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Angelique De Xavier #2
The Sacred Art of Stealing
Their eyes met across a crowded room. She was just a poor servant girl and he was the son of a rich industrialist.Er, no, this is a Christopher Brookmyre novel, although the eyes meeting across a crowded room part is true. Where it differs from the fairy tales is that the room in question was crowded with hostages and armed bank-robbers, and his eyes were the only part of him she could see behind the mask. He is an art-thief par excellence and she is a connoisseur of crooks. Her job is to hunt him to extinction; his is to avoid being caught and he also has a secret agenda more valuable than anything he might steal. There are risks he can take without jeopardising his plans. He can afford to play cat-and-mouse with the female cop who's on his tail; it might even arguably be necessary. What he can't afford is to let her get too he could could end up in jail or, even more scary, he could end up in love ...
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
66 people are currently reading
1823 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 186 reviews
December 8, 2007
Be warned, this book contains language and humour. This is a continuation of A Big Boy Did it and Ran Away - if Brookmyre does one thing well, he does do a good title. If you are thinking of reading this it might be a good idea to read that one first - although this is by far the better of the two books.
This novel is probably my favourite of all of his books - but only just and they are mostly all so much fun and such page turners that it is hard to really pick between them.
Another warning is that there comes a point in virtually all of his books when it is impossible to stop reading - in this one perhaps when the two main characters end up in Paris for the weekend. Brookmyre is laugh-out-loud funny - which makes reading him on public transport quite something. His stories are lightning fast, beautifully crafted and a joy to read.
You rarely have to wait for one of Brookmyre's books to get started. The fact his characters also have interesting things to say in passing about racism, nationalism, religion, violence, the national health, sex, football and growing old doesn't hurt either.
This novel is probably my favourite of all of his books - but only just and they are mostly all so much fun and such page turners that it is hard to really pick between them.
Another warning is that there comes a point in virtually all of his books when it is impossible to stop reading - in this one perhaps when the two main characters end up in Paris for the weekend. Brookmyre is laugh-out-loud funny - which makes reading him on public transport quite something. His stories are lightning fast, beautifully crafted and a joy to read.
You rarely have to wait for one of Brookmyre's books to get started. The fact his characters also have interesting things to say in passing about racism, nationalism, religion, violence, the national health, sex, football and growing old doesn't hurt either.
March 11, 2009
Oh, this was great! Paul recommended it, but warned that many of the Scottish cultural references would go over my head. Sure enough, I think I missed about half of it (resulting in a late-night karate lecture on the Celtics vs. Rangers issues) but I really loved the book anyway, and I think Zal is now my favorite fictional character. I can't wait to read the upcoming sequel! (Okay, it's out in the UK, but I can't seem to get my hands on a copy.)
This is a sequel to _A Big Boy Did it and Ran Away_ (the one with the gamer (Ray) who runs into his old friend Simon Darcourt, who has become a terrorist, and together with Angelique (a police officer) Ray takes him down). In this one, Angelique is dealing with the aftermath of having taken down a terrorist, and being alternately idolized and rebuked by her department. On her 30th birthday, they call her in to end a standoff at a bank robbery. Instead, she's taken hostage by the robbers, and discovers a very odd robbery with an even odder ringleader, with whom she discovers she shares an alarming attraction. Things only get weirder from there. :)
Part of the attraction of the book (other than the usual Brookmyre humor and cutting insight into everyday people) is the way Zal outthinks not only the other characters in the book, but the reader. I have to admit, I'm one of those people who can usually guess who done it by the middle of a book, and I loved how every time I thought I understood the situation, I was one step behind Zal. That was some good writing.
As with all Brookmyre, it is not for the faint of stomach. That said, read it! :D
This is a sequel to _A Big Boy Did it and Ran Away_ (the one with the gamer (Ray) who runs into his old friend Simon Darcourt, who has become a terrorist, and together with Angelique (a police officer) Ray takes him down). In this one, Angelique is dealing with the aftermath of having taken down a terrorist, and being alternately idolized and rebuked by her department. On her 30th birthday, they call her in to end a standoff at a bank robbery. Instead, she's taken hostage by the robbers, and discovers a very odd robbery with an even odder ringleader, with whom she discovers she shares an alarming attraction. Things only get weirder from there. :)
Part of the attraction of the book (other than the usual Brookmyre humor and cutting insight into everyday people) is the way Zal outthinks not only the other characters in the book, but the reader. I have to admit, I'm one of those people who can usually guess who done it by the middle of a book, and I loved how every time I thought I understood the situation, I was one step behind Zal. That was some good writing.
As with all Brookmyre, it is not for the faint of stomach. That said, read it! :D
June 21, 2022
Even better than the first Angelique de Xavier book, showing that while Brookmyre can write a great action-packed thriller he is even better back on his usual territory of a crime novel, although far from a straight forward one.
This intricately plotted story is built around a bizarre bank heist in Glasgow city centre but keeps on layering. The author lays all the clues out there and, if you're paying attention, you work them out just before he reveals each one - well, mostly. He keeps some twists firmly up his sleeve.
As always, superbly written with great characters and action and Brookmyre's trademark Glaswegian humour.
I switched between audio and paperback. I have to say that while I generally enjoyed Caroline Guthrie's reading, her American accents were... not great.
This intricately plotted story is built around a bizarre bank heist in Glasgow city centre but keeps on layering. The author lays all the clues out there and, if you're paying attention, you work them out just before he reveals each one - well, mostly. He keeps some twists firmly up his sleeve.
As always, superbly written with great characters and action and Brookmyre's trademark Glaswegian humour.
I switched between audio and paperback. I have to say that while I generally enjoyed Caroline Guthrie's reading, her American accents were... not great.
September 26, 2011
This is, loosely, a follow-on from A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away. Same locale, and the focus here in on the wonderfully named Angelique de Xavia, who played a large part in the previous book.
Do you need to have read Big Boy to get everything here? No, you'd be able to piece together the necessary inferences about what happened, but it would somewhat spoil things should you then want to go back and read the prequel.
Anyway, what I wrote in my review of that book still stands.
Certainly good enough that I'm buying the next (and last) to feature this cast of characters.
Do you need to have read Big Boy to get everything here? No, you'd be able to piece together the necessary inferences about what happened, but it would somewhat spoil things should you then want to go back and read the prequel.
Anyway, what I wrote in my review of that book still stands.
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. The sports references sailed right by — I don't even follow American stuff.Yup, pretty much more of the screwball same. This sequel did have quite a bit more salaciousness, and while it has been a while since I read the first, I believe he did a better job of developing his characters. Oddly, the only scene and relationship that might merit tittilating content got a soft-focus soft-core treatment. The naughty bits were tangential to the story, and intended more to cause the reader to gawp and snicker.
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.
Certainly good enough that I'm buying the next (and last) to feature this cast of characters.
December 28, 2015
I think this is my favourite Christopher Brookmyre book. I couldn't put it down. Whilst it's supposed to be a sequel to 'A big boy did it and ran away', aside from having Angelique de Xavia in it, it didn't feel like a sequel. I don't think you really need to have read the first book to enjoy this one and I definitely think this was the better of the two.
I absolutely loved every interaction between Angelique and Zal. Their chemistry and banter just sizzled off the page. It felt odd in some ways that it was a Brookmyre novel I was reading; female cop falling for a bank robber sounded like a cliched chick lit book, but with Brookmyre's humourous lines it worked so well. I stayed up late reading because I wanted to see what happened between them.
Brookmyre has a brilliant talent for thinking up complex but hugely interesting plots and it was a fantastically well thought out bank robbery. With a couple of the chapters I did feel my interest waning slightly, with new characters being introduced that I didn't see what they were for, but overall the book had me completely hooked.
I absolutely loved every interaction between Angelique and Zal. Their chemistry and banter just sizzled off the page. It felt odd in some ways that it was a Brookmyre novel I was reading; female cop falling for a bank robber sounded like a cliched chick lit book, but with Brookmyre's humourous lines it worked so well. I stayed up late reading because I wanted to see what happened between them.
Brookmyre has a brilliant talent for thinking up complex but hugely interesting plots and it was a fantastically well thought out bank robbery. With a couple of the chapters I did feel my interest waning slightly, with new characters being introduced that I didn't see what they were for, but overall the book had me completely hooked.
January 26, 2013
Clever, clever book. (well I susppose I mean clever clever author). I love Christopher Brookmyre and have been listening to a few oh his superb narratives as audiobooks. (Totally recommend that as well - listening to these words in a right Scottish accent makes the words even funnier!).
The language is flawless, funny, subtle, to the point, complex, rude, considered and utterly brilliant.
I expect that Mr Brookmyre will not be to everyone's taste - and seriously, it always takes a while to "get into the book"...at times you wonder how all these plots, characters, sub-plots and intriging bits of character information could possible all be related.
And yet - he pulls it together every time - every time.
The language is flawless, funny, subtle, to the point, complex, rude, considered and utterly brilliant.
I expect that Mr Brookmyre will not be to everyone's taste - and seriously, it always takes a while to "get into the book"...at times you wonder how all these plots, characters, sub-plots and intriging bits of character information could possible all be related.
And yet - he pulls it together every time - every time.
March 24, 2024
A dear friend pushed me to read this, as they have pushed me to read one other unmemorable Christopher Brookmyre book in the past. This more memorable one starts with extremely graphic depictions of misogynistic sex in small-town Mexico from the point of view of an extraordinarily cynical Glaswegian criminal. It isn't so much that I found it offensive as that I found it performative and rather boring -- but also sometimes funny. This prologue also ends with extreme images of past violence, which again felt over the top.
When the book shifts to a different continent and a different viewpoint, it gets much more readable. Detective Inspector Angelique de Xavia is a misfit brown cop in the Glasgow police force, just recovering from a very high-profile hostage rescue, in which she was clearly the hero and is being treated as a fuck-up. She is detaching from her bitterness at a football game when she gets an emergency call, and is dragged into a commedia dell'arte bank robbery in progress.
The book never stops being over the top, but it gets more and more interesting (and funnier) as the bank robbery progresses and completes, and as one of the most interesting romances I've seen in mystery fiction develops.
I'm clearly going to have to go back to the prequel that covers di Xavia's hostage rescue operation, because I really want to read the sequel, which apparently brings the two stories together and continues the intriguing romance.
When the book shifts to a different continent and a different viewpoint, it gets much more readable. Detective Inspector Angelique de Xavia is a misfit brown cop in the Glasgow police force, just recovering from a very high-profile hostage rescue, in which she was clearly the hero and is being treated as a fuck-up. She is detaching from her bitterness at a football game when she gets an emergency call, and is dragged into a commedia dell'arte bank robbery in progress.
The book never stops being over the top, but it gets more and more interesting (and funnier) as the bank robbery progresses and completes, and as one of the most interesting romances I've seen in mystery fiction develops.
I'm clearly going to have to go back to the prequel that covers di Xavia's hostage rescue operation, because I really want to read the sequel, which apparently brings the two stories together and continues the intriguing romance.
June 6, 2020
Having recently read A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away, my first book by Christopher Brookmyre, I was keen to get more of that good stuff.
The Sacred Art of Stealing, is the next in the Angelique De Xavier series and is every bit as good as the first one, A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away.
It opens with a most original and imaginative bank heist: a Situationist, Dadaist type robbery which soon involves Angelique, dragged away from a Rangers game, and soon abseiling into a developing hostage situation. After which the plot goes in all kinds of unexpected and enjoyable directions.
Another winner from Christopher Brookmyre. I look forward to reading more of his work.
4/5
The Sacred Art of Stealing, is the next in the Angelique De Xavier series and is every bit as good as the first one, A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away.
It opens with a most original and imaginative bank heist: a Situationist, Dadaist type robbery which soon involves Angelique, dragged away from a Rangers game, and soon abseiling into a developing hostage situation. After which the plot goes in all kinds of unexpected and enjoyable directions.
Another winner from Christopher Brookmyre. I look forward to reading more of his work.
4/5
October 20, 2017
"The Sacred Art of Stealing” takes place a relatively short time after its predecessor "A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away.” Angelique has successfully thwarted the terrorist plot at Dubh Ardrain, but she’s now in the process of paying the psychological toll for her efforts as the next crisis unfolds.
Though some of the cultural references went over my head, I can still appreciate this book for its witty internal monologs and tongue-in-cheek exchanges. Brookmyer offers a great deal of pointed social commentary in this way, but there’s never a dull moment of philosophizing. He fashions a distinguishable voice for each character and fully commits to their mentality on command. I was equally appalled whether reading the incendiary beliefs of Walter’s conservatism or the staightforward grittiness of Harry’s depravity. Yet, the thing I love most of all is Angelique’s ‘larger than life’ presence in the midst of such a robust cast of characters. She’s an empowered, multi-demensional female battling criminal extremism and the good ole' boys club one day at a time.
How many other Scottish-Ugandan counterintelligence officers have you read about?
It’s refreshing. Lord knows the existence of books like these are few and far between.
Though some of the cultural references went over my head, I can still appreciate this book for its witty internal monologs and tongue-in-cheek exchanges. Brookmyer offers a great deal of pointed social commentary in this way, but there’s never a dull moment of philosophizing. He fashions a distinguishable voice for each character and fully commits to their mentality on command. I was equally appalled whether reading the incendiary beliefs of Walter’s conservatism or the staightforward grittiness of Harry’s depravity. Yet, the thing I love most of all is Angelique’s ‘larger than life’ presence in the midst of such a robust cast of characters. She’s an empowered, multi-demensional female battling criminal extremism and the good ole' boys club one day at a time.
How many other Scottish-Ugandan counterintelligence officers have you read about?
It’s refreshing. Lord knows the existence of books like these are few and far between.
March 2, 2014
The Sacred Art of Stealing the Readers Heart
I can’t even remember why I picked this book up, but from the moment I did, I didn’t want to put it down. It doesn’t start when you’d expect and it keeps the reader on a rollercoaster all the way through. The idea of the original bank heist was sheer brilliance, even made me finish reading “Waiting for Godot”, yes reading, I’ve never seen it, though I would like to. This was the first Brookmyre I ever read, and so didn’t have the background on Angelique, that came in the previous book “A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away”, but trust me, it doesn’t distract from this book in the least.
The characters are well realised and the action is so twisted and amusing, that at times I was left crying with laughter, the ending worked particularly well. Only one word of warning - if you find out a little Celtic vs Rangers background it will help, or you could just accept that there are some references that will go over you head (I took the second option and it didn’t spoil the book at all).
Would recommend this book to anyone.
I can’t even remember why I picked this book up, but from the moment I did, I didn’t want to put it down. It doesn’t start when you’d expect and it keeps the reader on a rollercoaster all the way through. The idea of the original bank heist was sheer brilliance, even made me finish reading “Waiting for Godot”, yes reading, I’ve never seen it, though I would like to. This was the first Brookmyre I ever read, and so didn’t have the background on Angelique, that came in the previous book “A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away”, but trust me, it doesn’t distract from this book in the least.
The characters are well realised and the action is so twisted and amusing, that at times I was left crying with laughter, the ending worked particularly well. Only one word of warning - if you find out a little Celtic vs Rangers background it will help, or you could just accept that there are some references that will go over you head (I took the second option and it didn’t spoil the book at all).
Would recommend this book to anyone.
February 5, 2017
I don't remember much about this one except that I enjoyed it immensely and that it was extremely funny. Oh and the clowns. Bank robbers dressed as clowns.
January 14, 2024
A comfort re-read. Not sure how many times I've read it before, but I still enjoy it.
June 25, 2022
I always enjoy a Christopher Brookmyre, and this was no exception. A really good and clever story about humans and our motivations, with an excellent crime thriller backdrop.
July 12, 2014
Recomendado pelo Goodreads para uma leitura light - mas não tão lite - propus-me a descobrir este autor escocês. The Art of Stealing é o segundo livro com a protagonista Angelique De Xavia, detective e fã do Rangers de Glasgow. Após os eventos do primeiro livro, aqui sumariamente descritos, Angelique vê-se envolvida no assalto a um banco, onde se apaixona pelo líder da quadrilha. Com mais humor e diversas referências culturais que acção, os inevitáveis contorcionismos vão ocorrendo e as 400 páginas vão desaparecendo da vista.
Brookmyre não é o típico autor de policiais, optando pela categorização cómica, pela utilização da pronúncia e referências culturais escocesas. Apesar do esforço do autor para forçar a nossa atenção na trama, com testemunhos e introdução de personagens mais coloridas, a história não tem muito para espremer e estes desvios nem sempre ajudam à fluidez do livro.
Tem os seus bons momentos, conseguidos à conta do sentido de humor (poderá não apelar a todos) de Brookmyre, contudo, sem sair do estigma da banalidade. Não é mau nem aborrecido, todavia, estava à espera de uma trama mais elaborada.
Brookmyre não é o típico autor de policiais, optando pela categorização cómica, pela utilização da pronúncia e referências culturais escocesas. Apesar do esforço do autor para forçar a nossa atenção na trama, com testemunhos e introdução de personagens mais coloridas, a história não tem muito para espremer e estes desvios nem sempre ajudam à fluidez do livro.
Tem os seus bons momentos, conseguidos à conta do sentido de humor (poderá não apelar a todos) de Brookmyre, contudo, sem sair do estigma da banalidade. Não é mau nem aborrecido, todavia, estava à espera de uma trama mais elaborada.
September 5, 2016
I have not felt genuinely torn apart from wanting-to-flip-the-pages-as-fast-as-I-could, and not-wanting-the-story-to-end, as much as I did as I read this one. I even stopped somewhere in the middle of the book and re-read from the very first page. That's how compellingly interested this book is.
As a direct continuation from the previous events, Angelique de Xavia was (at first) unwillingly dragged into a robbery in progress, but later on had her life turned inside out/upside down by the artfully gentleman of a thief called Zal Innez. He is at the no. 1 spot of my little list of the most likeable criminal.
Having finally finished, I have all sorts of feelings mixed up at the very same time. Sad but hopeful at the conclusion, deceived and a bit stupid for not being able to predict the carefully planned tricks, and most of all in awe with Christopher Brookmyre. He never ceased to amaze! I have a silly smile plastered on my face (in hopes to suppress a laugh as I was reading on the train).
Also worth mentioning that I had the help from two colleagues from Aberdeen and Glesca with all those Scottish fitba/cultural/jokes references. Otherwise, Google is your best friend.
As a direct continuation from the previous events, Angelique de Xavia was (at first) unwillingly dragged into a robbery in progress, but later on had her life turned inside out/upside down by the artfully gentleman of a thief called Zal Innez. He is at the no. 1 spot of my little list of the most likeable criminal.
Having finally finished, I have all sorts of feelings mixed up at the very same time. Sad but hopeful at the conclusion, deceived and a bit stupid for not being able to predict the carefully planned tricks, and most of all in awe with Christopher Brookmyre. He never ceased to amaze! I have a silly smile plastered on my face (in hopes to suppress a laugh as I was reading on the train).
Also worth mentioning that I had the help from two colleagues from Aberdeen and Glesca with all those Scottish fitba/cultural/jokes references. Otherwise, Google is your best friend.
November 1, 2023
A very clever heist story with the usual addition of industrial scale swearing and full throttle polemics. It wouldn't be a Brookmyre novel otherwise, would it? Must admit, I kinda wish he would rein in the ideological stuff. I'll give it 3.75 stars, though to be fair I think my enjoyment was marred by a poor choice of narrator. The young Scottish female doing the reading couldn't do American accents, which was unfortunate beause there are a fair few US and Mexican characters.
August 17, 2016
Second book featuring Glasgow DI Angelique de Xavia, this was a most surreal caper story with the author's trademark humor and a bit of romance.
August 6, 2019
Es una buena historia de un robo. Con mucha imaginación el autor narra intricadas historias mezclando pasado y futuro así como la vida de Glasgow
September 30, 2021
Probably a 4 star until the last 20% and then the way it all came together was so clever and I was completely hooked. Very ocean's eleven vibes!
August 4, 2025
A romance!!???
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2016
This is the second of Brookmyre's books I've read, a few general observations first:
He likes to point out people's, so, obvious discrimination but his lead character couldn't be any more trying to pigeon hole in a target for this in a female, asylum seeking, Catholic police officer. This doesn't stop Angelique from being a good character, it's just a bit overkill.
He doesn't seem to like Celtic or Rangers fans much, especially the former. He comes across as a very, embittered St Mirren fan. I only know one other of these, he is the same.
The factors above detracted a little from both stories, particularly this one in the early stages. It's a shame to let his pettiness get in the way too, as the story itself is very well written, other than the opening chapter - his American starts off sounding like a Glaswegian - and the other parts mentioned.
Adding to the enjoyment were some good one liners and intricate but understandable plots.
I will read the next in the series and possibly more by the author but my enthusiasm has been curbed by the factors I mentioned.
He likes to point out people's, so, obvious discrimination but his lead character couldn't be any more trying to pigeon hole in a target for this in a female, asylum seeking, Catholic police officer. This doesn't stop Angelique from being a good character, it's just a bit overkill.
He doesn't seem to like Celtic or Rangers fans much, especially the former. He comes across as a very, embittered St Mirren fan. I only know one other of these, he is the same.
The factors above detracted a little from both stories, particularly this one in the early stages. It's a shame to let his pettiness get in the way too, as the story itself is very well written, other than the opening chapter - his American starts off sounding like a Glaswegian - and the other parts mentioned.
Adding to the enjoyment were some good one liners and intricate but understandable plots.
I will read the next in the series and possibly more by the author but my enthusiasm has been curbed by the factors I mentioned.
November 1, 2011
Inizio un po' spesso, si riprende nella parte centrale dove i 2 protagonisti, attratti dai mondi diversi e contrastanti, si conoscono e la descrizione dell'educazione del ladro (non sono io il cattivo solo perché porto le armi) trattata come una forma di "interrogatorio" da Angelique, che è lo stesso dell'inizio di ogni storia. Tanti mondi a confronto tra loro, il mondo della polizia con i suoi metodi convenzionali che non accettano altre opzioni di quelle previste dai vari manuali, quello del ladro ispirato da trattare il furto come una forma d'arte e come dileggio per le persone che ritengono importante più il come ci si presenta al mondo che alle cose realmente importanti presenti in esso, il mondo dei "professionisti cattivi" per cui l'intelligenza è optional e tutto viene trattato in termini puramente economici o di rivalsa.
Si può leggere...
Si può leggere...
June 29, 2015
для брукмайра у мене небагато слів, крім слів захвату.
можна було, в принципі, припустити, що людина, яка любить робертсона девіса до того рівня, щоб давати своїм персонажам його імена на постійній основі, радше має виявитися хороша, ніж ні. але що аж так – це було доволі несподівано.
брукмайр бере поліцейський процедурал із пограбуванням банку (і, повірте, це може бути найпрекрасніше пограбування банку, на яке ви будь-коли натрапите) і робить із нього дивовижно дотепний, іронічний і зворушливий роман, від якого непросто відірватися навіть попри ретельне відтворення шотландського акценту в діалогах. може, в нього не найпропрацьованіші персонажі, але він так уміє говорити про людські досвіди (я вже писала, що опис похмілля в нього геніальний – так от, воістину), що це компенсує брак детального виписування.
можна було, в принципі, припустити, що людина, яка любить робертсона девіса до того рівня, щоб давати своїм персонажам його імена на постійній основі, радше має виявитися хороша, ніж ні. але що аж так – це було доволі несподівано.
брукмайр бере поліцейський процедурал із пограбуванням банку (і, повірте, це може бути найпрекрасніше пограбування банку, на яке ви будь-коли натрапите) і робить із нього дивовижно дотепний, іронічний і зворушливий роман, від якого непросто відірватися навіть попри ретельне відтворення шотландського акценту в діалогах. може, в нього не найпропрацьованіші персонажі, але він так уміє говорити про людські досвіди (я вже писала, що опис похмілля в нього геніальний – так от, воістину), що це компенсує брак детального виписування.
July 29, 2016
A daring bank robbery in broad daylight puts detective Angelique De Xavier on the trail of a highly intelligent, highly motivated and highly unusual thief. The closer she gets the more she both admires him and wonders at his real motives.
This is classic Brookmyre; plenty of Scottish patois and references, clever and imaginative situations and well drawn characters. Nobody in a Brookmyre novel is black or white, everyone has shades of grey, sometimes more than one shade and this book is no exception.
As would be expected this is a thriller with a wry twist of humour running through it; the bank robbery itself is both tense and a hoot to read as the police are completely outmaneouvred. As the real pursuit by De Xavier continues through the rest of the book the reader is drawn in and exposed to every twist as she experiences it.
A thoroughly good read and highly recommended.
This is classic Brookmyre; plenty of Scottish patois and references, clever and imaginative situations and well drawn characters. Nobody in a Brookmyre novel is black or white, everyone has shades of grey, sometimes more than one shade and this book is no exception.
As would be expected this is a thriller with a wry twist of humour running through it; the bank robbery itself is both tense and a hoot to read as the police are completely outmaneouvred. As the real pursuit by De Xavier continues through the rest of the book the reader is drawn in and exposed to every twist as she experiences it.
A thoroughly good read and highly recommended.
June 15, 2016
This book pretty much has it all. Crime, Humour, Romance.....
I didn't enjoy it as much as "A big boy did it and ran away" perhaps because the romance between the two main protagonists seemed a tad unlikely. That being said, the imagination that went into the crimes committed in Glasgow's well-known museums and banks (albeit subtly renamed) is second to none. It's a well-crafted story of revenge as a dish best served cold, as one criminal sets up another for a fall. The initial bank robbery committed by a group of clowns is masterfully described, as well as imaginatively planned. Then we have the unlikely romance, and we are followed by the second imaginative crime, with bluff and double bluff and revenge sewn right through. All good stuff. I wonder if we will see DI Xavier again?
I didn't enjoy it as much as "A big boy did it and ran away" perhaps because the romance between the two main protagonists seemed a tad unlikely. That being said, the imagination that went into the crimes committed in Glasgow's well-known museums and banks (albeit subtly renamed) is second to none. It's a well-crafted story of revenge as a dish best served cold, as one criminal sets up another for a fall. The initial bank robbery committed by a group of clowns is masterfully described, as well as imaginatively planned. Then we have the unlikely romance, and we are followed by the second imaginative crime, with bluff and double bluff and revenge sewn right through. All good stuff. I wonder if we will see DI Xavier again?
March 14, 2018
Wow. I really didn't expect to end up liking this book, but the ending is brilliant. The first ~200 pages are painfully slow, with so much dialect and a ridiculous amount of Scottish soccer trivia masquerading as character development. I also found it very difficult to keep all the characters straight because the story shifted so much between them. It all makes sense in the end, though, as the different story arcs come together in an unexpected and hilarious way.
Brookmyre is a genius. There are elements of a stereotypical crime story, and a stereotypical romance (not to mention how goddamn cliché it is for both of these stories to overlap), but there's so much absurd shit and dark comedy that the story feels refreshingly original.
Brookmyre is a genius. There are elements of a stereotypical crime story, and a stereotypical romance (not to mention how goddamn cliché it is for both of these stories to overlap), but there's so much absurd shit and dark comedy that the story feels refreshingly original.
October 27, 2018
* I was really looking forward to listening to this book having enjoyed the first in the series and overall I was not disappointed.
* Unfortunately the reader on the audiobook does not have a North American accent to match her fantastic Scottish accent which was somewhat of a distraction until I got to a point where I could mostly ignore it. The poor rendition of an American accent was further complicated by the fact that at least one of the criminals is meant to have a poor North American accent.
* My only other niggle is that the number of characters sometimes confused me.
* The good news is that none of this was enough to stop me enjoying Brookmyre’s brilliant humour and his particularly amazing bank robbery.
* I will definitely be reading the third book in the series.
* Unfortunately the reader on the audiobook does not have a North American accent to match her fantastic Scottish accent which was somewhat of a distraction until I got to a point where I could mostly ignore it. The poor rendition of an American accent was further complicated by the fact that at least one of the criminals is meant to have a poor North American accent.
* My only other niggle is that the number of characters sometimes confused me.
* The good news is that none of this was enough to stop me enjoying Brookmyre’s brilliant humour and his particularly amazing bank robbery.
* I will definitely be reading the third book in the series.
May 27, 2013
My only regret is that I didn't realise that this was the second book, and by the time I knew it was too late, I was hooked. Brookmyre is very good at creating plots with more twists and turns in them than a road in the alps.
The characters are great too, some you can love and others you can hate, cheering loudly when they get what you think they deserve.
The whole bank job is brilliant and had me laughing out loud, can't wait for the next.
The characters are great too, some you can love and others you can hate, cheering loudly when they get what you think they deserve.
The whole bank job is brilliant and had me laughing out loud, can't wait for the next.
November 3, 2024
Brookmyre has never been better than here. No book of his is as dazzling in its plotting, as witty in its humour or as grounded in its concerns. While not as dark as the Jasmine Sharp novels get, it's got no shortage of dark moments amidst the glam of it all - in many ways, it's one of Brookmyre's most human stories.
Anyway, I re-read it in a sitting, because I love it and I hadn't in too long.
Anyway, I re-read it in a sitting, because I love it and I hadn't in too long.
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