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Bryant & May: Peculiar Crimes Unit #13
Strange Tide
The river Thames is London’s most important yet neglected artery. When a young woman is found chained to a post in the tide, no-one can understand how she came to be drowned there. At the Peculiar Crimes Unit, Arthur Bryant and John May find themselves dealing with an impossible crime committed in a very public place.
Soon they discover that the river is giving up other victims, but as the investigation extends from the coast of Libya to the nightclubs of North London, it proves as murkily sinister as the Thames itself. That’s only part of the problem; Bryant’s rapidly deteriorating condition prevents him from handling the case, and he is confined to home. To make matters worse, May makes a fatal error of judgement that knocks him out of action and places everyone at risk.
With the PCU staff baffled as much by their own detectives as the case, the only people who can help now are the battery of eccentrics Bryant keeps listed in his diary, but will their arcane knowledge save the day or make matters even worse? Soon there’s a clear suspect in everyone’s sights – the only thing that’s missing is any scrap of evidence.
As the detectives’ disastrous investigation comes unstuck, the whole team gets involved in some serious messing about on the river. In an adventure that’s as twisting as the river upon which it’s set, will there be anything left of the Peculiar Crimes Unit when it’s over?
Soon they discover that the river is giving up other victims, but as the investigation extends from the coast of Libya to the nightclubs of North London, it proves as murkily sinister as the Thames itself. That’s only part of the problem; Bryant’s rapidly deteriorating condition prevents him from handling the case, and he is confined to home. To make matters worse, May makes a fatal error of judgement that knocks him out of action and places everyone at risk.
With the PCU staff baffled as much by their own detectives as the case, the only people who can help now are the battery of eccentrics Bryant keeps listed in his diary, but will their arcane knowledge save the day or make matters even worse? Soon there’s a clear suspect in everyone’s sights – the only thing that’s missing is any scrap of evidence.
As the detectives’ disastrous investigation comes unstuck, the whole team gets involved in some serious messing about on the river. In an adventure that’s as twisting as the river upon which it’s set, will there be anything left of the Peculiar Crimes Unit when it’s over?
437 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 24, 2016
127 people are currently reading
1424 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Fowler
266 books1,286 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Christopher Fowler was an English writer known for his Bryant & May mystery series, featuring two Golden Age-style detectives navigating modern London. Over his career, he authored fifty novels and short story collections, along with screenplays, video games, graphic novels, and audio plays. His psychological thriller Little Boy Found was published under the pseudonym L.K. Fox.
Fowler's accolades include multiple British Fantasy Awards, the Last Laugh Award, the CWA Dagger in the Library, and the inaugural Green Carnation Award. He was inducted into the Detection Club in 2021. Beyond crime fiction, his works ranged from horror (Hell Train, Nyctophobia) to memoir (Paperboy, Film Freak). His column Invisible Ink explored forgotten authors, later compiled into The Book of Forgotten Authors.
Fowler lived between London and Barcelona with his husband, Peter Chapman.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Christopher Fowler was an English writer known for his Bryant & May mystery series, featuring two Golden Age-style detectives navigating modern London. Over his career, he authored fifty novels and short story collections, along with screenplays, video games, graphic novels, and audio plays. His psychological thriller Little Boy Found was published under the pseudonym L.K. Fox.
Fowler's accolades include multiple British Fantasy Awards, the Last Laugh Award, the CWA Dagger in the Library, and the inaugural Green Carnation Award. He was inducted into the Detection Club in 2021. Beyond crime fiction, his works ranged from horror (Hell Train, Nyctophobia) to memoir (Paperboy, Film Freak). His column Invisible Ink explored forgotten authors, later compiled into The Book of Forgotten Authors.
Fowler lived between London and Barcelona with his husband, Peter Chapman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
July 9, 2016
This Bryant and May novel focuses on the River Thames, its victims and the deaths that occur in it or beside it. Lynsey Dalladay's body is discovered tethered to the river's shoreline. The Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU) are the police team who takes the case and it raises the question of whether it is a suicide or not. Running alongside is the story of Ali, an ambitious refugee with a traumatic backstory that includes his journey to Britain. Ali finds himself in London acquiring a variety of identities in a number of ventures that include magic shows and running a Well Being Centre. He has a partner, Cassie who helps organise the ventures, but they centre on the charm and charisma of Ali. It is made clear that Ali will be a person of interest to the PCU in the future. Additionally, there is the pressing issue of Bryant's health, but thankfully that is mostly resolved thanks to Bryant himself.
The investigation takes in the discovery of a severed hand close to Lynsey's body. Further deaths connected with the mighty Thames occur or are discovered. These include Dimitri Gilyov, Bill Crooms, Angela Curtis and Marion North. North's murder is staged to implicate John May which has the team frantic to find evidence to exonerate him. The complex and intricate case goes around in circles trying to ascertain if the deaths are connected. There are a number of twists and turns and it is Bryant who finally puts it all together. In the meantime, the PCU is being investigated by Barbara Biddle, who cannot help but note the disorganisation, the lack of a chain of command, and the mayhem that surrounds the unit. Well, that is not going to change, as it's the madcap people and disorder that is the key to its success and the espirit de corps of the team.
As ever, we are informed of the history and the mythology of the Thames, primarily thanks to Arthur and his acquaintances. The humour, wit and fun associated with the series is outstanding in this novel. It is the marvellous assortment of characters that make this series. I loved this book but felt that perhaps occasionally the level of incoherence was perhaps a tad higher than it needed to be. However, this did not stop me having a whale of a time reading this book. Christopher Fowler is quite a writer. I am assuming that Bryant and May will return. Thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.
The investigation takes in the discovery of a severed hand close to Lynsey's body. Further deaths connected with the mighty Thames occur or are discovered. These include Dimitri Gilyov, Bill Crooms, Angela Curtis and Marion North. North's murder is staged to implicate John May which has the team frantic to find evidence to exonerate him. The complex and intricate case goes around in circles trying to ascertain if the deaths are connected. There are a number of twists and turns and it is Bryant who finally puts it all together. In the meantime, the PCU is being investigated by Barbara Biddle, who cannot help but note the disorganisation, the lack of a chain of command, and the mayhem that surrounds the unit. Well, that is not going to change, as it's the madcap people and disorder that is the key to its success and the espirit de corps of the team.
As ever, we are informed of the history and the mythology of the Thames, primarily thanks to Arthur and his acquaintances. The humour, wit and fun associated with the series is outstanding in this novel. It is the marvellous assortment of characters that make this series. I loved this book but felt that perhaps occasionally the level of incoherence was perhaps a tad higher than it needed to be. However, this did not stop me having a whale of a time reading this book. Christopher Fowler is quite a writer. I am assuming that Bryant and May will return. Thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.
December 20, 2016
This is probably now my favorite of what is one of my favorite series. Just when you wonder what Christopher Fowler can do with his lead characters, Bryant & May, he moves in unexpected directions and keeps the reader moving forward with him. At the start, continuing from the last book, the ravages of age are catching up with Arthur Bryant, but, naturally, not in any normal fashion. As he deals with his changing mind, which is still an invaluable tool and full of arcane knowledge of London, the PCU has a new, puzzling case to solve. Once again the unit's existence is on the line. How can they function without a fully functioning Arthur?
London and the Thames are very important to the story and, as always, the past becomes a part of the present. At first, I wondered where this all might be going. But never fear...the reader is, as ever, in Christopher Fowler's so capable hands. If you have been reading this series, you will definitely not want to miss this episode. No further details coming from me! You will have to read this for yourselves.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
London and the Thames are very important to the story and, as always, the past becomes a part of the present. At first, I wondered where this all might be going. But never fear...the reader is, as ever, in Christopher Fowler's so capable hands. If you have been reading this series, you will definitely not want to miss this episode. No further details coming from me! You will have to read this for yourselves.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 13, 2016
I have previously read two other Bryant and May titles which I enjoyed (4 star reviews). I love their quirkiness and, in particular, Arthur Bryant's disordered mind and convoluted thought processes!
However this is a strange book, and one I could not get drawn into. There is a smattering of gems, and I learnt a lot of things I never knew, but largely the book was confusing rather than entertaining. By the time I was two thirds of the way through I was skimming large tracts and felt relieved, if unenlightened, at the end.
A young pregnant woman is found chained to a post in a tidal part of the Thames river, with only her own footprints leading to the place of her death. Soon the Thames is delivering up other bodies, all dead in peculiar circumstances. The Peculiar Crimes Unit is called to investigate. But they are hampered by Arthur Bryant being diagnosed with a variety of Alzheimer's Disease, and seen as a risk to himself and the other team members, he is confined to his home and the office.
And this is where I think the book failed. With Arthur's limited involvement it just seemed to stall. Reading it can be compared to being in a tumble dryer - the plot was all over the place.
2 1/2 stars from me for this read - the extra half star for increasing my knowledge!
I do recommend the Bryant and May series, just not this particular book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
December 16, 2016
3.5 stars
I made a rookie mistake and started a series right in the middle without any background at all - in my defence audible lured me into it as this one was on special *shame on me*
I enjoyed it but I know I missed out on so much character input - it's quirky and funny and I loved the 'Miss Marple' with a modern edge vibe. Actually probably a bit more Poirot as Bryant is bonkers.
Will it stop me reading the one after this that I also got in the sale...nope *I clearly feel no shame*
It's my own fault if I don't like it as much as if I was following the series - but at least I know a bit more now and I know I like it.
I will then start from the beginning ha! I am fully expecting this star rating to rise.
I made a rookie mistake and started a series right in the middle without any background at all - in my defence audible lured me into it as this one was on special *shame on me*
I enjoyed it but I know I missed out on so much character input - it's quirky and funny and I loved the 'Miss Marple' with a modern edge vibe. Actually probably a bit more Poirot as Bryant is bonkers.
Will it stop me reading the one after this that I also got in the sale...nope *I clearly feel no shame*
It's my own fault if I don't like it as much as if I was following the series - but at least I know a bit more now and I know I like it.
I will then start from the beginning ha! I am fully expecting this star rating to rise.
July 22, 2022
Another great read by Mr. Fowler, featuring urbane detective John May and his more frumpy and eccentric colleague, Arthur Bryant. (And all the other interesting, complex characters which make up the Peculiar Crime Unit in London, England.)
In this one they're set on investigating the death of a young woman found chained to a rock in a somewhat deserted stretch of shore along the Thames. (She drowned when the tide came in.) Seems she might have chained herself there, or not? This is followed by other mysterious murders in and around the same area. This series is meticulously-written, with attention to so many weird and fascinating areas of London. What adds frosting to the May-and-Bryant layer cake here is that Arthur Bryant might be losing his mind, entering early dementia, or perhaps a bit of both. And how can something so seemingly tragic be frosting? Because whenever Arthur has a delirium (or hallucination), he finds himself back in a different era altogether. The 1940's? 1600's? These brief moments are pure gold, IMO. It's NOT a time travel book at all, but the substance and information Arthur gleans from each episode is wonderful.
I read Bryant and May books very slowly as I want to savor the writing, the dialogue, the detail. I once wrote I would be sad when I ran out of Ruth Rendell's Inspector Reggie Wexford books - and I was! I feel the same way about this series, when I can no longer tag along with John and Arthur as they untangle yet another complex case of murder, mayhem, corruption, intrigue and so on...
Five stars.
In this one they're set on investigating the death of a young woman found chained to a rock in a somewhat deserted stretch of shore along the Thames. (She drowned when the tide came in.) Seems she might have chained herself there, or not? This is followed by other mysterious murders in and around the same area. This series is meticulously-written, with attention to so many weird and fascinating areas of London. What adds frosting to the May-and-Bryant layer cake here is that Arthur Bryant might be losing his mind, entering early dementia, or perhaps a bit of both. And how can something so seemingly tragic be frosting? Because whenever Arthur has a delirium (or hallucination), he finds himself back in a different era altogether. The 1940's? 1600's? These brief moments are pure gold, IMO. It's NOT a time travel book at all, but the substance and information Arthur gleans from each episode is wonderful.
I read Bryant and May books very slowly as I want to savor the writing, the dialogue, the detail. I once wrote I would be sad when I ran out of Ruth Rendell's Inspector Reggie Wexford books - and I was! I feel the same way about this series, when I can no longer tag along with John and Arthur as they untangle yet another complex case of murder, mayhem, corruption, intrigue and so on...
Five stars.
Read
July 6, 2016As usual, the latest Bryant & May is equal parts frustration and fascination. The detectives themselves are if anything better than ever, with May’s romantic streak coming to the fore again. Meanwhile Bryant, who has always been erratic and prone to distraction by London's secret history, finds that as his senses fail he is coming unstuck in time, literally wandering into Victorian times or the Blitz. And their case this time takes them down to London’s artery, the Thames, with plenty of strange old facts for Bryant to get his (false) teeth into and a wonderfully enigmatic first crime which (not for the first time in this series) takes place somewhere I used to wander on work lunch breaks. Even the sledgehammer politics aren’t as irksome as they can sometimes be, precisely because the riverside is an area where capital’s crimes are so unsubtle, with new developments illicitly blocking off sections of the riverbank yet seemingly facing no consequences.
However. There remains the undigested research, which I can stomach when it’s Bryant holding forth but less so when it’s two migrants in a rickety Mediterranean boat carefully exchanging facts. That the book is set in November this year yet includes a scene in BHS is one thing (you can’t fault an author for not being precognitive in SF, let alone other genres); that the BHS in question should seem so plush, rather than the sad and shabby place that chain had been for years, is more puzzling. References to the Mayor seemed to me to imply Boris, whose term was always going to be over by now. Then there’s the odd idea that from its new skyscrapers London looks like any city (not a chance), or the puzzling reference to the UK as an island. Perhaps strangest of all, having spent the past few books building up the other staff of the Peculiar Crimes Unit, Fowler now sidelines many of them; Colin, Meera and Fraternity rate barely a mention until the book is halfway done. And compared to The Burning Man, where Bryant’s mental decline was quite affecting, here somehow one knows that it can’t really be the end for him – perhaps because there are so many clues to the nature of the problem.
And yet, for all those complaints, this is the 14th Bryant & May book I’ve read. And in some ways, in its fascination with London’s rivers, maybe the closest to the one where I first met them, The Water Room. They keep me coming back, and even more so now Bryant can ramble through the city’s past as well as its haunted present. Like me, perhaps like Fowler, they’re always on the edge of finally falling out of love with London, yet ultimately unable to think of anywhere to rival it. We’re all the city’s people.
However. There remains the undigested research, which I can stomach when it’s Bryant holding forth but less so when it’s two migrants in a rickety Mediterranean boat carefully exchanging facts. That the book is set in November this year yet includes a scene in BHS is one thing (you can’t fault an author for not being precognitive in SF, let alone other genres); that the BHS in question should seem so plush, rather than the sad and shabby place that chain had been for years, is more puzzling. References to the Mayor seemed to me to imply Boris, whose term was always going to be over by now. Then there’s the odd idea that from its new skyscrapers London looks like any city (not a chance), or the puzzling reference to the UK as an island. Perhaps strangest of all, having spent the past few books building up the other staff of the Peculiar Crimes Unit, Fowler now sidelines many of them; Colin, Meera and Fraternity rate barely a mention until the book is halfway done. And compared to The Burning Man, where Bryant’s mental decline was quite affecting, here somehow one knows that it can’t really be the end for him – perhaps because there are so many clues to the nature of the problem.
And yet, for all those complaints, this is the 14th Bryant & May book I’ve read. And in some ways, in its fascination with London’s rivers, maybe the closest to the one where I first met them, The Water Room. They keep me coming back, and even more so now Bryant can ramble through the city’s past as well as its haunted present. Like me, perhaps like Fowler, they’re always on the edge of finally falling out of love with London, yet ultimately unable to think of anywhere to rival it. We’re all the city’s people.
February 14, 2022
This was a very rewarding book to read on many levels. I loved the history of the Thames playing a major role as the difficult mystery challenged the PCU when they were already struggling with the condition of one of their own. Great book!
Library Loan
Library Loan
May 30, 2021
I didn’t take to this story quite as much as I usually do. I think I found it as unnerving as the fictional characters of the PCU to have B&M out of action for part of the book!
February 8, 2017
First Sentence: Nothing gave Arthur Bryant greater satisfaction than making his first blotch on a fresh white page.
The body of a woman chained to a stone and left to drown by the Thames isn’t that unusual a crime. But finding only one set of footprints which lead one direction does make it more unusual. As more bodies are found, and Arthur Bryant’s mind becomes less stable leaving the team floundering, could this be the end of the Peculiar Crimes Unit?
Not every contemporary mystery opens with Celtic Queen Boddica sitting on a wall eating a candy bar. But then, this is Christopher Fowler who has taught readers to expect the unexpected. His use of a staff memo to the PUC is a wonderful way to introduce readers to both the characters and their functions.
Switching gears to two men trying to escape Libya for England, is a perfect example of Fowler’s ability to change from humor to the horror often experienced by refugees. It is both terrible and compelling—“Many of the passengers had already been made frail by hunger and thirst, and the sea began to swallow them. They slipped silently beneath the surface like players forfeiting a game.” We are also given a lesson in how quickly and easily identity theft can take place.
The history lessons one receives are fascinating and add to the story’s strong sense of place. There are excellent observations on the wastefulness of Westerners where time and money are concerned. But it’s the detailed information of London and the Thames that add to the delightful experience of the reader.
Fowler’s voice is such a delight to read—“Longbright and May seated themselves in the cavernous living room opposite Cooper, keeping a distant cordiality, a double act they had finessed over the years until it reached the level of a top-notch production of Waiting for Godot.” He also really knows how to construct a plot. One can never predict where he is going to take one next.
Counting this, over the past three books, Bryant’s physical and mental health have been a major plot point—“Bryant released himself back into the vibrancy of the city with relief, for he had come to understand that in the midst of winter there was within him an invincible summer.” The realization of its cause is brilliant and a bit embarrassing once one realizes the clues have been there all along.
The book is not all cerebral, however. It is filled with excellent plot twists, a very exciting chase scene, and lots of suspects of various crimes.
“Bryant & May: Strange Tide” doesn’t disappoint. It has an excellent building of danger and suspense, a wonderful ending, and some of the best characters written today.
BRYANT & MAY: STRANGE TIDE (Pol Proc-Bryant/May-London-Contemp) – Ex
Fowler, Christopher – 13th in series
Bantum – Dec 2016
The body of a woman chained to a stone and left to drown by the Thames isn’t that unusual a crime. But finding only one set of footprints which lead one direction does make it more unusual. As more bodies are found, and Arthur Bryant’s mind becomes less stable leaving the team floundering, could this be the end of the Peculiar Crimes Unit?
Not every contemporary mystery opens with Celtic Queen Boddica sitting on a wall eating a candy bar. But then, this is Christopher Fowler who has taught readers to expect the unexpected. His use of a staff memo to the PUC is a wonderful way to introduce readers to both the characters and their functions.
Switching gears to two men trying to escape Libya for England, is a perfect example of Fowler’s ability to change from humor to the horror often experienced by refugees. It is both terrible and compelling—“Many of the passengers had already been made frail by hunger and thirst, and the sea began to swallow them. They slipped silently beneath the surface like players forfeiting a game.” We are also given a lesson in how quickly and easily identity theft can take place.
The history lessons one receives are fascinating and add to the story’s strong sense of place. There are excellent observations on the wastefulness of Westerners where time and money are concerned. But it’s the detailed information of London and the Thames that add to the delightful experience of the reader.
Fowler’s voice is such a delight to read—“Longbright and May seated themselves in the cavernous living room opposite Cooper, keeping a distant cordiality, a double act they had finessed over the years until it reached the level of a top-notch production of Waiting for Godot.” He also really knows how to construct a plot. One can never predict where he is going to take one next.
Counting this, over the past three books, Bryant’s physical and mental health have been a major plot point—“Bryant released himself back into the vibrancy of the city with relief, for he had come to understand that in the midst of winter there was within him an invincible summer.” The realization of its cause is brilliant and a bit embarrassing once one realizes the clues have been there all along.
The book is not all cerebral, however. It is filled with excellent plot twists, a very exciting chase scene, and lots of suspects of various crimes.
“Bryant & May: Strange Tide” doesn’t disappoint. It has an excellent building of danger and suspense, a wonderful ending, and some of the best characters written today.
BRYANT & MAY: STRANGE TIDE (Pol Proc-Bryant/May-London-Contemp) – Ex
Fowler, Christopher – 13th in series
Bantum – Dec 2016
October 28, 2016
Long live the PCU! Saved from an ignominious end, the cast and crew of the Peculiar Crimes Unit are back from the brink yet again at the close of this book and Christopher Fowler promises there will be at least one more adventure to come.
The last several books have been increasingly melancholy in tone as our beloved Arthur Bryant seems to be facing a rare strain of Alzheimer's - which would inevitably be the end of the Peculiar Crimes Unit. We see clearly in this case the PCU cannot survive and thrive without him, and when his longtime partner John May makes a catastrophic error in judgment that takes him off the case temporarily, things truly fall apart. It's always been obvious the partners are the heart and soul of the unit but this case makes it clear that Janice Longbright and the rest of the crew cannot function without them at the helm. This harsh truth brings about some personnel changes by the end, but they are understandably explained and I eagerly await the next book.
Meanwhile in this mystery, Fowler serves up the convoluted, multi-layered puzzle fans have come to expect and love; it allows Bryant to wander about (in this case, escape his keepers as he sees it) and investigate Thames River lore with the usual cast of cranks and academics. It's all good fun but underlaid with a deep sadness as Bryant faces hallucinations and blackout related to his condition - until a rather miraculous turn in events leads him to a possible cure. No spoilers, but it is credible and makes sense, I've read of such unwitting environmental poisoning so I was comfortable with the plot twist and thrilled to have him back in harness. The plotting is rather chaotic and meandering and I got tired of the Ali/Cassie POV but I knew Fowler would bring it all together in the end, and he never fails to deliver. All in all, a fun and satisfying outing with the PCU, can't wait for the next one!
The last several books have been increasingly melancholy in tone as our beloved Arthur Bryant seems to be facing a rare strain of Alzheimer's - which would inevitably be the end of the Peculiar Crimes Unit. We see clearly in this case the PCU cannot survive and thrive without him, and when his longtime partner John May makes a catastrophic error in judgment that takes him off the case temporarily, things truly fall apart. It's always been obvious the partners are the heart and soul of the unit but this case makes it clear that Janice Longbright and the rest of the crew cannot function without them at the helm. This harsh truth brings about some personnel changes by the end, but they are understandably explained and I eagerly await the next book.
Meanwhile in this mystery, Fowler serves up the convoluted, multi-layered puzzle fans have come to expect and love; it allows Bryant to wander about (in this case, escape his keepers as he sees it) and investigate Thames River lore with the usual cast of cranks and academics. It's all good fun but underlaid with a deep sadness as Bryant faces hallucinations and blackout related to his condition - until a rather miraculous turn in events leads him to a possible cure. No spoilers, but it is credible and makes sense, I've read of such unwitting environmental poisoning so I was comfortable with the plot twist and thrilled to have him back in harness. The plotting is rather chaotic and meandering and I got tired of the Ali/Cassie POV but I knew Fowler would bring it all together in the end, and he never fails to deliver. All in all, a fun and satisfying outing with the PCU, can't wait for the next one!
December 21, 2016
It is so easy for me to love a Bryant and May novel. They give me the things I want most when I pick up a mystery novel. This one has an explanation for what has been ailing Arthur Bryant - author Christopher Fowler says he has been giving us clues through the last three books but I have to confess to not being eagle-eyed enough to pick up on them - so now I'm happy again that Arthur and John are actually investigating normally without Arthur's health issues intruding to such a large extent. Well, as normal as the Peculiar Crimes Unit can ever get. (By the way, have you ever wondered what happens with the phone calls the two Daves take when everybody else is too busy to answer the calls? Because the mind just boggles!)
This novel uses the tides of the River Thames as the means for solving the mysterious deaths which happen on this one small stretch of beach along the river. And let's not forget the human appendage that's involved which seems to simply muddy everything up but in reality provides a lot of answers. It was an accumulation of historical knowledge and modern sleuthing which, once again, provided the solution to the crimes. I enjoyed catching up with the continuing cast, was sorry to be losing one of the cast, and still feel so sorry for Raymond Land. Probably, in the long run, he's the most normal and sane one of the bunch.
Great fun for readers who like their fictional characters to be loaded with quirks and personalities, but who also want a serious puzzle to solve right along with the police. I suppose there isn't any reason not to begin reading the series here, but if you do you will not enjoy the questions and tensions the author had built up over the welfare of Arthur Bryant through the previous three novels. Just go ahead and read them all, but remember the first word in the name of their crime unit is "peculiar" and a peculiar group they are.
This novel uses the tides of the River Thames as the means for solving the mysterious deaths which happen on this one small stretch of beach along the river. And let's not forget the human appendage that's involved which seems to simply muddy everything up but in reality provides a lot of answers. It was an accumulation of historical knowledge and modern sleuthing which, once again, provided the solution to the crimes. I enjoyed catching up with the continuing cast, was sorry to be losing one of the cast, and still feel so sorry for Raymond Land. Probably, in the long run, he's the most normal and sane one of the bunch.
Great fun for readers who like their fictional characters to be loaded with quirks and personalities, but who also want a serious puzzle to solve right along with the police. I suppose there isn't any reason not to begin reading the series here, but if you do you will not enjoy the questions and tensions the author had built up over the welfare of Arthur Bryant through the previous three novels. Just go ahead and read them all, but remember the first word in the name of their crime unit is "peculiar" and a peculiar group they are.
July 20, 2016
Quite good fun.
My View:
Wacky and bizarre, this episode is full of eccentricities and over the top behaviours by our beloved Arthur Bryant and for a short while Bryant is convinced that he is developing a type of dementia or the like ) read the clues scattered like crumbs and you will draw your own conclusion.
This is another enjoyable episode in the life of The Peculiar Crimes Unit – I love the trip down memory lane and the weaving of past and present stories to create this new mystery. Fun, whacky, the images of false teeth, funky smelling sandwiches in coat pockets, etc. slightly gross, there is an almost slapstick comedic manner about the writing … mixed with a serious mystery, an entertaining read.
** I have an image in my head of an actor who I think would play this part well…wish I could remember his name…it will come to me.
My View:
Wacky and bizarre, this episode is full of eccentricities and over the top behaviours by our beloved Arthur Bryant and for a short while Bryant is convinced that he is developing a type of dementia or the like ) read the clues scattered like crumbs and you will draw your own conclusion.
This is another enjoyable episode in the life of The Peculiar Crimes Unit – I love the trip down memory lane and the weaving of past and present stories to create this new mystery. Fun, whacky, the images of false teeth, funky smelling sandwiches in coat pockets, etc. slightly gross, there is an almost slapstick comedic manner about the writing … mixed with a serious mystery, an entertaining read.
** I have an image in my head of an actor who I think would play this part well…wish I could remember his name…it will come to me.
September 24, 2023
The officers working in the Peculiar Crimes Unit are facing perhaps their biggest challenge: Arthur Bryant is supposedly showing the beginning signs of what others believe is Alzheimers. The detective who finds his clues in esoteric books and contacts, finds himself facing forgetfulness and living dreams where he visits London of the past.
And despite their successes, they are still facing eminent closure, right when they are investigating a near impossible murder of a young woman in the Thames. John May has been tasked to babysit Bryant but the wily old detective won't be related to sitting in his office.
So once again the members of the Peculiar Crimes Unit and Bryant and May, are on a wild ride through the streets of London. Bryant is looking for clues through the weird tides of the famous Thames, while everyone else is doing the traditional evidence. And to those who don't know them, they seem to be doing no where.
But readers know that this odd collection of individuals somehow always come together and get to the solution. But its not always easy, always messy and hilarious good reading. There is charm and playfulness in these books and the witty combination of these characters, the settings, history of London and the clever mysteries are always a winning deal.
And despite their successes, they are still facing eminent closure, right when they are investigating a near impossible murder of a young woman in the Thames. John May has been tasked to babysit Bryant but the wily old detective won't be related to sitting in his office.
So once again the members of the Peculiar Crimes Unit and Bryant and May, are on a wild ride through the streets of London. Bryant is looking for clues through the weird tides of the famous Thames, while everyone else is doing the traditional evidence. And to those who don't know them, they seem to be doing no where.
But readers know that this odd collection of individuals somehow always come together and get to the solution. But its not always easy, always messy and hilarious good reading. There is charm and playfulness in these books and the witty combination of these characters, the settings, history of London and the clever mysteries are always a winning deal.
April 26, 2017
After I read the book preceding this one, I was extremely worried that the Peculiar Crime Unit series would disappear due to the apparent mental problems that were plaguing Arthur Bryant for which there appeared to be no cure. But, in this book, leave it to Christopher Fowler to devise a solution that works, saves the day, and I can now look forward to more of the PCU. Whew!!!!
The River Thames is one of the main characters in this convoluted story about several deaths in and around the river. The history of the Thames is right up Bryant's alley and he is off and running with wild theories about the murders, dragging along his more reality based partner John May. As usual, he starts off on the wrong track but it slowly begins to come together This book is longer than most of the series and it gets a little confusing at times, but, as strange as that seems, that is one of the appeals of this series.......they are always a little off center without becoming unbelievable.
This is one of those series which probably should be read in chronological order since there are many back stories to the delightful continuing characters and incidents from previous books are often mentioned. Enjoy!!!!!!!
The River Thames is one of the main characters in this convoluted story about several deaths in and around the river. The history of the Thames is right up Bryant's alley and he is off and running with wild theories about the murders, dragging along his more reality based partner John May. As usual, he starts off on the wrong track but it slowly begins to come together This book is longer than most of the series and it gets a little confusing at times, but, as strange as that seems, that is one of the appeals of this series.......they are always a little off center without becoming unbelievable.
This is one of those series which probably should be read in chronological order since there are many back stories to the delightful continuing characters and incidents from previous books are often mentioned. Enjoy!!!!!!!
February 10, 2016
Just another day at the office for the Peculiar Crimes Unit.
A girl's body is found tied to a pole in the Thames.
This is yet another great story by Christopher Fowler.
Very funny (especially the scene with Boadicea and the Roman Centurion)!
Why there isn't a TV series I'll never know.
Very, very highly recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Random House via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
A girl's body is found tied to a pole in the Thames.
This is yet another great story by Christopher Fowler.
Very funny (especially the scene with Boadicea and the Roman Centurion)!
Why there isn't a TV series I'll never know.
Very, very highly recommended.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Random House via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
April 12, 2016
If you are not reading the Bryant and May mysteries, you are missing out on some of the best mystery novels currently being written. What I like most about this series, is that it is as much about London history and legends as it is about the actual crime being investigated. The next time I'm in London, my guidebook will be courtesy of Arthur Bryant.
April 1, 2017
Another excellent Bryant and May novel with a complex plot (how does Christopher Fowler come up with such great plots?) and return of all the favourite characters. Even the 2 Daves get a little more of a role in this one (with a surprise for them at the end). Certain things with Bryant are resolved, which was a relief!! And yes I missed the clues in previous books....
April 1, 2018
I found this entry in the series wonderful in its London lore but the everything was better before those awful banker/corporate stooges sucked the joy out of it all gets tiresome. What also got tiresome was the Arthur Bryant storyline for the first two thirds of the book. The last third has made me decide to go back and read the series from the start.
May 15, 2016
Always a joy to read a Bryant & May mystery - and this one is no exception.
November 24, 2023
Apparently I didn't enter this when I first read it. Well. This is #13 and the characters are pretty well set, even Crippen the unit's cat and the two Daves who seem to be permanently working on the building when they aren't seconded to covering the phones - which must breach some regulations I'm sure. We have a new "enemy", Barbara Biddle from internal investigations who is investigating the unit's procedures on behalf of the Missing Link.
The first thing that people arriving in London try to do is to become invisible. You have to blend into the surroundings, fit in, appear as if you've been there all your life. Chris Fowler comments that once people have settled into London even their speech patterns become indistinguishable from born Londoners. I notice that Bryant, however, detects Arabic roots in Ali's speech.
Ali Bensaud, who has gone through hell in a handcart to arrive in London where everything will be wonderful, lost his life long friend by drowning when the overloaded boat they were in failed and sank so he has a somewhat negative view of life. He realises that people in London are more concerned about losing time than money so it is relatively easy to scam them, especially tourists. He meets up with a girl with an incredible business sense and the two form a partnership, starting with club acts and going on to counseling sessions. Once Lynsey Dalladay is found drowned in the Thames, chained to a staple in the tidal area, he becomes a person of interest to our unit. (By the way, wasn't Virginia Wolfe's story about a lady called Mrs. Dalladay? No, she was Dallaway.)
There is no point in commenting on plot any further because it would be a string of spoilers, but one thing is certain, although everything runs about all over the place as usual, the connections between people and events is a little easier in this one. Either that or I'm beginning to understand Mr. Fowler's convoluted mind.
As usual, too, we have all sorts of comments on old tales about the Thames, both real and imagined, we run across Boadicea (Latin) or Boudicca (closer to Icenic), Dalladay dies where children played on an artificial beach accessed by the ladders taken from a sunken ship, and Bryant has a strange meeting with Charles Dickens.
For anyone who knows anything about London, or likes it, this series just feeds the desire to be there.
I am astounded at how easily I forget who "dunnit". I don't know whether it's a weak mind or an internal desire to be able to read it as if it were fresh later on. I liked the way Ali's personality appeared to change as he reimagined himself while his basic character, of course, remained the same. He was dealing with life in the best way he could and so was Linsey. There are notes and comments all through my copies and I've finally decided that I'm imagining a conversation with the author as we go through the telling of the story.
The first thing that people arriving in London try to do is to become invisible. You have to blend into the surroundings, fit in, appear as if you've been there all your life. Chris Fowler comments that once people have settled into London even their speech patterns become indistinguishable from born Londoners. I notice that Bryant, however, detects Arabic roots in Ali's speech.
Ali Bensaud, who has gone through hell in a handcart to arrive in London where everything will be wonderful, lost his life long friend by drowning when the overloaded boat they were in failed and sank so he has a somewhat negative view of life. He realises that people in London are more concerned about losing time than money so it is relatively easy to scam them, especially tourists. He meets up with a girl with an incredible business sense and the two form a partnership, starting with club acts and going on to counseling sessions. Once Lynsey Dalladay is found drowned in the Thames, chained to a staple in the tidal area, he becomes a person of interest to our unit. (By the way, wasn't Virginia Wolfe's story about a lady called Mrs. Dalladay? No, she was Dallaway.)
There is no point in commenting on plot any further because it would be a string of spoilers, but one thing is certain, although everything runs about all over the place as usual, the connections between people and events is a little easier in this one. Either that or I'm beginning to understand Mr. Fowler's convoluted mind.
As usual, too, we have all sorts of comments on old tales about the Thames, both real and imagined, we run across Boadicea (Latin) or Boudicca (closer to Icenic), Dalladay dies where children played on an artificial beach accessed by the ladders taken from a sunken ship, and Bryant has a strange meeting with Charles Dickens.
For anyone who knows anything about London, or likes it, this series just feeds the desire to be there.
I am astounded at how easily I forget who "dunnit". I don't know whether it's a weak mind or an internal desire to be able to read it as if it were fresh later on. I liked the way Ali's personality appeared to change as he reimagined himself while his basic character, of course, remained the same. He was dealing with life in the best way he could and so was Linsey. There are notes and comments all through my copies and I've finally decided that I'm imagining a conversation with the author as we go through the telling of the story.
February 14, 2016
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of Strange Tide, the 13th outing for The Peculiar Crimes Unit.
It is many years since I have read any of the Bryant and May series so I was interested to see what they are up to now. Arthur Bryant is having memory and blackout problems which are attributed to Alzheimer's so he is grounded by the powers that be while the rest of the team seem rudderless without him when left to investigate a body found chained to a ring on Thames Beach. Needless to say Arthur can't keep his nose out as the body count rises and, aided by some vivid hallucinations, manages to save the day in his own inimitable way.
Strange Tide is a very London novel with the Thames taking centre stage and is very informative about its myths, legends and history, sometimes to the detriment of the investigation which can get lost in this avalanche of information, but as that's the way Bryant's mind works it is rather illustrative of how the rest of the team feel when dealing with him. The actual crime plot is suitably convoluted and the perpetrator well disguised so the solution comes as an unexpected surprise.
The strength of the novel, and the series, lies in the mad, unruly world of lateral thinking Arthur Bryant. He is an unconscious comedian with some extremely funny lines and a magpie like need to collect and hoard esoteric and mundane information which ultimately lead him to solving the crime. I rather like his hallucinations which involve him stepping back in time and getting tips on the case as they seem to fit so well into his personality.
I don't think Strange Tide is to be taken too seriously, its general air of irreverence and strange happenings would be a big hint in this respect, but it is an informative and fun read and an easy way to pass a few hours.
It is many years since I have read any of the Bryant and May series so I was interested to see what they are up to now. Arthur Bryant is having memory and blackout problems which are attributed to Alzheimer's so he is grounded by the powers that be while the rest of the team seem rudderless without him when left to investigate a body found chained to a ring on Thames Beach. Needless to say Arthur can't keep his nose out as the body count rises and, aided by some vivid hallucinations, manages to save the day in his own inimitable way.
Strange Tide is a very London novel with the Thames taking centre stage and is very informative about its myths, legends and history, sometimes to the detriment of the investigation which can get lost in this avalanche of information, but as that's the way Bryant's mind works it is rather illustrative of how the rest of the team feel when dealing with him. The actual crime plot is suitably convoluted and the perpetrator well disguised so the solution comes as an unexpected surprise.
The strength of the novel, and the series, lies in the mad, unruly world of lateral thinking Arthur Bryant. He is an unconscious comedian with some extremely funny lines and a magpie like need to collect and hoard esoteric and mundane information which ultimately lead him to solving the crime. I rather like his hallucinations which involve him stepping back in time and getting tips on the case as they seem to fit so well into his personality.
I don't think Strange Tide is to be taken too seriously, its general air of irreverence and strange happenings would be a big hint in this respect, but it is an informative and fun read and an easy way to pass a few hours.
June 6, 2016
Bryant and May never fail to entertain me, their crime solving exploits have given me many hours of happy reading and this, the 13th book in the series is wonderful as always.
I have never been to London but the way it is described in these books make me want to jump on the next plane, it really is the star of these books, well after the dapper May and the wonderfully eccentric Bryant.
Strange Tide takes us to the river, the mighty Thames to be exact. A woman is found, dead, tied up to a post. There seems to be no way for her to have got there but she died in a very public place and nobody saw her sad demise happening.
The Peculiar Crimes Unit are on the case but their two oldest detectives are slowly going off the rails, Bryant has been having hallucinations and it is suspected he has Alzheimer's. He is told to stay away from work, which of course he pays no attention to.
May, is the voice of reason but he has his hands full trying to keep Arthur at home and trying to solve the mystery, as the bodies start to mount up, May and the PCU are stretched to the limit. Can they catch the murderer before one of their own becomes the fall guy?
This book was a brilliant read but out of all the books of theirs I have read so far this one really did get at my emotions as Bryant's mind starts to fail. However like all good crime books, they should never be judged by their covers - Christopher Fowler is an expert at red herrings!
If you haven't entered the world of Bryant and May I strongly suggest you do, don't worry as well you can start at any book as they are easy to get in to without too much prior.
December 31, 2016
I received a free copy of Bryant & May: Strange Tide through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
Strange Tide is the fourteenth novel in
Christopher Fowler's "Peculiar Crimes Unit" series. This installment should satisfy long-time fans, but can also be enjoyed by readers who aren't familiar with the story to date. Completionists may begin with Full Dark House.
The names "Bryant & May" in the title have the flavor of "Holmes & Watson" -- an eccentric genius and a straight man. Elderly and nonconformist, with a conspiracy theorist's gift for unexpected connections and an endless store of inapposite trivia from London's history, Arthur Bryant free-associates his way to the truth. The nine other members of the Peculiar Crimes Unit (counting Crippen, the office cat) exist to support Bryant, and to clean up after him. As Strange Tide begins, though, Bryant is sinking into dementia.
Fowler is in good form: the pace is good, and the patter is funny. However, the mood is tense. The Thames is a dark, threatening presence throughout. More urgently, Bryant's unreliability creates an air of desperation. The supporting characters recognize their dependence on him; they start to imagine the Unit without him, and fear for their future. The question isn't so much whether they'll solve the crime they're investigating, but whether they'll ever solve a crime again.
Strange Tide is the fourteenth novel in
Christopher Fowler's "Peculiar Crimes Unit" series. This installment should satisfy long-time fans, but can also be enjoyed by readers who aren't familiar with the story to date. Completionists may begin with Full Dark House.
The names "Bryant & May" in the title have the flavor of "Holmes & Watson" -- an eccentric genius and a straight man. Elderly and nonconformist, with a conspiracy theorist's gift for unexpected connections and an endless store of inapposite trivia from London's history, Arthur Bryant free-associates his way to the truth. The nine other members of the Peculiar Crimes Unit (counting Crippen, the office cat) exist to support Bryant, and to clean up after him. As Strange Tide begins, though, Bryant is sinking into dementia.
Fowler is in good form: the pace is good, and the patter is funny. However, the mood is tense. The Thames is a dark, threatening presence throughout. More urgently, Bryant's unreliability creates an air of desperation. The supporting characters recognize their dependence on him; they start to imagine the Unit without him, and fear for their future. The question isn't so much whether they'll solve the crime they're investigating, but whether they'll ever solve a crime again.
December 29, 2016
Much as I love this series, this seems a weaker title than usual. Arthur Bryant is diagnosed as having dementia, but even his doctor has never seen a case like his. Fortunately, Bryant is not so far gone that he cannot diagnose himself and seek the treatment he needs. (Kids: Don't try this at home!) Meanwhile, the Peculiar Crimes Unit has discovered that there have been several mysterious drownings near the Thames. The next thing they know, John May himself is accused of one of the murders. Can Bryant stop having hallucinations long enough to save him? Oddly enough, my objection to this title is the stronger streak of realism in it--the PCU is at its best when it operates in the realm of the fantastic.
January 4, 2017
My two favorite PCU (Peculiar Crimes Unit) detectives are at it again in a book that focuses on the River Thames and those who live near it and travel on it. One big problem is that Arthur Bryant appears to be suffering from galloping dementia that has him confined to his apartment and John May has made a grievous decision that has resulted in his removal from the case. All this makes it harder to solve the mystery and yet they pull it off in their own, wonderful, and eccentric style. I love this series.
November 3, 2018
Kind of a mixed mind on this one. Bryant and May are always entertaining. It’s been hard watching Bryant and May the last few books battling Bryant’s mental issues. Fortunately, the issue was finally resolved. Bryant delivered his usual witty zingers against his boss. I feel like I increase my vocabulary every time. I also get incredible history lessons about London. The problem I had was with the plot. Because of Bryant’s issues it felt like it dragged the story down while the other characters skinned their wheels trying to figure out who murdered a woman along the edge of the Thames.
February 8, 2018
I absolutely loved this book, found it as an e-audio on my Library’s website. I’ve been reading them a little out of sequence but it doesn’t seem to matter too much (although I’m glad I read Burning Man before this one to put some of the story into context!). I’ve now managed to get the first book from Amazon as I do prefer to read books chronologically normally!
August 22, 2017
Please god, hurry up with the next in the series!
February 18, 2020
The Bryant and May books are a treasure of London history and information. The characters are fascinating and the mysteries are challenging enough to hold interest throughout the book.
November 9, 2021
At this point in the series I'm not completely sure whether I read the book for the unique mysteries, the weird facts about London or the relationship between all the players, particularly Bryant and May. One thing's for sure - I am always entertained by these books and the stories they tell.
Once again Bryant uses his strange and effective particular methods for solving cases while May tends to take the practical approach, with the help of his unit team. The Thames certainly played a character in this case and I appreciate all the history and events that took place near or in the river.
Looking forward to the next and by the way, would love a peek at the author's reference books. Those alone would be quite the entertaining read!
Once again Bryant uses his strange and effective particular methods for solving cases while May tends to take the practical approach, with the help of his unit team. The Thames certainly played a character in this case and I appreciate all the history and events that took place near or in the river.
Looking forward to the next and by the way, would love a peek at the author's reference books. Those alone would be quite the entertaining read!
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