to the teeth? I’m a virtual expert.’
‘A vir ... Oh that’s right. Games. Tomb Raider and all that stuff.’
Ray bit back a response. If Quake was the new Punk, Tomb Raider was the games world’s Mariah Carey.
‘You can’t start again if you get killed,’ Angelique helpfully reminded him.
‘I’ll try and bear that in mind.’
What Fun! Brookmyre does it again! He takes the most serious subject of our modern world (terrorism) and turns it into a black comedy of errors heavily salted with his acerbic rants against a variety of subjects more or less related to the plot. I first came across him in a thriller about a high school reunion on an oil rig that morphs also into a terrorist attack [“A Fine Day in the Middle of the Night”] , followed by several crime novels featuring an investigative journalist [Jack Parlabane] . The present novel has some similarities to what came before : high school reunion of some sort between Ray Ash and Simon Darcourt, former art students and indie rock group members, a terrorist plot, a diminutive police officer with a short-fuse named Angelique de Xavier, and numerous rants about middle-class lifestyle, gaming, teaching, parenting, bullying, popular music, etc
For example, this is the opening chapter:
SSCs. Death was too good for them.
Seriously.
These fuckers deserved to live forever. The sleepwalking suburban slave classes in their Wimpey mock-Tudor penal colonies. A jail that needed no walls because the inmates had been brainwashed into believing they wanted to be there. Incarceration by aspiration, all the time mindlessly propagating and self-replicating, passing on their submissive DNA to the next generation of glazed-eyed prisoners.
[note: SSC stands in for Suburban Sad Cunts in this here rant]
As a thriller, the novels is taking too long to get off the ground, slowed down mostly by these fun, yet long rants on a variety of themes. Being the first episode in a planned series, even as it is working very well as a stand-alone, the novel also takes a long time to establish the characters : Ray the geek gamer who tries to take his responsibilities seriously once he becomes a father; Simon the angry musical genius (in his own non-humble opinion) who goes from local school bully to international terrorist; Angelique the token ethnic woman on the police force who tries to control her anger in the face of relentless inconsiderate jokes.
Yet the finale is very rewarding for those readers willing to put down the time to slog through the action-deprived sections. It helps if they’re in the mood for the sort of dialect flavored back humour that is the signature move of mr. Brookmyre.
‘Is the burden of independent thought wearing you down? Do you dread the indecision that awaits every time you open your wardrobe? Are you embarrassed by your reticence when you hear other people discuss current affairs, music, relationships, etcetera? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Help is just a pair of clippers away! We’ve helped thousands of sad losers avoid confronting their loneliness and inadequacy, and we can do the same for you. We’ll tell you what to wear. We’ll tell you what to think. We’ll tell you what music to listen to. And most importantly, we’ll bring you together with lots of people exactly the same as yourself – it’s just like having friends!’
The quote above is a fake recruitment ad for neo-Nazis, in case anyone wondered. Bullying could in fact be considered the central theme of the novel, if I were to sort through the numerous side-issues. Ray is derided for his gaming passion and for his inexperience as a young teacher; Angelique for the skin colour and for her short stature; suburban people for their simple acceptance of life. What can you do?
Human experience taught that when people wanted to look tough, they picked on easy targets. A short-arsed megalomaniac picked Jews. A Lilley-livered political mediocrity picked single mothers. A deludedly ambitious cardinal picked gays. A bloated Ugandan dictator picked Asians. And endless halfwit non-entities in Leeside had picked the wee darkie lassie with the funny name.
Consequently, she had serious anger-management issues around the whole bullying thing.
One thing Brookmyre does well is righteous anger, and the poster woman for getting back at the bully is Angelique de Xavier, nominally the lead character, although she has far less dedicated chapters in the novel than Ray or Simon, even less than the two clowns who go AWOL from school and end up mixed up in the big events of the endgame [Lexy and Murph]. But I would say this about Angelique: the author saved the best for last, and when she finally takes center stage, she kicks some serious a$$
Secret Agent X, Sergeant Glenn. In action. She’s a black belt in three different martial arts. It would have been four, but when she was a brown belt she killed the Kempo instructor during training, and he was the only one in Scotland.
A big part of the charm of the novel comes from the efforts to expand our English vocabulary with some local colour. Much like that infamous elevator sketch about the Scottish accent, Brookmyre likes to pepper the text with idiomatic expression like stushie, borked, rammy, havering or numpties. I usually deduce the meaning from context, as I’m not entirely sure I could find these words in an academic dictionary, although I may have come across the term ‘a gun-toting bampot’ before. In here it is used to describe the dangerous Black Spirit mastermind behind the main terrorist threat. Here’s one more example before I let myself out:
‘Where you gaun?’
‘There’s a wee hole in that shutter. I’m gaunny have a keek through it.’
‘You’ll never get your arse up that high.’
‘Very good. I says a keek, no’a keech.’
>><<<>>><<<
Conclusion: not a classic action thriller, but a joy ride for the patient reader. Will read the next Angelique de Xavier caper. And thanks mr Brookmyre for the Lobey Dosser bit of trivia.
The only two-legged horse statue in the world, dedicated to Bud Neill, 1911 – 1970, Cartoonist and Poet
November 14, 2011
I love ILL. Never heard of it? It stands for "Inter-Library Loan", and it comes to the rescue when a library doesn't have a book, and seeks to borrow it from another library. Most library patrons don't even know such a program exists.
My local library is the big-city San Francisco Public Library, which does indeed have a few of Christopher Brookmyre's books, but not the Trevor McCandless-aprroved A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away . So I turned to ILL, and asked for the book anyway back on July 5th. Three weeks later, I got an email telling me to come on in and pick it up.
Imagine my surprise when I noticed the book was an apparently brand-new volume belonging to the library of Greenwich, Connecticut. That's just a little less than 3000 miles away (about 4800km for you furriners). Out of curiosity, I asked at the library's information desk whether it costs the library a lot to borrow a book from across the country. The librarian said "Is it a book you really wanted to read? Then don't worry about it -- that's what we're here for."
Sweet. I love libraries.
Oh, the book?
Yes, it was quite the high adventure. Plenty of profanity, satire and characters spouting misanthropic vitriol. Took quite a bit of effort to parse the Scots lingo at times, and there was some I still couldn't get. It took a visit to the Urban Dictionary to figure out what an eejit was, although in retrospect I should have noticed how phonetically close it is to idiot. But the sports references sailed right by -- I don't even follow American stuff.
The cultural mismatch slowed down my reading so the hook didn't really sink in until one third of the book was gone, but eventually the shenanigans should grab anyone. Can't say that I think Brookmyre is the next greatest thing, but still a fun read.
Reminded me mightily of Max Barry. I seem to recall that his Jennifer Government had many similar elements, although it also had a heavy-handed futurist satire of a global corporate takeover.
Now, the question is whether I want to use that same ILL trick to get the other two books in Brookmyre's loose trilogy: The Sacred Art of Stealing and A Snowball in Hell .
Update, November 2011 —
Isn't this the book that had an assassin using bullets made of ice? That flummoxed the local constabulary, despite that everyone knows that before it melts the ice will cause recognizable damage to adjacent tissue.
Anyway, y'all should know you can now buy molds for ice bullets:
My local library is the big-city San Francisco Public Library, which does indeed have a few of Christopher Brookmyre's books, but not the Trevor McCandless-aprroved A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away . So I turned to ILL, and asked for the book anyway back on July 5th. Three weeks later, I got an email telling me to come on in and pick it up.
Imagine my surprise when I noticed the book was an apparently brand-new volume belonging to the library of Greenwich, Connecticut. That's just a little less than 3000 miles away (about 4800km for you furriners). Out of curiosity, I asked at the library's information desk whether it costs the library a lot to borrow a book from across the country. The librarian said "Is it a book you really wanted to read? Then don't worry about it -- that's what we're here for."
Sweet. I love libraries.
Oh, the book?
Yes, it was quite the high adventure. Plenty of profanity, satire and characters spouting misanthropic vitriol. Took quite a bit of effort to parse the Scots lingo at times, and there was some I still couldn't get. It took a visit to the Urban Dictionary to figure out what an eejit was, although in retrospect I should have noticed how phonetically close it is to idiot. But the sports references sailed right by -- I don't even follow American stuff.
The cultural mismatch slowed down my reading so the hook didn't really sink in until one third of the book was gone, but eventually the shenanigans should grab anyone. Can't say that I think Brookmyre is the next greatest thing, but still a fun read.
Reminded me mightily of Max Barry. I seem to recall that his Jennifer Government had many similar elements, although it also had a heavy-handed futurist satire of a global corporate takeover.
Now, the question is whether I want to use that same ILL trick to get the other two books in Brookmyre's loose trilogy: The Sacred Art of Stealing and A Snowball in Hell .
Update, November 2011 —
Isn't this the book that had an assassin using bullets made of ice? That flummoxed the local constabulary, despite that everyone knows that before it melts the ice will cause recognizable damage to adjacent tissue.
Anyway, y'all should know you can now buy molds for ice bullets:
July 2, 2018
A good light fun read. I didn’t guffaw as much as I might have done when I was more nihilistic teenager but the story of an unhappy English teacher being dragged into an international terrorist plot was fun.
As a very gentle spoiler
We all lived with narcissistic prototypes of evil in our second year of university. Mine turned into a perfectly pleasant organic farmer who lives in Wales. The conceit that this person gives full rein to their evilness was a real pleasure. The plot was a little silly but hard to see that not being the case.
As a very gentle spoiler
We all lived with narcissistic prototypes of evil in our second year of university. Mine turned into a perfectly pleasant organic farmer who lives in Wales. The conceit that this person gives full rein to their evilness was a real pleasure. The plot was a little silly but hard to see that not being the case.
September 22, 2018
GoodRead friends Susan and Andrew recommended I try A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away by Christopher Brookmyre when it came up as an Audible deal of the day. I'm very glad I took their advice.
A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away is a great yarn. Highly cynical, sporadically violent, pretty implausible, an action-packed rollercoaster of a plot, brilliant and well observed characters, loads of popular culture references, and generally amusing with some great one liners.
It's so addictive that upon finishing I have immediately purchased The Sacred Art of Stealing, the next in the series, to share more time with super cop Angelique de Xavier, arch villain Simon Darcourt, and - hopefully - the everyman character Raymond Ash.
4/5
A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away is a great yarn. Highly cynical, sporadically violent, pretty implausible, an action-packed rollercoaster of a plot, brilliant and well observed characters, loads of popular culture references, and generally amusing with some great one liners.
It's so addictive that upon finishing I have immediately purchased The Sacred Art of Stealing, the next in the series, to share more time with super cop Angelique de Xavier, arch villain Simon Darcourt, and - hopefully - the everyman character Raymond Ash.
4/5
September 21, 2015
Brookmyre never disappoints. Thriller with a fantastic (black) comedy twist. Think british Carl Hiaasen.
September 1, 2013
This is the first in the Angelique de Xavia series, but I had already read the 3rd, A Snowball in Hell, which I felt at the time I would've enjoyed more if I'd already read the previous books, and so will probably reread once I finish The Sacred Art of Stealing. Brookmyre is not for everyone, I think you have to have at least lived in Scotland (as I did for ten years) to follow a lot of the language and get many of the jokes. Not everyone likes satire either, and the humour here is very black, but I thought the plot and the build-up were brilliant and really liked the characters - some very improbable heroes. I read a lot of thrillers and it's refreshing to know upfront who the baddie is and there not always being a twist, at least not in terms of the characters.
Simon Darcourt is a professional terrorist known as the Black Spirit who returns to Aberdeen to plan his latest atrocity, and is recognised at the airport by an old friend from Uni, mild-mannered newbie English teacher Ray Ash, who believes that he died in a plane bombing years earlier. Angelique is a Glaswegian Special Branch police officer who recognises signs that the Black Spirit could be in Scotland and sets about finding him. And two kids are skiving off from school and slip into a van left open outside and find themselves trapped inside with crates of guns and explosives.
It is a bit slow to get going and there are deliberate distractions and lots of backstory, but the action kicks off in the final third and then wraps up very satisfactorily, leaving room for the next books but no annoying cliffhangers.
Simon Darcourt is a professional terrorist known as the Black Spirit who returns to Aberdeen to plan his latest atrocity, and is recognised at the airport by an old friend from Uni, mild-mannered newbie English teacher Ray Ash, who believes that he died in a plane bombing years earlier. Angelique is a Glaswegian Special Branch police officer who recognises signs that the Black Spirit could be in Scotland and sets about finding him. And two kids are skiving off from school and slip into a van left open outside and find themselves trapped inside with crates of guns and explosives.
It is a bit slow to get going and there are deliberate distractions and lots of backstory, but the action kicks off in the final third and then wraps up very satisfactorily, leaving room for the next books but no annoying cliffhangers.
September 5, 2014
A Big Boy Did it and Ran Away = ((Egotist + Gamer) ÷ Friendship) x (Terrorism ÷ (Kids + Angel X))
Another awesome book from Brookmyre. Introducing the kick-arse Angel X, the living-in-a-computer-game Ray and the oh-how-i-love-to-hate-him Simon.
It's a perfect mix of action adventure, suspense, geekery, nostalgic friendship and mishaps. Oh, and humour. Can't forget the humour.
This is also the longest Brookmyre book, or at least the longest yet, but it went by in a breeze. The alternating between time, places and characters helps the story move swiftly, without losing interest and never making it drag. It is, once again, some damn fine writing.
Another awesome book from Brookmyre. Introducing the kick-arse Angel X, the living-in-a-computer-game Ray and the oh-how-i-love-to-hate-him Simon.
It's a perfect mix of action adventure, suspense, geekery, nostalgic friendship and mishaps. Oh, and humour. Can't forget the humour.
This is also the longest Brookmyre book, or at least the longest yet, but it went by in a breeze. The alternating between time, places and characters helps the story move swiftly, without losing interest and never making it drag. It is, once again, some damn fine writing.
June 8, 2012
Although The Sacred Art of Stealing will always remain my favorite Brookmyre book, this book, as a prequel of sorts, is equally fantastic. Brookmyre knows how to write - he has a knack for the English language, akin to chewing up words and spitting them out, that few other authors have been able to master.
July 17, 2018
A good rollicking read, although he does go on a bit sometimes, but there are so many brilliant lines and a great plot that you can forgive him. The plot is clever and jumps in and out of events so that you do need to keep up. Great characters, Ray is the perfect side-kick to the totally awesome Angelique de Xavia and their dialogue is hilarious. Totally enjoyed and will likely read the next...
March 25, 2018
Rockstars
Nach einer etwas turbulenten Jugend unter anderem in einer Rockband ist Ray in der Welt der Erwachsenen angekommen. Er ist nun Englischlehrer mit Frau, Kind, Haus und Hypothek. Kann das alles gewesen sein? Auch wenn sich die Band damals im Unfrieden getrennt hat, vielleicht könnte man es nochmal versuchen. Doch sein alter Kumpel Simon ist vor drei Jahren bei einem Flugzeugabsturz gestorben. Die von ihren Kollegen gerne unterschätzte Polizistin Angelique de Xavia hat ihren großen Fall, sie wird auf den Terroristen angesetzt, der nie erwischt wurde, Black Spirit nennt er sich.
Schon zu Beginn der Lektüre fallen einige Begriffe und Formulierungen auf, die die Überlegung anstoßen, wann das Buch geschrieben wurde. Ein Blick ins Impressum ist da hilfreich, der Roman wurde im Original bereits im Jahr 2001 veröffentlicht, weitere Nachforschungen ergeben zwar Januar 2001, aber soweit ist man zu beginn noch nicht. Bei dieser Jahreszahl fallen einem aus heutiger Sicht dann natürlich sofort die schrecklichen Ereignisse des 9/11 ein. Sollte der Autor also fast prophetische Worte gefunden haben? Es überläuft einen kalt. Doch ein Blick auf die Autorenseite schafft Aufklärung. Bei Schreiben, das wohl vor dem Attentat stattgefunden hat, hat der Autor an Jugendfreundschaft, Rockmusik und die Anfänge der Computerspiele gedacht. Das erleichtert zwar, wirkt aber doch etwas prosaisch.
Man findet sich wieder in der Welt der Musik der 1980ger, man hatte diese oder jene Band zu mögen, gerne von einem Indie-Label. Man hielt sich gepflegt zurück, wenn man eine Vorliebe für den Mainstream hatte, oder stritt es gleich empört ab. Computer waren etwas Fremdes, was eher die anderen hatten. Aber eine Band, ja, das wäre was gewesen. Auch die Freundschaft zwischen Simon und Ray, die eigentlich keine ist, wird nachvollziehbar. Manchmal sind sie ein wenig ausschweifend die Erläuterungen und die Ausflüge in die Vergangenheit. Und immer wieder kommt einem die heutige Erfahrung, der allgegenwärtig stattfindende Terror in den Weg. So verliert gerade das an Bedeutung, was der Autor im Sinne hatte. Es bleibt eine bitterböse Satire über den kalten Terror der heutigen Zeit, über die Geltungssucht eines Einzelnen und als Silberstreif am Horizont eine coole Polizistin, ein ehemaliger Jugendlicher, der langsam aber sicher bei den Erwachsenen ankommt und zwei Jugendliche, die das gefährliche Abenteuer wagemutig annehmen.
3,5 Sterne
Nach einer etwas turbulenten Jugend unter anderem in einer Rockband ist Ray in der Welt der Erwachsenen angekommen. Er ist nun Englischlehrer mit Frau, Kind, Haus und Hypothek. Kann das alles gewesen sein? Auch wenn sich die Band damals im Unfrieden getrennt hat, vielleicht könnte man es nochmal versuchen. Doch sein alter Kumpel Simon ist vor drei Jahren bei einem Flugzeugabsturz gestorben. Die von ihren Kollegen gerne unterschätzte Polizistin Angelique de Xavia hat ihren großen Fall, sie wird auf den Terroristen angesetzt, der nie erwischt wurde, Black Spirit nennt er sich.
Schon zu Beginn der Lektüre fallen einige Begriffe und Formulierungen auf, die die Überlegung anstoßen, wann das Buch geschrieben wurde. Ein Blick ins Impressum ist da hilfreich, der Roman wurde im Original bereits im Jahr 2001 veröffentlicht, weitere Nachforschungen ergeben zwar Januar 2001, aber soweit ist man zu beginn noch nicht. Bei dieser Jahreszahl fallen einem aus heutiger Sicht dann natürlich sofort die schrecklichen Ereignisse des 9/11 ein. Sollte der Autor also fast prophetische Worte gefunden haben? Es überläuft einen kalt. Doch ein Blick auf die Autorenseite schafft Aufklärung. Bei Schreiben, das wohl vor dem Attentat stattgefunden hat, hat der Autor an Jugendfreundschaft, Rockmusik und die Anfänge der Computerspiele gedacht. Das erleichtert zwar, wirkt aber doch etwas prosaisch.
Man findet sich wieder in der Welt der Musik der 1980ger, man hatte diese oder jene Band zu mögen, gerne von einem Indie-Label. Man hielt sich gepflegt zurück, wenn man eine Vorliebe für den Mainstream hatte, oder stritt es gleich empört ab. Computer waren etwas Fremdes, was eher die anderen hatten. Aber eine Band, ja, das wäre was gewesen. Auch die Freundschaft zwischen Simon und Ray, die eigentlich keine ist, wird nachvollziehbar. Manchmal sind sie ein wenig ausschweifend die Erläuterungen und die Ausflüge in die Vergangenheit. Und immer wieder kommt einem die heutige Erfahrung, der allgegenwärtig stattfindende Terror in den Weg. So verliert gerade das an Bedeutung, was der Autor im Sinne hatte. Es bleibt eine bitterböse Satire über den kalten Terror der heutigen Zeit, über die Geltungssucht eines Einzelnen und als Silberstreif am Horizont eine coole Polizistin, ein ehemaliger Jugendlicher, der langsam aber sicher bei den Erwachsenen ankommt und zwei Jugendliche, die das gefährliche Abenteuer wagemutig annehmen.
3,5 Sterne
November 10, 2014
Another good "tartan noir" read from Brookmyre. There’s quite a lot of unpleasant ranting in the beginning, but the character development and the action at the end make the book worth it.
These books aren’t mysteries. You’re presented with the bad guys and their plans (mostly) right up front, and the only thing the reader is left to figure out is how the good guys will catch up to them in time. They always do, after a long, violent, crude adventure, and the comeuppance is as satisfying as it is predictable.
I like Brookmyre’s ordinary blokes, the ones who end up defeating the professional armed thugs. This time we have Ray Ash, who is feeling miserable and trapped with a quotidian job, a mortgage, a marriage and a colicky baby. I love the moment, when he’s at the brink of losing it all, when his burdens are transformed into stable career, comfortable home, loving wife and healthy baby son.
I was a bit worried about the video game angle (Ash is a gamer) because I’m not crazy about video games, but it was fine. The references were mild and few enough that I could understand them yet not be bored by them.
This is the first book featuring officer Angelique de Xavia, who is apparently one of Brookmyre's recurring characters. I liked her and I look forward to the next book.
The plot involves terrorists and the book’s publication date of 2001 is probably before September 11th of that year, considering some of the details for a bomb on a plane, in particular.
These books aren’t mysteries. You’re presented with the bad guys and their plans (mostly) right up front, and the only thing the reader is left to figure out is how the good guys will catch up to them in time. They always do, after a long, violent, crude adventure, and the comeuppance is as satisfying as it is predictable.
I like Brookmyre’s ordinary blokes, the ones who end up defeating the professional armed thugs. This time we have Ray Ash, who is feeling miserable and trapped with a quotidian job, a mortgage, a marriage and a colicky baby. I love the moment, when he’s at the brink of losing it all, when his burdens are transformed into stable career, comfortable home, loving wife and healthy baby son.
I was a bit worried about the video game angle (Ash is a gamer) because I’m not crazy about video games, but it was fine. The references were mild and few enough that I could understand them yet not be bored by them.
This is the first book featuring officer Angelique de Xavia, who is apparently one of Brookmyre's recurring characters. I liked her and I look forward to the next book.
The plot involves terrorists and the book’s publication date of 2001 is probably before September 11th of that year, considering some of the details for a bomb on a plane, in particular.
March 30, 2009
This book, like many of Brookmyre's novels, starts slowly as the plot and the characters are developed in depth. As you begin to wonder when the action is going to start, it suddenly kicks off and speeds at a million miles an hour towards the climax.
Brookmyre is an excellent author who is able to move between the present and past with ease, before expertly bringing the two periods together for a breathtaking and absurdly funny ending.
An excellent book for anyone who has a sense of humour and is no way easily offended.
Brookmyre is an excellent author who is able to move between the present and past with ease, before expertly bringing the two periods together for a breathtaking and absurdly funny ending.
An excellent book for anyone who has a sense of humour and is no way easily offended.
September 17, 2018
War’s das für Raymond Ash? An der Uni träumten er und sein Kumpel Simon von einer Zukunft als Rockstar, stattdessen hat er jetzt, mit Mitte 30, ein schreiendes Baby und einen neuen Job als Lehrer an der Backe – und Simon ist seit drei Jahren tot. Kein Wunder, dass Ray seinen Augen nicht traut, als er ihn am Glasgower Flughafen sieht. Und dann geschehen auf einmal Dinge, die seltsamer und brutaler sind als jedes von Rays geliebten Computerspielen.
Gemeinsam mit der Polizistin Angelique de Xavia (bekannt aus Die hohe Kunst des Bankraubs) gerät er in sich immer schneller überschlagende Ereignisse, und die beiden müssen über sich hinauswachsen, um einen Terroranschlag zu verhindern, den der »neue«, sehr sehr böse Simon verüben will. Nur: was ist überhaupt das Ziel der Attacke? Die Spur führt in die schottischen Highlands …(Klappentext)
Hier muss man definitiv Geduld haben bis man weiß wohin einem der Autor führen will, sich der Unzufriedenheit der Protagonisten stellen und sich darauf einlassen.
Der Autor schafft es ein Portrait der Gesellschaft zu zeichnen in der alle unzufrieden sind und vor sich dahin leben, angepisst auf das Leben und einem selbst sind bis...ja bis ihnen alles um die Ohren fliegt (im wahrsten Sinne), das Grauen Einzug hält und man, genau wie auch die Protagonisten selbst, erkennt, dass die ganze Jammerei unnötige Kleinscheißerei ist....doch dann ist es zu spät.
In einem Moment fragt man sich, wohin einem der Autor führen will, im nächsten fliegen einem so plötzlich die Körperteile entgegen, sodass man nahezu genauso geschockt ist, wie die Protagonisten selbst.
"Zwischen sich und dem kornblumenfarbenen Sommerkleid sah er zwei Beine in den Trümmern liegen. Ein Fuß fehlte, der andere hing noch an fransigen Fleischfetzen. Der Schuh sah aus wie seiner. Genau solche hatte er auch, aber heute hatte er sie nicht angezogen. Heute nicht. Heute hatte er andere an, die alten. Bitte!" (S. 44)
Die Thematik des Terrors, die der Autor hier aufgreift, ist aktueller denn je und Brookmyre geht hier noch um einiges weitere - Auftragsterrorismus. Für Geld Bomben legen und so viele Menschen wie möglich mitreißen.
Und in dieser Branche hat einer die Nase ganz vorne - Black Spirit.
Er hieß mal Simon, war aber schon immer ein arrogantes Arschloch und immer der Meinung er wäre zu etwas Großem bestimmt. Nun ist er freischaffender Terrorist und genießt die Macht über Menschenleben zu bestimmen. Dieser beginnt nun sogar Visitenkarten zwischen all dem Schutt und der Leichen zu hinterlassen. Besseres Marketing gibt es fast nicht und eines muss man schon sagen - die coolsten Sprüche hat er auf Lager.
Doch die Anti-Terroreinheit Englands ist nun auf seinen Fersen. Darunter die zierliche aber toughe Angelique de Xavia (kurz Angel X genannt), die vor allem damit zu kämpfen hat die einzige Frau in dieser Truppe zu sein. Aber das schert sie einen Scheißdreck und ebenso wenig hat sie Respekt vor diesem Auftragsterror-Heini. Sie will ihn einfach nur zur Strecke bringen.
Dann wäre da noch Ray. Ein Mittdreißiger der seinem alten Leben als Profi-Gamer ohne Baby mit Koliken nachheult. Er hat für die Familie all seine pubertären Träume aufgegeben und führt jetzt ein solides Leben als Lehrer und Papa eines schreienden Kindes. Hinfort sind seine Träume Rockstar zu werden, oder das Geld als Gamer zu verdienen. Nach der Arbeit flüchtet er sich manchmal auf den Flughafen. Er beobachtet die Abflüge und genießt das Gefühl die Möglichkeit zu haben aus der ganzen Alltagsscheiße auszubrechen - einfach in einen Flieger steigen, Frau und Kind hinter sich lassen und einen Neuanfang wagen. Doch dann sieht er einen alten Freund, was eigentlich nicht möglich ist, da Simon seit über 3 Jahren tot ist. Erinnerungen kommen hoch und es macht KLICK.
"Es war eine schallende psychologische Ohrfeige gewesen, die ihn aus seinem depressiven Tunnelblick gerissen hatte, sodass er wieder richtig sehen konnte, was wirklich vor ihm lag." (S. 101)
Doch was nützt einem diese Erkenntnis, wenn man auf einmal gejagt und versucht wird einem den Kopf wegzupusten?
Last but not least hätten wir da noch zwei 13-jährige Jungs, Murph und Lexy.
Zwei typische Jungs, die sich in ihrer Coolness übertreffen wollen, die Schule schwänzen und allzu neugierig sind. Diese Neugierde wird ihnen jedoch zum Verhängnis und sie sind dadurch in dieser terroristischen Action schnell mitten drin, statt nur dabei. Nun müssen sie über sich hinauswachsen, um aus dieser Scheiße wieder heil herauszukommen und wenn man schon dabei ist, kann man den bösen Kriminellen doch auch gleich ordentlich ans Bein pissen.
Dieser Thriller wurde bereits 2001 veröffentlicht, trotzdem ist er aktueller denn je.
Mit Ray und Simon reist man in deren Rückschau jedoch auch in die verrückten 90er und vor allem Gamer werden daran ihre Freude haben. Ray vergleicht nämlich sein Leben und was darin passiert gerne mit einem PC-Game.
"Es war Team Deathmatch, dachte Ray, Rocket-Arena-Regeln: keine Health Packs, keine neue Armour, keine Respawns; wenn man stirbt, bleibt man tot, das erste Team, das komplett ausgelöscht wird, hat verloren." (S. 457)
Zudem ist dies nicht nur ein Thriller, sondern auch eine Milieustudie vom Feinsten. Hier werden also auch ruhigere und tiefsinnige Töne angeschlagen und daher hat der Thriller zwischendurch auch den Charakter eines Romans.
Beides ist jedoch gewürzt mit herrlich schwarzem Humor und bissigem Sarkasmus. Dieser Thriller erinnert mich daher so ein wenig an den Film "Bube Dame König Gras", falls den jemand kennt.
Fazit:
Dieser Thriller ist für all diejenigen, die ein Faible für Spannung UND intelligente Unterhaltung und nichts gegen bissigen Humor und den ein oder anderen derben Spruch haben.
Vor allem Gamer der 90er, die "Doom" und "Half-Life" zockten, kommen durch Ray auf ihre Kosten und können daher, wie ich, in Erinnerungen schwelgen.
Ich habe geschmunzelt, gelacht, mir vor Spannung die Nägel abgekaut und reiste mit Vergnügen in die 90er. Es war eine Freude in diesem Thriller im typischen scottish Style zu lesen und wurde bestens unterhalten. Herz, was willst du mehr?
© Pink Anemone
Gemeinsam mit der Polizistin Angelique de Xavia (bekannt aus Die hohe Kunst des Bankraubs) gerät er in sich immer schneller überschlagende Ereignisse, und die beiden müssen über sich hinauswachsen, um einen Terroranschlag zu verhindern, den der »neue«, sehr sehr böse Simon verüben will. Nur: was ist überhaupt das Ziel der Attacke? Die Spur führt in die schottischen Highlands …(Klappentext)
Hier muss man definitiv Geduld haben bis man weiß wohin einem der Autor führen will, sich der Unzufriedenheit der Protagonisten stellen und sich darauf einlassen.
Der Autor schafft es ein Portrait der Gesellschaft zu zeichnen in der alle unzufrieden sind und vor sich dahin leben, angepisst auf das Leben und einem selbst sind bis...ja bis ihnen alles um die Ohren fliegt (im wahrsten Sinne), das Grauen Einzug hält und man, genau wie auch die Protagonisten selbst, erkennt, dass die ganze Jammerei unnötige Kleinscheißerei ist....doch dann ist es zu spät.
In einem Moment fragt man sich, wohin einem der Autor führen will, im nächsten fliegen einem so plötzlich die Körperteile entgegen, sodass man nahezu genauso geschockt ist, wie die Protagonisten selbst.
"Zwischen sich und dem kornblumenfarbenen Sommerkleid sah er zwei Beine in den Trümmern liegen. Ein Fuß fehlte, der andere hing noch an fransigen Fleischfetzen. Der Schuh sah aus wie seiner. Genau solche hatte er auch, aber heute hatte er sie nicht angezogen. Heute nicht. Heute hatte er andere an, die alten. Bitte!" (S. 44)
Die Thematik des Terrors, die der Autor hier aufgreift, ist aktueller denn je und Brookmyre geht hier noch um einiges weitere - Auftragsterrorismus. Für Geld Bomben legen und so viele Menschen wie möglich mitreißen.
Und in dieser Branche hat einer die Nase ganz vorne - Black Spirit.
Er hieß mal Simon, war aber schon immer ein arrogantes Arschloch und immer der Meinung er wäre zu etwas Großem bestimmt. Nun ist er freischaffender Terrorist und genießt die Macht über Menschenleben zu bestimmen. Dieser beginnt nun sogar Visitenkarten zwischen all dem Schutt und der Leichen zu hinterlassen. Besseres Marketing gibt es fast nicht und eines muss man schon sagen - die coolsten Sprüche hat er auf Lager.
Doch die Anti-Terroreinheit Englands ist nun auf seinen Fersen. Darunter die zierliche aber toughe Angelique de Xavia (kurz Angel X genannt), die vor allem damit zu kämpfen hat die einzige Frau in dieser Truppe zu sein. Aber das schert sie einen Scheißdreck und ebenso wenig hat sie Respekt vor diesem Auftragsterror-Heini. Sie will ihn einfach nur zur Strecke bringen.
Dann wäre da noch Ray. Ein Mittdreißiger der seinem alten Leben als Profi-Gamer ohne Baby mit Koliken nachheult. Er hat für die Familie all seine pubertären Träume aufgegeben und führt jetzt ein solides Leben als Lehrer und Papa eines schreienden Kindes. Hinfort sind seine Träume Rockstar zu werden, oder das Geld als Gamer zu verdienen. Nach der Arbeit flüchtet er sich manchmal auf den Flughafen. Er beobachtet die Abflüge und genießt das Gefühl die Möglichkeit zu haben aus der ganzen Alltagsscheiße auszubrechen - einfach in einen Flieger steigen, Frau und Kind hinter sich lassen und einen Neuanfang wagen. Doch dann sieht er einen alten Freund, was eigentlich nicht möglich ist, da Simon seit über 3 Jahren tot ist. Erinnerungen kommen hoch und es macht KLICK.
"Es war eine schallende psychologische Ohrfeige gewesen, die ihn aus seinem depressiven Tunnelblick gerissen hatte, sodass er wieder richtig sehen konnte, was wirklich vor ihm lag." (S. 101)
Doch was nützt einem diese Erkenntnis, wenn man auf einmal gejagt und versucht wird einem den Kopf wegzupusten?
Last but not least hätten wir da noch zwei 13-jährige Jungs, Murph und Lexy.
Zwei typische Jungs, die sich in ihrer Coolness übertreffen wollen, die Schule schwänzen und allzu neugierig sind. Diese Neugierde wird ihnen jedoch zum Verhängnis und sie sind dadurch in dieser terroristischen Action schnell mitten drin, statt nur dabei. Nun müssen sie über sich hinauswachsen, um aus dieser Scheiße wieder heil herauszukommen und wenn man schon dabei ist, kann man den bösen Kriminellen doch auch gleich ordentlich ans Bein pissen.
Dieser Thriller wurde bereits 2001 veröffentlicht, trotzdem ist er aktueller denn je.
Mit Ray und Simon reist man in deren Rückschau jedoch auch in die verrückten 90er und vor allem Gamer werden daran ihre Freude haben. Ray vergleicht nämlich sein Leben und was darin passiert gerne mit einem PC-Game.
"Es war Team Deathmatch, dachte Ray, Rocket-Arena-Regeln: keine Health Packs, keine neue Armour, keine Respawns; wenn man stirbt, bleibt man tot, das erste Team, das komplett ausgelöscht wird, hat verloren." (S. 457)
Zudem ist dies nicht nur ein Thriller, sondern auch eine Milieustudie vom Feinsten. Hier werden also auch ruhigere und tiefsinnige Töne angeschlagen und daher hat der Thriller zwischendurch auch den Charakter eines Romans.
Beides ist jedoch gewürzt mit herrlich schwarzem Humor und bissigem Sarkasmus. Dieser Thriller erinnert mich daher so ein wenig an den Film "Bube Dame König Gras", falls den jemand kennt.
Fazit:
Dieser Thriller ist für all diejenigen, die ein Faible für Spannung UND intelligente Unterhaltung und nichts gegen bissigen Humor und den ein oder anderen derben Spruch haben.
Vor allem Gamer der 90er, die "Doom" und "Half-Life" zockten, kommen durch Ray auf ihre Kosten und können daher, wie ich, in Erinnerungen schwelgen.
Ich habe geschmunzelt, gelacht, mir vor Spannung die Nägel abgekaut und reiste mit Vergnügen in die 90er. Es war eine Freude in diesem Thriller im typischen scottish Style zu lesen und wurde bestens unterhalten. Herz, was willst du mehr?
© Pink Anemone
December 7, 2022
This has some of the funniest chapter titles I’ve seen!
February 10, 2013
New to Brookmyre, this book was sent in the post by a friend. Uninspired by the cover (yes I do judge books by their covers - until I've read them) I didn't pick it up for quite a while. But when I did I couldn't put it down.
It is funny, well-observed and pertinent. Brookmyre has captured Real Life and exposed it. The language, which I think some reviewers regarded as some kind of shock factor, merely reflected the reality. And provided some rip-roaring laughs from this reader.
Lexy and Wee Murph are just genius characters that provide many moments of comic genius.
Simon on the other hand was a little flakey as the villain - and his motivation for going bad was a little flimsy but I guess that is also true to life?
I enjoyed this. I'm encouraged to read more by Brookmyre because of it though I wouldn't go as far as to say my life has changed because of it - albeit it has its poignant, thought-provoking moments.
A satisfying read that tickles the chuckle muscles.
It is funny, well-observed and pertinent. Brookmyre has captured Real Life and exposed it. The language, which I think some reviewers regarded as some kind of shock factor, merely reflected the reality. And provided some rip-roaring laughs from this reader.
Lexy and Wee Murph are just genius characters that provide many moments of comic genius.
Simon on the other hand was a little flakey as the villain - and his motivation for going bad was a little flimsy but I guess that is also true to life?
I enjoyed this. I'm encouraged to read more by Brookmyre because of it though I wouldn't go as far as to say my life has changed because of it - albeit it has its poignant, thought-provoking moments.
A satisfying read that tickles the chuckle muscles.
June 13, 2013
Fun fast-paced read, with a hero who's ordinary. Ray is a gamer who's had to grow up, he's the husband of Kate, father of a 3 month old and a newly qualified teacher.
He also used to live with Simon when they were students, a friendship which ended badly.
An international terrorist, a tough policewoman who's a bit on the tiny side and a very tired new dad, who's going to come out on top.
Just makes me wonder what my old flat mates are up to, most were nursing students and I don't remember doing anything which would make them want revenge.
He also used to live with Simon when they were students, a friendship which ended badly.
An international terrorist, a tough policewoman who's a bit on the tiny side and a very tired new dad, who's going to come out on top.
Just makes me wonder what my old flat mates are up to, most were nursing students and I don't remember doing anything which would make them want revenge.
June 20, 2016
Terrorism, 80's culture, indie music, band egos, gaming and a lot of witty humor, what else can I ask for? Right, the best opening chapter ever written!
The only con I can find for this book is that the climax is maybe just a little too long, other than that, this book was always fun and entertaining.
To close this short and badly written review I'll just say that I'll start right away to compulsively read everything Brookmyre wrote in the past 16 years.
This review sucks, I'm tired, you are welcome.
The only con I can find for this book is that the climax is maybe just a little too long, other than that, this book was always fun and entertaining.
To close this short and badly written review I'll just say that I'll start right away to compulsively read everything Brookmyre wrote in the past 16 years.
This review sucks, I'm tired, you are welcome.
February 21, 2013
I loved this book, Christopher brookmyre is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
He sets out the plot meticulously which can make for slow reading at the start but if you persevere it's like a roller coaster ride with you hanging on for dear life, squealing "wheeeeeee!"
Awesome.
He sets out the plot meticulously which can make for slow reading at the start but if you persevere it's like a roller coaster ride with you hanging on for dear life, squealing "wheeeeeee!"
Awesome.
April 13, 2021
Probably says a lot about my sense of humour (very dry/sarcastic and VERY dark) but I absolutely loved this. So clever, so funny and also a gripping action story?! One of my favourites I've read in ages
July 13, 2025
this is oddly similar to the last book I read HAHA
loved this so much though, crime isn’t my typical genre but i loved the blurb deeply so gave it a try and am glad I did
the beginning of the book may be my favourite beginning of a book ever
gonna read more of this authors work, I recommend
loved this so much though, crime isn’t my typical genre but i loved the blurb deeply so gave it a try and am glad I did
the beginning of the book may be my favourite beginning of a book ever
gonna read more of this authors work, I recommend
October 1, 2020
Felt like a modern day Tom Sharpe book. Had a few funny moments and kept me interested.
June 4, 2023
Recommended for 80's nostalgia and for irritating your partner with random outbursts of sniggering and guffawing. Very smart, very funny.
March 13, 2025
Great Glasgow humour! On to book 2 👏🏼
August 31, 2018
Fantasy thriller with a fairly unbelievable cast that makes a light and enjoyable read, if you like that sort of thing. Personally, I found the lack of a coherent and believable background and the highly simplistic view of international terrorism distracted me and detracted from any of the book's good points.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2018
I mean, fucks sake guys. Fucks sake. Whats gone on here?
You see a 4.0+ rating over a decent sample size and a witty David-Foster-Wallacey title with a decent sounding plot, you think "Im in safe hands" You read some of the reviews and think "Im onto a good one here"
I was disappointed to find out the author had been forced to use a plot and characters made up by a relatively uninspiring 8 year old. There's no doubt he tried to make the best of a particularly bad lot with some almost Joe Heller-esque prose and some decent one-liners, but however much you cover said turd with glitter, the smell cannot be hidden.
I just need to know what in the blue fuck all the reviews are about proclaiming this to be a work of true genius by the pen of a gifted savant, when in reality, its just, well, how can I put this, shite?
We've got the lamest two heroic leads in literature, Ray ticks most cliche boxes and the ones he doesnt, dont you worry, "Angelique Xavier" aka Angel-X is sure to. How did we get so dumbed down to think this is decent writing? Angel-X? Are you 10 years old? A Scottish female black cop skilled in 4 martial arts who saves the day, why not just make her a zombie vampire slayer and save everyone the time.
The BIG BAD BADDY is about as fear inducing as an Enya concert for obese toddlers. He cant even blow up a fucking dam, given unlimited resources, time, and a crack team. Incidentally, none of his crack team can use machine guns, I mean, why do they have machine guns, wouldnt discreet and silenced pistols work a bit better guys? Two chimps of Scottish teenagers, who you spend quite a while persuading the readers are both thick as proverbial pigshit, manage to block 12 machine guns with something? (no idea what but it makes them explode? eh?) The two chimps also evade 12 highly skilled terrorists for days. I'd fancy my chances against the, er, worlds most feared terrorist.
They're going to flood the Highland Games are they? Are you for real Brookmyre? He's doing most of this because he's a failed guitarist is he? He faked his own death in a plane bombing by just getting off the plane and walking out did he? Yeah I'll just get off the plane, walk off, no problem. No-one will notice or mind.
I finished the book thinking this has to be too dumb for most people who can read and can think independently, it must be aimed purely at the American market.
Ive come up with better storylines myself staggering back from the Rose and Crown after eight pints of strong continental lager and a jazz cigarette with Fat Gav and Mickey the Fly.
You see a 4.0+ rating over a decent sample size and a witty David-Foster-Wallacey title with a decent sounding plot, you think "Im in safe hands" You read some of the reviews and think "Im onto a good one here"
I was disappointed to find out the author had been forced to use a plot and characters made up by a relatively uninspiring 8 year old. There's no doubt he tried to make the best of a particularly bad lot with some almost Joe Heller-esque prose and some decent one-liners, but however much you cover said turd with glitter, the smell cannot be hidden.
I just need to know what in the blue fuck all the reviews are about proclaiming this to be a work of true genius by the pen of a gifted savant, when in reality, its just, well, how can I put this, shite?
We've got the lamest two heroic leads in literature, Ray ticks most cliche boxes and the ones he doesnt, dont you worry, "Angelique Xavier" aka Angel-X is sure to. How did we get so dumbed down to think this is decent writing? Angel-X? Are you 10 years old? A Scottish female black cop skilled in 4 martial arts who saves the day, why not just make her a zombie vampire slayer and save everyone the time.
The BIG BAD BADDY is about as fear inducing as an Enya concert for obese toddlers. He cant even blow up a fucking dam, given unlimited resources, time, and a crack team. Incidentally, none of his crack team can use machine guns, I mean, why do they have machine guns, wouldnt discreet and silenced pistols work a bit better guys? Two chimps of Scottish teenagers, who you spend quite a while persuading the readers are both thick as proverbial pigshit, manage to block 12 machine guns with something? (no idea what but it makes them explode? eh?) The two chimps also evade 12 highly skilled terrorists for days. I'd fancy my chances against the, er, worlds most feared terrorist.
They're going to flood the Highland Games are they? Are you for real Brookmyre? He's doing most of this because he's a failed guitarist is he? He faked his own death in a plane bombing by just getting off the plane and walking out did he? Yeah I'll just get off the plane, walk off, no problem. No-one will notice or mind.
I finished the book thinking this has to be too dumb for most people who can read and can think independently, it must be aimed purely at the American market.
Ive come up with better storylines myself staggering back from the Rose and Crown after eight pints of strong continental lager and a jazz cigarette with Fat Gav and Mickey the Fly.
September 1, 2018
Didn't even get past the first chapter as the language was bad. No need.
August 26, 2018
Absolutely loved this. Everything about it was right up my alley so although it may not really be a five star read (probably a four for most people?), it was for me. You know when a book provides your kind of humour, action and everything else into one? That's the way that this one felt. It had an interesting plot (the terrorist's plan actually felt quite original and different), occasional hilarious rants about what it is like to work in a dull office job and an impressive combination of characters. Loved it.
August 27, 2018
Obwohl ich schon einige Bücher des Autors in meinem SUB beherberge, ist dies tatsächlich das erste Buch, welches ich von ihm lese. Aber seien wir mal ehrlich – schottischer Autor plus einem Normalo, der in einen Kriminalfall rutscht sowie eine taffe, wenn auch zierliche Polizistin – das geht doch immer!
Raymond Ash hat nie gedacht, dass er mal da landet, wo er jetzt ist: Lehrer, Ehemann, Vater. Eigentlich hat er ja von der großen Rock’n’Roll Karriere geträumt, und wenn das schon nicht klappt, dann doch bitte was mit Videospielen. Das hat zwar eine Weile geklappt, doch letztendlich musste er sich dem Ernst des Lebens stellen. Eines Tages glaubt er allerdings seinen Augen kaum, als er am Flughafen Simon Darcourt sieht, einen alten Freund aus College-Tagen. Denn Simon ist eigentlich seit drei Jahren tot, bei einem Flugzeugunglück umgekommen. Raymond beschließt, dass er sich irren muss und seine Augen ihm einen Streich gespielt haben, doch dann versuchen ihn abends, auf dem Weg zum Inder, zwei Kerle mit Schusswaffen zu erledigen, denen er ganz knapp entkommen kann. Die Polizei mag ihm auch nicht so recht glauben, aber dann wird Raymond am nächsten Tag entführt – das weiß nur keiner, denn gleichzeitig verschwinden zwei Kinder an der Schule und Raymond wird als Pädophiler auf der Flucht abgestempelt…..
Wham! Ihr seht, hier geht es Schlag auf Schlag. Der arme Kerl wird mitten hinein in ein Komplott gezogen, dass sein alter Freund (oder eher Feind) Simon Darcourt da plant. Eben weil er auch zufällig Raymond gesehen hat, nimmt er ihn in seinen fiesen Plan mit auf und Raymonds Leben verwandelt sich in einen irrwitzigen Roadtrip rund um Glasgow und in den schottischen Highlands. Als alter Gamer sieht Raymond das – zwischen Verzweiflung und nahe am Wahnsinn – wie ein Videospiel und läuft am Ende zur Hochform auf.
Nichtsdestotrotz ist das Buch relativ lang und auch ausufernd geschrieben. Das liegt daran, dass der Autor die Charaktere immer wieder in die Vergangenheit schweifen lässt, um aufzuzeigen, wie es zu der jetzigen Situation gekommen ist. Das nimmt dem aktuellen Geschehen ein wenig den Schwung – das könnte man locker auf 250 Seiten erzählen – aber ist tatsächlich irre unterhaltsam. Christopher Brookmyre hat den Schalk im Nacken und ihm gelingt es, diese Ausflüge in die Vergangenheit launig und mit einer guten Portion Ironie auszuschmücken.
In dieser Kombination gelingt es dem Autor eine spannende Geschichte über einen überheblichen Terroristen und einen nerdigen Normalo in eine irrwitzige Fahrt zwischen Vergangenheit und Gegenwart zu verwandeln, die einfach Spaß macht. Wie gut, dass ich noch weitere Bücher von diesem Schotten in meinen SUB beherberge.
Fazit:
Irrwitzig und abgefahren: Durchschnittsbürger Raymond Ash versucht einen Terroranschlag zu verhindern. Der Krimi ist nicht nur spannend und mit einer Portion Witz versehen, sondern macht auch richtig Spaß zu lesen.
Raymond Ash hat nie gedacht, dass er mal da landet, wo er jetzt ist: Lehrer, Ehemann, Vater. Eigentlich hat er ja von der großen Rock’n’Roll Karriere geträumt, und wenn das schon nicht klappt, dann doch bitte was mit Videospielen. Das hat zwar eine Weile geklappt, doch letztendlich musste er sich dem Ernst des Lebens stellen. Eines Tages glaubt er allerdings seinen Augen kaum, als er am Flughafen Simon Darcourt sieht, einen alten Freund aus College-Tagen. Denn Simon ist eigentlich seit drei Jahren tot, bei einem Flugzeugunglück umgekommen. Raymond beschließt, dass er sich irren muss und seine Augen ihm einen Streich gespielt haben, doch dann versuchen ihn abends, auf dem Weg zum Inder, zwei Kerle mit Schusswaffen zu erledigen, denen er ganz knapp entkommen kann. Die Polizei mag ihm auch nicht so recht glauben, aber dann wird Raymond am nächsten Tag entführt – das weiß nur keiner, denn gleichzeitig verschwinden zwei Kinder an der Schule und Raymond wird als Pädophiler auf der Flucht abgestempelt…..
Wham! Ihr seht, hier geht es Schlag auf Schlag. Der arme Kerl wird mitten hinein in ein Komplott gezogen, dass sein alter Freund (oder eher Feind) Simon Darcourt da plant. Eben weil er auch zufällig Raymond gesehen hat, nimmt er ihn in seinen fiesen Plan mit auf und Raymonds Leben verwandelt sich in einen irrwitzigen Roadtrip rund um Glasgow und in den schottischen Highlands. Als alter Gamer sieht Raymond das – zwischen Verzweiflung und nahe am Wahnsinn – wie ein Videospiel und läuft am Ende zur Hochform auf.
Nichtsdestotrotz ist das Buch relativ lang und auch ausufernd geschrieben. Das liegt daran, dass der Autor die Charaktere immer wieder in die Vergangenheit schweifen lässt, um aufzuzeigen, wie es zu der jetzigen Situation gekommen ist. Das nimmt dem aktuellen Geschehen ein wenig den Schwung – das könnte man locker auf 250 Seiten erzählen – aber ist tatsächlich irre unterhaltsam. Christopher Brookmyre hat den Schalk im Nacken und ihm gelingt es, diese Ausflüge in die Vergangenheit launig und mit einer guten Portion Ironie auszuschmücken.
In dieser Kombination gelingt es dem Autor eine spannende Geschichte über einen überheblichen Terroristen und einen nerdigen Normalo in eine irrwitzige Fahrt zwischen Vergangenheit und Gegenwart zu verwandeln, die einfach Spaß macht. Wie gut, dass ich noch weitere Bücher von diesem Schotten in meinen SUB beherberge.
Fazit:
Irrwitzig und abgefahren: Durchschnittsbürger Raymond Ash versucht einen Terroranschlag zu verhindern. Der Krimi ist nicht nur spannend und mit einer Portion Witz versehen, sondern macht auch richtig Spaß zu lesen.
December 9, 2017
There's a lot to like here, starting with sardonic, irreverent humor at least in the early going. There are flashes of brilliance, e.g. Brookmyre's exploration of our current fascination with (and perhaps an emotional need for) a high profile terrorist figure or organization as the embodiment of evil that we can focus upon as a repository for our collective fears and insecurities. And there's a good story line being developed. But then a host of major problems obtrude:
First, in order to appreciate (or even understand) much of the book, a reader would need to have knowledge of (a) British jargon (b) Pop music performers and (c) Computer gaming. If that describes you, then good on ya, mate! Otherwise you'll spend many pages lost, bored or both.
Second, there's the matter of a protagonist I might care about and here the book failed to pass the test for me. I couldn't have care less about the fate of either the terrorist or his victims. And Brookmyre's all-too-formulaic girl terrorist-chaser "Angel X" is just way too over-the-top; she cannot salvage this mess.
With all that in mind, I'll give the rest of this series a pass.
First, in order to appreciate (or even understand) much of the book, a reader would need to have knowledge of (a) British jargon (b) Pop music performers and (c) Computer gaming. If that describes you, then good on ya, mate! Otherwise you'll spend many pages lost, bored or both.
Second, there's the matter of a protagonist I might care about and here the book failed to pass the test for me. I couldn't have care less about the fate of either the terrorist or his victims. And Brookmyre's all-too-formulaic girl terrorist-chaser "Angel X" is just way too over-the-top; she cannot salvage this mess.
With all that in mind, I'll give the rest of this series a pass.
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