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Bryant & May: Peculiar Crimes Unit #15
Hall of Mirrors
London, 1969. With the Swinging Sixties under way, Detectives Arthur Bryant and John May find themselves caught in the middle of a good, old-fashioned manor house murder mystery.
Hard to believe, but even positively ancient sleuths like Bryant and May of the Peculiar Crimes Unit were young once . . . or at least younger. Flashback to London 1969: mods and dolly birds, sunburst minidresses—but how long would the party last?
After accidentally sinking a barge painted like the Yellow Submarine, Bryant and May are relegated to babysitting one Monty Hatton-Jones, the star prosecution witness in the trial of a disreputable developer whose prefabs are prone to collapse. The job for the demoted detectives? Keep the whistle-blower safe for one weekend.
The task proves unexpectedly challenging when their unruly charge insists on attending a party at the vast estate Tavistock Hall. With falling stone gryphons, secret passageways, rumors of a mythical beast, and an all-too-real dismembered corpse, the bedeviled policemen soon find themselves with “a proper country house murder” on their hands.
Trapped for the weekend, Bryant and May must sort the victims from the suspects, including a hippie heir, a blond nightclub singer, and Monty himself—and nobody is quite who he or she seems to be.
Hard to believe, but even positively ancient sleuths like Bryant and May of the Peculiar Crimes Unit were young once . . . or at least younger. Flashback to London 1969: mods and dolly birds, sunburst minidresses—but how long would the party last?
After accidentally sinking a barge painted like the Yellow Submarine, Bryant and May are relegated to babysitting one Monty Hatton-Jones, the star prosecution witness in the trial of a disreputable developer whose prefabs are prone to collapse. The job for the demoted detectives? Keep the whistle-blower safe for one weekend.
The task proves unexpectedly challenging when their unruly charge insists on attending a party at the vast estate Tavistock Hall. With falling stone gryphons, secret passageways, rumors of a mythical beast, and an all-too-real dismembered corpse, the bedeviled policemen soon find themselves with “a proper country house murder” on their hands.
Trapped for the weekend, Bryant and May must sort the victims from the suspects, including a hippie heir, a blond nightclub singer, and Monty himself—and nobody is quite who he or she seems to be.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 22, 2018
212 people are currently reading
1866 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Fowler
264 books1,284 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 247 reviews
March 3, 2018
Christopher Fowler takes us back into the 1960s, with a much younger Arthur Bryant and John May, into Agatha Christie and the golden age of classic crime with the country house trope with varied guests in this latest edition of this stellar series. It begins with Arthur's meeting with his editor, Simon Sartorius, discussing a new memoir from Bryant documenting his time and cases in the Peculiar Crime Unit. Bryant suggests this historical case set in the Swinging London with its music, art, and colourful fashion that captures the nation in a state of change after the post war austerity years. Needless to say, Bryant is uncomfortable with this period, convinced that it is a flash in the pan before things return to normal. May is in his elements, embracing the fashion and the ideas emanating from an invigorated youth culture with its values of egalitarianism and peace. It begins with a debacle in Camden where Bryant sees Burlington Bertie, aka Cedric Powles, that results in him and May evicted from their beloved PCU by Roger Trapp until they are are assigned to protect Monty Hatton Jones, who is turning on his friend and business associate, Sir Charles Chamberlain, by giving evidence against him in a upcoming trial over the collapse of buildings that resulted in a number of deaths.
Monty is a unlikable man, who is less than impressed by Bryant and May, insisting that he takes up an invitation to house party at Tavistock Hall in Kent. Bryant, a man who is like a fish out of water in powerful and aristocratic circles, takes with him costumes from Noel Coward theatre productions in his vain attempts to fit in. The dilapidated Hall is in the process of being sold to Donald Burke by Lord Banks Marion, Harry, who is more concerned with the ashram he has set up in the grounds. His elderly mother, Beatrice, Lady Banks Marion, is unhappy seeing family heritage and an era slipping away. The guests are a predatory group, all harbouring an agenda which sees them seeking financial aid from the elusive Burke. Monty wants money to support his failing business, the Reverend is seeking support for the local church and so on. Burke's mistress, the singer Vanessa is invited along with wife, Norma. Tensions abound, with strange accidents and murders taking place. There are rumours of the legend of the Crowshott Beast and the military have engaged in exercises that cut of the guests and residents of the Hall. Will Bryant and May get to the bottom of what is going on at the Hall?
Fowler delivers his reliable mix of comic humour with a social and political commentary of the historical period, choosing to focus on the demise of the country house phenomena with the financial pressures faced by the aristocracy. A young Bryant is a man uncomfortable with people, already happier amidst the academic and books, rooted in the East End working class. May, by contrast, cuts a charismatic figure although he is unaware of it, his social skills have the guests at the Hall gravitating towards him. This is a great addition to the series, giving us a glimpse into our detectives younger selves, and foretelling the characters they grow into. I particularly loved how May was uninhibited in his love of 60s fashion! A fantastic, entertaining read with Bryant and May roaming in Agatha Christie country. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.
Monty is a unlikable man, who is less than impressed by Bryant and May, insisting that he takes up an invitation to house party at Tavistock Hall in Kent. Bryant, a man who is like a fish out of water in powerful and aristocratic circles, takes with him costumes from Noel Coward theatre productions in his vain attempts to fit in. The dilapidated Hall is in the process of being sold to Donald Burke by Lord Banks Marion, Harry, who is more concerned with the ashram he has set up in the grounds. His elderly mother, Beatrice, Lady Banks Marion, is unhappy seeing family heritage and an era slipping away. The guests are a predatory group, all harbouring an agenda which sees them seeking financial aid from the elusive Burke. Monty wants money to support his failing business, the Reverend is seeking support for the local church and so on. Burke's mistress, the singer Vanessa is invited along with wife, Norma. Tensions abound, with strange accidents and murders taking place. There are rumours of the legend of the Crowshott Beast and the military have engaged in exercises that cut of the guests and residents of the Hall. Will Bryant and May get to the bottom of what is going on at the Hall?
Fowler delivers his reliable mix of comic humour with a social and political commentary of the historical period, choosing to focus on the demise of the country house phenomena with the financial pressures faced by the aristocracy. A young Bryant is a man uncomfortable with people, already happier amidst the academic and books, rooted in the East End working class. May, by contrast, cuts a charismatic figure although he is unaware of it, his social skills have the guests at the Hall gravitating towards him. This is a great addition to the series, giving us a glimpse into our detectives younger selves, and foretelling the characters they grow into. I particularly loved how May was uninhibited in his love of 60s fashion! A fantastic, entertaining read with Bryant and May roaming in Agatha Christie country. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.
December 31, 2018
Two of my favorite crime sleuths are back. Bryant and May, taking their reading sudience back to the sixties. A time of peace, love, music and vivid street scenes, girls in short skirts, all of which John May fully embracies. Bryant, as he will do, considers it all ridiculous, well it is good to see that even when young Arthur was just a tad grumpy. This outing finds them guarding a key witness at a house party taking place at one of the last big houses, Lord and his elder mother in attendance. Not able to keep up this crumbling edifice the young, very hippyish young Lord has decided to sell. So we have an ashram in the garden, army manuevers, a manservant who loves to knit, a mystery writer who can no longer write, an embittered matriarch and a pig that is wearing a diamond necklace. And then the bodies start to pile up.
" They're all mad, Bryant decided. We're not in a hall at all. We're in a lunatic asylum.
Such fun stories these are, plus one learns a bit of history. Fascinating and delightful. Our erstwhile detectives seem to be over their head in this case, that as Arthur observes, is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel. Keep them coming Mr. Fowler, I'll be waiting.
ARC from Edelweiss.
" They're all mad, Bryant decided. We're not in a hall at all. We're in a lunatic asylum.
Such fun stories these are, plus one learns a bit of history. Fascinating and delightful. Our erstwhile detectives seem to be over their head in this case, that as Arthur observes, is reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel. Keep them coming Mr. Fowler, I'll be waiting.
ARC from Edelweiss.
February 3, 2019
It is bound to happen when one reads a book series. I have read and absolutely loved the Bryant/May Peculiar Crime Unit series but finally ran into one that didn't appeal to me. It isn't necessarily that the author wasn't up to his usual antics of mixing mystery with comedy/whimsy but instead it was the setting and time of the tale that put me off.
The main protagonists are probably the oldest working detectives in fiction which is part of the attraction of the stories. but in this book we are transported back to 1969 when Bryant and May were young and rather inexperienced members of the PCU. The story is set in a country house where the detectives are protecting a witness in an upcoming trial. Of course, murder(s) happens and the story is off and running.
The plot is a little more surreal than most of the books and I miss the eccentric members of the PCU, most of whom weren't even born when this adventure took place. We do learn where Bryant got the hideous knitted scarf that he wears throughout the series and also meet the white witch, Maggie Armitage for the first time. It just wasn't enough for me since the team of the PCU is such an integral part of the series. This may not be a problem for other readers/fans but I was somewhat disappointed.
The main protagonists are probably the oldest working detectives in fiction which is part of the attraction of the stories. but in this book we are transported back to 1969 when Bryant and May were young and rather inexperienced members of the PCU. The story is set in a country house where the detectives are protecting a witness in an upcoming trial. Of course, murder(s) happens and the story is off and running.
The plot is a little more surreal than most of the books and I miss the eccentric members of the PCU, most of whom weren't even born when this adventure took place. We do learn where Bryant got the hideous knitted scarf that he wears throughout the series and also meet the white witch, Maggie Armitage for the first time. It just wasn't enough for me since the team of the PCU is such an integral part of the series. This may not be a problem for other readers/fans but I was somewhat disappointed.
June 28, 2018
Another brilliant story in the Bryant and May series that I really enjoyed.
What really made this story for me was the narration which was wonderfully done and kept me listening till the end. Recommended.
What really made this story for me was the narration which was wonderfully done and kept me listening till the end. Recommended.
February 14, 2020
This Bryant and May novel has a 'frame' around it, set in the present day - Arthur Bryant is dining out with his agent to discuss what old case he might write up next as volume 2 of his - as he admits rather exaggerated - memoirs. The main body of the novel is set in 1969 at the time of the case chosen.
The two detectives are at Camden Lock enjoying a festival when Bryant spots a dangerous psychopath aboard a barge - their attempt to arrest him goes awry and the two discover themselves on borrowed time, the head of the Peculiar Crimes Unit seizing upon this to try to have them sacked from the police force. An official in the civil service comes to the rescue by putting an assignment their way - to guard a key witness in a fraud trial over the weekend. The problem is, the man insists on going down to the country to a 'house party' - being held at a dilapidated stately home - in order to waylay a millionaire business man with a proposal that will save him from going bust as a result of the testimony he is about to give. The house party soon involves murder and general mayhem, including attempts on the life of the key witness, and the two detectives' future looks increasingly grim. If they can't resolve the case and get the man to the trial on Monday, they are sure to be driven out of the force.
I found this an interesting change from the usual B&M setup, seeing the two men as young and rather different yet similar. Bryant already shows signs of the eccentricity he later develops with his difficulty with people, preferring research and books to get to the truth. May has a flair with people, but in this we see him also as occasionally brash and impulsive. There is also 'local colour' from the 60s setting re the fashions of the day, but also the attitudes - their charge is nastily racist and Bryant ends up calling him out on it. The two men are for once younger than those they are questioning and feel somewhat daunted. So it was interesting to get a different slant on them.
The only thing that held this back from a full rating was that about three quarters of the way through it did seem a bit overlong. But there were some good twists/surprises in what was superficially an Agatha Christie setting, with the added point that by the 60s that way of life was well on the way out due to social changes, lack of money by the titled, and a general malaise, as with the son of the house who is a drug taking hippy with no desire to carry on the family tradition. So I rate this as a page-turning 4 stars.
The two detectives are at Camden Lock enjoying a festival when Bryant spots a dangerous psychopath aboard a barge - their attempt to arrest him goes awry and the two discover themselves on borrowed time, the head of the Peculiar Crimes Unit seizing upon this to try to have them sacked from the police force. An official in the civil service comes to the rescue by putting an assignment their way - to guard a key witness in a fraud trial over the weekend. The problem is, the man insists on going down to the country to a 'house party' - being held at a dilapidated stately home - in order to waylay a millionaire business man with a proposal that will save him from going bust as a result of the testimony he is about to give. The house party soon involves murder and general mayhem, including attempts on the life of the key witness, and the two detectives' future looks increasingly grim. If they can't resolve the case and get the man to the trial on Monday, they are sure to be driven out of the force.
I found this an interesting change from the usual B&M setup, seeing the two men as young and rather different yet similar. Bryant already shows signs of the eccentricity he later develops with his difficulty with people, preferring research and books to get to the truth. May has a flair with people, but in this we see him also as occasionally brash and impulsive. There is also 'local colour' from the 60s setting re the fashions of the day, but also the attitudes - their charge is nastily racist and Bryant ends up calling him out on it. The two men are for once younger than those they are questioning and feel somewhat daunted. So it was interesting to get a different slant on them.
The only thing that held this back from a full rating was that about three quarters of the way through it did seem a bit overlong. But there were some good twists/surprises in what was superficially an Agatha Christie setting, with the added point that by the 60s that way of life was well on the way out due to social changes, lack of money by the titled, and a general malaise, as with the son of the house who is a drug taking hippy with no desire to carry on the family tradition. So I rate this as a page-turning 4 stars.
April 10, 2018
I read the first of these books last month and really enjoyed it so I was looking forward to this one and it did not disappoint (I’ve the 13 in the middle to pick up at some point).
It mentions in the beginning that this story is going to follow on the lines of an Agatha Christie mystery with everybody stuck in an old country house while the detectives try and solve a murder. The actual murder doesn’t take place until about half way through the book. Up until then our heroes Bryant and May are trying to protect Monty Hatton-Jones the weekend before he is to be lead witness in a court trial where his former friend is accused of building flats with inferior concrete leading to deaths including children.
There are a lot of characters here but each one is uniquely crafted so you rarely confuse them. They’re all enjoyable even if most of them are only there to wangle some cash out of the super rich new owner of Tavistock Hall. There’s plenty of the usual humour. There’s some good social commentary of the time. I half worked out the main twist at the end, I was just a little way off with my thinking but there are lots of twists and turns within the story.
Each of these books work well as a stand alone and they do really bring up vivid details of the times the stories are set.
I’ve really enjoyed the two books I’ve read in this series and looking forward to working my way through the rest of them.
Free arc from netgalley and Random House
It mentions in the beginning that this story is going to follow on the lines of an Agatha Christie mystery with everybody stuck in an old country house while the detectives try and solve a murder. The actual murder doesn’t take place until about half way through the book. Up until then our heroes Bryant and May are trying to protect Monty Hatton-Jones the weekend before he is to be lead witness in a court trial where his former friend is accused of building flats with inferior concrete leading to deaths including children.
There are a lot of characters here but each one is uniquely crafted so you rarely confuse them. They’re all enjoyable even if most of them are only there to wangle some cash out of the super rich new owner of Tavistock Hall. There’s plenty of the usual humour. There’s some good social commentary of the time. I half worked out the main twist at the end, I was just a little way off with my thinking but there are lots of twists and turns within the story.
Each of these books work well as a stand alone and they do really bring up vivid details of the times the stories are set.
I’ve really enjoyed the two books I’ve read in this series and looking forward to working my way through the rest of them.
Free arc from netgalley and Random House
April 29, 2018
The Bryant & May series never needs to end, no matter how ancient its detectives are, because Christopher Fowler can just keep writing books like this one, a flashback to early in the men's careers. It's 1969, and one of the first cases in which the two are threatened with losing their Peculiar Crimes Unit jobs. That's been a feature of pretty much every book in the series. Who knew that started way back in 1969?
The plot is the English country house murder at its most, well, peculiar. Bryant and May are supposed to be at the country house weekend party incognito, but Arthur can't even remember what his fake name is. Also, his idea of proper country house attire is whatever he can find in a trunk of theater costumes. The detectives are there to protect one of the guests prior to his testimony in a white-collar criminal case, but it soon appears that nobody in the house is safe from attack.
In time-honored fashion, events conspire to ensure that nobody can leave the estate, forcing Bryant and May to solve the whodunnit before the body count exceeds the number of potential killers. The plot progresses with Fowler's usual mix of complexity, humor, and elements of lore and legend.
If you're a longtime fan of this series, one of the treats of this book is that it features some series regulars, showing us how they met Bryant and May.
The plot is the English country house murder at its most, well, peculiar. Bryant and May are supposed to be at the country house weekend party incognito, but Arthur can't even remember what his fake name is. Also, his idea of proper country house attire is whatever he can find in a trunk of theater costumes. The detectives are there to protect one of the guests prior to his testimony in a white-collar criminal case, but it soon appears that nobody in the house is safe from attack.
In time-honored fashion, events conspire to ensure that nobody can leave the estate, forcing Bryant and May to solve the whodunnit before the body count exceeds the number of potential killers. The plot progresses with Fowler's usual mix of complexity, humor, and elements of lore and legend.
If you're a longtime fan of this series, one of the treats of this book is that it features some series regulars, showing us how they met Bryant and May.
September 9, 2021
In a true change of pace for this series, a much younger duo of Arthur Bryant and John May are found in an unfamiliar setting, 1969 London and a country home in Kent. It’s the swinging ‘60s, a time that May can relate to but Bryant finds too alien. The Manson Family has just committed their horrible crimes as a backdrop on the dissolution of flower power and hippie promise.
In a story that at times betrays aspects of an Agatha Christie novel, Bryant and May attend a country home house party under assumed identities all in the name of their jobs, and gradually find all of their assumptions about the weekend falling apart, as bodies also begin to fall.
While I was initially unsure whether I would like this trip to the past, I ended up enjoying it quite a lot. The 1960s touches were spot on and led to some reminiscing on my part—clothes, music, films, etc seem quite vivid from that time. And witnessing the earlier days of Bryant & May, as their skills were developing, was interesting. The same irreverent humor runs through the story and makes me look forward to whatever Christopher Fowler will come up with next.
Recommended for all Bryant & May readers. Others might want to read one of the other books set near the present day as an introduction to the series before reading this episode.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
In a story that at times betrays aspects of an Agatha Christie novel, Bryant and May attend a country home house party under assumed identities all in the name of their jobs, and gradually find all of their assumptions about the weekend falling apart, as bodies also begin to fall.
While I was initially unsure whether I would like this trip to the past, I ended up enjoying it quite a lot. The 1960s touches were spot on and led to some reminiscing on my part—clothes, music, films, etc seem quite vivid from that time. And witnessing the earlier days of Bryant & May, as their skills were developing, was interesting. The same irreverent humor runs through the story and makes me look forward to whatever Christopher Fowler will come up with next.
Recommended for all Bryant & May readers. Others might want to read one of the other books set near the present day as an introduction to the series before reading this episode.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
June 7, 2018
Another wonderfully off-the-wall mystery from Mr Fowler. It's so difficult reviewing something which is fifteenth in a series (even if they do not necessarily run in a linear fashion) without repeating all I have said before. It has a rather rosy view of the end of the 60s - or I should say, London at that time, but this is addressed to a degree at the end of the book.
I have to say though, I sent a message onto the twittersphere (copying-in Mr Fowler) about how much I had been looking forward to the book and how well it had begun. I mentioned that I had delayed the start of the book because I could see no mention of plans for number 16 (I had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of this because of its mention on the Bryant & May website for some time and there was no mention - yet - of another to come following #15). He replied stating that 'It says they will return at the end of the bloody book!!' I'm not sure which irritated me most, the 'bloody' or the '!!'. I did reply stating that I usually read the end of the book, well... at the end, and this is usually after I had already bought it.
I made the mistake of believing that someone should be pleasant because I appreciate their work. I'm probably also making the mistake of believing that you'll read this far when I'm so used to writing very short reviews!
It's a good tale, read and enjoy!
I have to say though, I sent a message onto the twittersphere (copying-in Mr Fowler) about how much I had been looking forward to the book and how well it had begun. I mentioned that I had delayed the start of the book because I could see no mention of plans for number 16 (I had been eagerly anticipating the arrival of this because of its mention on the Bryant & May website for some time and there was no mention - yet - of another to come following #15). He replied stating that 'It says they will return at the end of the bloody book!!' I'm not sure which irritated me most, the 'bloody' or the '!!'. I did reply stating that I usually read the end of the book, well... at the end, and this is usually after I had already bought it.
I made the mistake of believing that someone should be pleasant because I appreciate their work. I'm probably also making the mistake of believing that you'll read this far when I'm so used to writing very short reviews!
It's a good tale, read and enjoy!
May 12, 2019
I am truly sad. I love this series and am very sad to report that this one dragged. Never before have I wanted the story to hurry up and finish. This volume in the series goes back in time, transporting the octagenarian detectives to an earlier era, however, it really didn't work for me. I sorely missed their team of eccentric assistants also. I truly hope the author gets back on track with the next volume. I am not ready to 'throw in the towel' yet!
September 18, 2021
Fans of the series seem to have liked this as much as the rest of the series, but I didn’t. I much prefer when the whole PCU are involved. This was a locked house mystery reminiscent of the golden age of crime and it was pretty good, just not the magic that the whole team produce between them.
December 29, 2018
I happened to pick up the first book in the Bryant and May series a couple of years ago at my local used book shop. The first thing that caught my eye was the interesting and quirky cover.
In a sea of mystery novels the early Bryant and May covers really caught my eye. I would probably have never picked up the books had I not seen these lovely covers.
When I read the first book, the one thing that stood out head and shoulders above the rest was the dead pan banter between the two detectives—they had so much chemistry and it made the story fun to read and the shifting between the younger Bryant and May characters and the now older Bryant and May.
As soon as I was done I went out and bought the next four books in the series because not only did I love the covers but I loved the two detectives. But sadly that’s where things ended for me. I got caught up in other books and other series and just didn’t make my way back to this one for some reason.
Fast forward a few years and here is the 15th book in the series and when it came up for review, I couldn’t pass it up—-mostly because I wanted a quality mystery novel and I knew that author Christopher Fowler wouldn’t disappoint.
Ok so let’s get this out of the way now—I absolutely hate the cover art. It screams Scooby Doo and it just looks like every other cover to me. It blends in and doesn’t in anyway stand out for me. I love the old cover art with the Bantam editions. Had I seen this one in the store I wouldn’t have even known it was a Bryant and May mystery because the other Bantam edition cover art was used throughout much of the series and was so unique and an easily recognizable branding. I was sad to see that they had gone in a different direction with the cover art.
That said, you obviously can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Had I done that I would have missed out on yet another wonderful mystery! While I read the first book, there have been 14 other books between the first book and this one so the question then becomes, would I get lost in this book so late in the series.
One of the brilliant things about this series is that as a reader you can basically pick up any book that you want because each case or book is independent of the others. Bryant and May are older now and basically recounting their former adventures with each book being a different case. So if you missed a book here and there, you really don’t need to worry too much about being lost. I love that about this series!
I love how this series moved through pop culture and history. I recall from the first book how much I loved that the Blitz played a large roll in the mystery and ambiance of the story—-that same approach continues in this book as well except now it’s the 1960s so the historical and pop culture elements are different, but no less important in the story.
This is yet another country house party turned murder mystery and I never grow tired of the plot that Agatha Christie made famous. This is such a quirky whodunnit that I never got bored with the mystery/plot or characters. For me this was another win for Fowler.
The mystery was smart and the characters an odd mix but yet perfectly matched.
See my full review here
In a sea of mystery novels the early Bryant and May covers really caught my eye. I would probably have never picked up the books had I not seen these lovely covers.
When I read the first book, the one thing that stood out head and shoulders above the rest was the dead pan banter between the two detectives—they had so much chemistry and it made the story fun to read and the shifting between the younger Bryant and May characters and the now older Bryant and May.
As soon as I was done I went out and bought the next four books in the series because not only did I love the covers but I loved the two detectives. But sadly that’s where things ended for me. I got caught up in other books and other series and just didn’t make my way back to this one for some reason.
Fast forward a few years and here is the 15th book in the series and when it came up for review, I couldn’t pass it up—-mostly because I wanted a quality mystery novel and I knew that author Christopher Fowler wouldn’t disappoint.
Ok so let’s get this out of the way now—I absolutely hate the cover art. It screams Scooby Doo and it just looks like every other cover to me. It blends in and doesn’t in anyway stand out for me. I love the old cover art with the Bantam editions. Had I seen this one in the store I wouldn’t have even known it was a Bryant and May mystery because the other Bantam edition cover art was used throughout much of the series and was so unique and an easily recognizable branding. I was sad to see that they had gone in a different direction with the cover art.
That said, you obviously can’t judge a book by it’s cover. Had I done that I would have missed out on yet another wonderful mystery! While I read the first book, there have been 14 other books between the first book and this one so the question then becomes, would I get lost in this book so late in the series.
One of the brilliant things about this series is that as a reader you can basically pick up any book that you want because each case or book is independent of the others. Bryant and May are older now and basically recounting their former adventures with each book being a different case. So if you missed a book here and there, you really don’t need to worry too much about being lost. I love that about this series!
I love how this series moved through pop culture and history. I recall from the first book how much I loved that the Blitz played a large roll in the mystery and ambiance of the story—-that same approach continues in this book as well except now it’s the 1960s so the historical and pop culture elements are different, but no less important in the story.
This is yet another country house party turned murder mystery and I never grow tired of the plot that Agatha Christie made famous. This is such a quirky whodunnit that I never got bored with the mystery/plot or characters. For me this was another win for Fowler.
The mystery was smart and the characters an odd mix but yet perfectly matched.
See my full review here
February 18, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an advance copy of Hall of Mirrors, the fifteenth novel in the Bryant and May series.
Arthur Bryant's publisher asks him for another set of memoirs from the Peculiar Crimes Unit's archive and the reader is transported back to 1969 when Bryant and May were young and inexperienced and London was swinging. Due to an unfortunate episode involving a flare gun and a sunken barge the two of them are threatened with the sack and promised that they will never work in the PCU again. In the interim they are asked to protect Monty Hatton-Jones, a whistleblower in a corruption trial, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service. Monty, however, has ideas of his own and insists that they accompany him for the weekend to Tavistock Hall in darkest Kent where he has business to conduct. Things, however, do not go according to plan, especially when a body turns up.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hall of Mirrors which had me chortling from start to finish. It has all the usual ingredients of slapstick, irreverence, humorous badinage and a convoluted plot although, being set in Kent, the London detail is missing. You could be forgiven for thinking that it will be a golden age style novel with the country house setting and the limited number of well to do suspects but Mr Fowler's sense of anarchy soon takes over and it's basically mayhem. Due to a logistics mishap Tavistock Hall ends up in the middle of a military training manoeuvre abound with live rounds and tanks so the army takes the pragmatic approach of closing all the surrounding roads. Their communications equipment also jams the phone lines leaving the house party stranded with a murderer.
It is interesting to see the detectives as callow young men. Arthur is out of his depth and slightly panicked at being out of London and in exalted company. John is more worldly and appears to have adapted well to the new reality of the swinging sixties but he, also is out of his depth and comfort zone. How they manage to solve the crime is beyond me but it's fun watching their efforts. I must admit that I guessed early on where some of the plot was headed but it didn't spoil my enjoyment in the slightest as I read this series for the fun rather than the crime element.
I was most impressed with Mr Fowler's grasp of the period. I was too young to have experienced the era myself but it jibes with everything I've heard or read. I found it immersive and realistic from the attitudes and beliefs to the corruption. It made me laugh to hear John May say "groovy"!
Hall of Mirrors is a fine addition to a compulsive series and I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
Arthur Bryant's publisher asks him for another set of memoirs from the Peculiar Crimes Unit's archive and the reader is transported back to 1969 when Bryant and May were young and inexperienced and London was swinging. Due to an unfortunate episode involving a flare gun and a sunken barge the two of them are threatened with the sack and promised that they will never work in the PCU again. In the interim they are asked to protect Monty Hatton-Jones, a whistleblower in a corruption trial, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service. Monty, however, has ideas of his own and insists that they accompany him for the weekend to Tavistock Hall in darkest Kent where he has business to conduct. Things, however, do not go according to plan, especially when a body turns up.
I thoroughly enjoyed Hall of Mirrors which had me chortling from start to finish. It has all the usual ingredients of slapstick, irreverence, humorous badinage and a convoluted plot although, being set in Kent, the London detail is missing. You could be forgiven for thinking that it will be a golden age style novel with the country house setting and the limited number of well to do suspects but Mr Fowler's sense of anarchy soon takes over and it's basically mayhem. Due to a logistics mishap Tavistock Hall ends up in the middle of a military training manoeuvre abound with live rounds and tanks so the army takes the pragmatic approach of closing all the surrounding roads. Their communications equipment also jams the phone lines leaving the house party stranded with a murderer.
It is interesting to see the detectives as callow young men. Arthur is out of his depth and slightly panicked at being out of London and in exalted company. John is more worldly and appears to have adapted well to the new reality of the swinging sixties but he, also is out of his depth and comfort zone. How they manage to solve the crime is beyond me but it's fun watching their efforts. I must admit that I guessed early on where some of the plot was headed but it didn't spoil my enjoyment in the slightest as I read this series for the fun rather than the crime element.
I was most impressed with Mr Fowler's grasp of the period. I was too young to have experienced the era myself but it jibes with everything I've heard or read. I found it immersive and realistic from the attitudes and beliefs to the corruption. It made me laugh to hear John May say "groovy"!
Hall of Mirrors is a fine addition to a compulsive series and I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
November 17, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an eGalley of this novel.
This entry in the Bryant & May series is certainly not one of my favorites but it was interesting because of the background information it filled in for me. Just one example: now I know where Arthur got that old Mini he drove and drove in all those stories. This novel takes place in 1969 so Arthur and John are very young and the future of the PCU (Peculiar Crimes Unit) is already hanging perilously in the balance. Already the duo have a hard time staying on the good side of the person in charge of the unit and this thread will continue throughout all the novels.
Unfortunately the plot of this story is rather thin so spending all this reading time watching it evolve toward a solution took fortitude and a basic love for the characters. If you've ever wondered how Bryant & May would fare doing the country house mystery, now you have a chance to find out. Everything's in there: rambling dark house falling to bits, odd characters tied to the location for generations, a village population tied to the landed gentry and none too pleased about it now, characters gathered for a weekend house party but with lots of 'stuff' going on behind the scenes, awful weather. Add in Arthur Bryant and his inability to solve a puzzle because he's completely out of his comfort zone and you have a series of odd happenings which seemed to go on for quite a bit longer than strictly necessary. I'm glad I read it simply because I want to keep up with these characters, not because I especially liked this particular plot or seeing these characters transported back in time.
This entry in the Bryant & May series is certainly not one of my favorites but it was interesting because of the background information it filled in for me. Just one example: now I know where Arthur got that old Mini he drove and drove in all those stories. This novel takes place in 1969 so Arthur and John are very young and the future of the PCU (Peculiar Crimes Unit) is already hanging perilously in the balance. Already the duo have a hard time staying on the good side of the person in charge of the unit and this thread will continue throughout all the novels.
Unfortunately the plot of this story is rather thin so spending all this reading time watching it evolve toward a solution took fortitude and a basic love for the characters. If you've ever wondered how Bryant & May would fare doing the country house mystery, now you have a chance to find out. Everything's in there: rambling dark house falling to bits, odd characters tied to the location for generations, a village population tied to the landed gentry and none too pleased about it now, characters gathered for a weekend house party but with lots of 'stuff' going on behind the scenes, awful weather. Add in Arthur Bryant and his inability to solve a puzzle because he's completely out of his comfort zone and you have a series of odd happenings which seemed to go on for quite a bit longer than strictly necessary. I'm glad I read it simply because I want to keep up with these characters, not because I especially liked this particular plot or seeing these characters transported back in time.
March 25, 2018
I enjoyed Hall Of Mirrors. It is the first Bryant and May book I have read; it works fine as a stand-alone novel, but I suspect that there are quite a few running gags and references which I'd have picked up better if I had read some of the previous ones.
It is 1969 and, following a major debacle while in pursuit of a suspect, Arthur and John are sent to a crumbling stately home in Kent to guard a threatened witness in a forthcoming high-profile trial. A good deal of chaos ensues, including a number of deaths, and an Agatha Christie-like mystery develops.
It's a very well written tale and Christopher Fowler has a lot of fun both recreating and sometimes tweaking the nose of the Golden Age country-house mysteries. There is some genuine humour and the period is very well evoked, while the story itself is actually a pretty decent puzzle with two engaging protagonists and an enjoyable cast of characters.
If I have a gripe, it is that at 400 pages the book is too long and did begin to drag on a bit, but it's an enjoyable, entertaining read with some good social history underpinning it. Recommended.
(My thanks to Doubleday for an ARC via NetGalley.)
It is 1969 and, following a major debacle while in pursuit of a suspect, Arthur and John are sent to a crumbling stately home in Kent to guard a threatened witness in a forthcoming high-profile trial. A good deal of chaos ensues, including a number of deaths, and an Agatha Christie-like mystery develops.
It's a very well written tale and Christopher Fowler has a lot of fun both recreating and sometimes tweaking the nose of the Golden Age country-house mysteries. There is some genuine humour and the period is very well evoked, while the story itself is actually a pretty decent puzzle with two engaging protagonists and an enjoyable cast of characters.
If I have a gripe, it is that at 400 pages the book is too long and did begin to drag on a bit, but it's an enjoyable, entertaining read with some good social history underpinning it. Recommended.
(My thanks to Doubleday for an ARC via NetGalley.)
February 21, 2019
Arthur Bryant has been writing his memoirs, and his publisher has asked him for additional stories. Bryant recalls a case from 1969 in which he and his partner, John May, go undercover at a country house weekend in Kent to protect a witness who is about to testify in a major bribery trial. The house is on the verge of being sold by a drug-addled, hippie aristocrat and his widowed mother to a reclusive millionaire and his wife. Also among the houseguests are a famous mystery author, a nightclub singer, and a priest along with several others. Army maneuvers have closed the roads surrounding the house, and all ten houseguests and staff are unable to leave. Bryant and May seem powerless to protect Monty Hatton-Jones, who meets with accident after accident, but at least he hasn’t been murdered like another one of the guests whose mangled body parts have been found. This may be the last case for the detectives if they are unable to protect Hatton-Jones and solve the murders.
I’m slowly making my way through this series, which is highly entertaining. Bryant and May are the main detectives in the Peculiar Crimes Unit, which was set up during WWII to take on cases that were too quirky, weird or complex for Scotland Yard. Arthur Bryant is abrasive but a genius with an incredible memory for obscure facts, while John May is the charming, “normal” one. In [Hall of Mirrors], each of the chapter titles is a song from the ’60s except one, and the author has challenged readers to guess which chapter is the odd one out and why. Fowler writes with a quirky sense of humor, yet there is a seriousness in each of the mysteries in his books. His work is reminiscent of the Golden Age of Detection, yet with a twist. This one is Christie country house pastiche as only Fowler could do it.
I’m slowly making my way through this series, which is highly entertaining. Bryant and May are the main detectives in the Peculiar Crimes Unit, which was set up during WWII to take on cases that were too quirky, weird or complex for Scotland Yard. Arthur Bryant is abrasive but a genius with an incredible memory for obscure facts, while John May is the charming, “normal” one. In [Hall of Mirrors], each of the chapter titles is a song from the ’60s except one, and the author has challenged readers to guess which chapter is the odd one out and why. Fowler writes with a quirky sense of humor, yet there is a seriousness in each of the mysteries in his books. His work is reminiscent of the Golden Age of Detection, yet with a twist. This one is Christie country house pastiche as only Fowler could do it.
July 9, 2019
". . . There's nothing but scenery. A weekend filled with stiff upper lips, outdated theatrical games and slaughtering anything that moves."Tavistock Hall, a decaying mansion hemmed in by army exercises and heavy rains. The cast for murder is complete: a reclusive millionaire, the wife and the seductive mistress, the boring attorney, the flamboyant interior designer, the mystery novelist, the haughty lady of the manor and her drug-addled son. Throw in a group of hippies in the lawn, a one-armed groundskeeper, and a whistleblower who was intent on getting himself hurt despite, or perhaps because of Bryant and May's protection. This was one wonderfully sumptuous read that I didn't want to end (sigh).
January 2, 2019
Bryant and May: Hall of Mirrors by Christopher Fowler
This is the fifteenth Bryant and May novel by Christopher Fowler. Fowler appears to have written this book, as an “homage” to Agatha Christie and the other authors of Britain’s golden age of mysteries. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite live up to those brilliant pre-war writers. Granted that Fowler is writing in a very specific genre that is not his usual style, the book is interesting and fits into the customary parameters that are expected.
Keeping all this in mind, the story doesn’t take off until the latter quarter of the book. The story is set-in an old English country mansion, that has seen better days, and is being sold to an American millionaire (oh horror!) Bryant and May are at the mansion, for a weekend’s party, to protect an important witness who is to be in court the following week (all this takes place in a memoir of Bryant’s during the time of “Happening London”.)
Adding to the frivolities is a reclusive millionaire who is buying the “pile”, his wife, his so called ‘mistress’, a mystery writer, the buyer’s lawyer, the Lady of the House and her son. To make things interesting the son has a pet pig, the British and French are having a live fire, international war game, and rain that is so heavy that it floods the countryside. In case that’s not enough, there is a ‘Ashram’ of dope smoking hippies who are supported by the son.
It’s a mediocre addition at best to the series. Fowler does use this story to give those who have read the other fourteen volumes an early look at the partnership of Bryant and May, and explaining how some of the traditional B&M particulars came about; especially Bryant’s scarf and Mini.
Zeb Kantrowitz zebsblog@gmail.com
This is the fifteenth Bryant and May novel by Christopher Fowler. Fowler appears to have written this book, as an “homage” to Agatha Christie and the other authors of Britain’s golden age of mysteries. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite live up to those brilliant pre-war writers. Granted that Fowler is writing in a very specific genre that is not his usual style, the book is interesting and fits into the customary parameters that are expected.
Keeping all this in mind, the story doesn’t take off until the latter quarter of the book. The story is set-in an old English country mansion, that has seen better days, and is being sold to an American millionaire (oh horror!) Bryant and May are at the mansion, for a weekend’s party, to protect an important witness who is to be in court the following week (all this takes place in a memoir of Bryant’s during the time of “Happening London”.)
Adding to the frivolities is a reclusive millionaire who is buying the “pile”, his wife, his so called ‘mistress’, a mystery writer, the buyer’s lawyer, the Lady of the House and her son. To make things interesting the son has a pet pig, the British and French are having a live fire, international war game, and rain that is so heavy that it floods the countryside. In case that’s not enough, there is a ‘Ashram’ of dope smoking hippies who are supported by the son.
It’s a mediocre addition at best to the series. Fowler does use this story to give those who have read the other fourteen volumes an early look at the partnership of Bryant and May, and explaining how some of the traditional B&M particulars came about; especially Bryant’s scarf and Mini.
Zeb Kantrowitz zebsblog@gmail.com
March 20, 2019
I really enjoyed this latest mystery in one of my favorite long-running detective series, Bryant & May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit. As an added twist I read the library book along with listening to Tim Goodman narrate the audiobook, which was a lot of fun!
I wasn’t quite sure how I’d like my favorite crime-fighting duo in the countryside, as London is their usual setting - plus, this is sort of a “prequel”, being set in 1969 and telling the story of an earlier case from the storied past of the PCU. Christopher Fowler put his own inevitable, and I felt, brilliant spin on the classic country house murder mystery, adding in a lot of fascinating color on post-war British society. At first it was hard to get a handle on what was going on; Bryant and May are supposed to be protecting a star witness in a business corruption case, but he insists on attending a country house party. The detectives agree to accompany Monty to Kent to keep an eye on him, but suspect something is afoot almost as soon as they arrive; the other guests are like something out of an Agatha Christie novel, the run-down house is about to be sold to an eccentric millionaire who appears to be hiding from his fellow guests, and the dotty lord of the manor spends most of his time smoking pot with his fellow hippies in the ashram he’s set up in the garden. What could possibly go wrong?
I love this series for the dark British humor, for Bryant’s brilliant, quirky and academic methods of detection, and May’s long-suffering common sense. The fun here was seeing these fish out of water cope with a particularly gruesome murder, but also learning how so many long-running, humorous elements of the PCU came about: the endless stream of stressed out, overwhelmed unit supervisors driven into retirement from the force; the Forthbright women, Gladys and her daughter, Janice, who would become the longest serving member of the PCU; Victor, Bryant’s ancient Mini Cooper; the reason for Bryant’s ever-present knit scarf; his long association with white witch, Maggie Armitage; the marijuana plant Bryant always had growing under his desk...a delightful and fun entry into one of my favorite series, I hope Fowler treats us to more adventures from the PCU case files!
I wasn’t quite sure how I’d like my favorite crime-fighting duo in the countryside, as London is their usual setting - plus, this is sort of a “prequel”, being set in 1969 and telling the story of an earlier case from the storied past of the PCU. Christopher Fowler put his own inevitable, and I felt, brilliant spin on the classic country house murder mystery, adding in a lot of fascinating color on post-war British society. At first it was hard to get a handle on what was going on; Bryant and May are supposed to be protecting a star witness in a business corruption case, but he insists on attending a country house party. The detectives agree to accompany Monty to Kent to keep an eye on him, but suspect something is afoot almost as soon as they arrive; the other guests are like something out of an Agatha Christie novel, the run-down house is about to be sold to an eccentric millionaire who appears to be hiding from his fellow guests, and the dotty lord of the manor spends most of his time smoking pot with his fellow hippies in the ashram he’s set up in the garden. What could possibly go wrong?
I love this series for the dark British humor, for Bryant’s brilliant, quirky and academic methods of detection, and May’s long-suffering common sense. The fun here was seeing these fish out of water cope with a particularly gruesome murder, but also learning how so many long-running, humorous elements of the PCU came about: the endless stream of stressed out, overwhelmed unit supervisors driven into retirement from the force; the Forthbright women, Gladys and her daughter, Janice, who would become the longest serving member of the PCU; Victor, Bryant’s ancient Mini Cooper; the reason for Bryant’s ever-present knit scarf; his long association with white witch, Maggie Armitage; the marijuana plant Bryant always had growing under his desk...a delightful and fun entry into one of my favorite series, I hope Fowler treats us to more adventures from the PCU case files!
February 24, 2019
Surely the best Bryant and May! An hilarious whodunnit that keeps you guessing right to the end.
December 12, 2018
Now, I love Bryant and May. All the prev books were very good. However, this one just dragged. I have never wanted a B&M book to finish until this one. In my opinion, making them younger does not really work and the loss of the usual supporting characters was very noticeable. The first half just dragged and..........I don't want to say more. Hope the next one is contemporary.
April 6, 2018
I have read most of Christopher Fowler’s Bryant & May mysteries and I think this could now be one of my favourites from the whole series. I love Bryant and May, I love the 1960s and I love a country house murder mystery – result!
“If it’s a proper country house murder it needs to follow country house rules”
In fact, Hall of Mirrors is so much more than a modern take on the classic GAD country house murder mystery. Not only is it well written, superbly plotted and hilarious, it is very knowing and plays with the principles of the genre: it is pure joy from start to finish.
One of Fowler’s main strengths is obviously his characters and it is great from the get-go to be back with Bryant and May; it feels like meeting up with old and familiar (and crabby) friends.
“‘Look, Arthur—’
‘Please, call me Mr Bryant.’”
I know we’ve seen an even younger Bryant and May before but it was good to see their totally believable 1969 selves: John being the ‘cool’, debonair ladies’ man and Bryant being… Well, only marginally less cantankerous than usual but with fewer wrinkles. Although it was nice to be reminded that there is a little vulnerability beneath the grumps and the scarf that is more evident in this 1960s version.
“‘This is so groovy,’ said May. ‘Can you not say that?’ asked Bryant, wincing. ‘I don’t know where you pick up these ghastly neologisms.’ ‘But it’s change, Arthur! You can smell change in the air.’ ‘I can smell hot dogs, incense and marijuana’”
I did miss Janice a little, but it was good to hear from Gladys again. Celeste was a (brief) joy, Monty was brilliantly grotesque and I particularly liked Pamela Claxon and Slade Wilson – to say nothing of Malcrida!
Part of the joy of Christopher Fowler’s books is his meticulous research and the resulting vivid sense of place. Some of the early chapters in Hall of Mirrors serve to bring the positives of the Swinging Sixties to life but later we enter the end-of-an-era decay of the country house ‘weekend party’: simultaneously both harking back to the GAD mysteries and contrasting it with the end of the boom period.
“To the people of Kent, transcendental meditation is something you do on the loo”
The descriptions of Camden, of Tavistock Hall and of the frustrations of a weekend in the countryside with no resources and a land battle taking place on your doorstep are all colourful, bringing the sights, sounds and smells to life. The story also makes reference to several real life crimes of the time and the early 20th Century, again adding some realism to the madness and highlighting the less positive sides to the era.
Another of Fowler’s strengths is his use of language and this in great shape in Hall of Mirrors, from Bryant and May’s word games, to the chapters being named after (mostly) 1960s hits and the wonderfully dry one liners throughout – usually courtesty of Bryant. You really need to take your time reading this as every line is a beautifully crafted joy.
“‘But you’re fully recovered? No mobility problems?’
‘I recently had trouble going through a turnstile with an accordion, but no.’”
As you can tell, I love this series and I really loved this book. Seriously, if you’ve not yet discovered the joy of Bryant and May: WHAT. ARE. YOU. WAITING. FOR?? Hall of Mirrors is the perfect entry point, or alternatively you could just buy the whole series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of Hall of Mirrors.
“If it’s a proper country house murder it needs to follow country house rules”
In fact, Hall of Mirrors is so much more than a modern take on the classic GAD country house murder mystery. Not only is it well written, superbly plotted and hilarious, it is very knowing and plays with the principles of the genre: it is pure joy from start to finish.
One of Fowler’s main strengths is obviously his characters and it is great from the get-go to be back with Bryant and May; it feels like meeting up with old and familiar (and crabby) friends.
“‘Look, Arthur—’
‘Please, call me Mr Bryant.’”
I know we’ve seen an even younger Bryant and May before but it was good to see their totally believable 1969 selves: John being the ‘cool’, debonair ladies’ man and Bryant being… Well, only marginally less cantankerous than usual but with fewer wrinkles. Although it was nice to be reminded that there is a little vulnerability beneath the grumps and the scarf that is more evident in this 1960s version.
“‘This is so groovy,’ said May. ‘Can you not say that?’ asked Bryant, wincing. ‘I don’t know where you pick up these ghastly neologisms.’ ‘But it’s change, Arthur! You can smell change in the air.’ ‘I can smell hot dogs, incense and marijuana’”
I did miss Janice a little, but it was good to hear from Gladys again. Celeste was a (brief) joy, Monty was brilliantly grotesque and I particularly liked Pamela Claxon and Slade Wilson – to say nothing of Malcrida!
Part of the joy of Christopher Fowler’s books is his meticulous research and the resulting vivid sense of place. Some of the early chapters in Hall of Mirrors serve to bring the positives of the Swinging Sixties to life but later we enter the end-of-an-era decay of the country house ‘weekend party’: simultaneously both harking back to the GAD mysteries and contrasting it with the end of the boom period.
“To the people of Kent, transcendental meditation is something you do on the loo”
The descriptions of Camden, of Tavistock Hall and of the frustrations of a weekend in the countryside with no resources and a land battle taking place on your doorstep are all colourful, bringing the sights, sounds and smells to life. The story also makes reference to several real life crimes of the time and the early 20th Century, again adding some realism to the madness and highlighting the less positive sides to the era.
Another of Fowler’s strengths is his use of language and this in great shape in Hall of Mirrors, from Bryant and May’s word games, to the chapters being named after (mostly) 1960s hits and the wonderfully dry one liners throughout – usually courtesty of Bryant. You really need to take your time reading this as every line is a beautifully crafted joy.
“‘But you’re fully recovered? No mobility problems?’
‘I recently had trouble going through a turnstile with an accordion, but no.’”
As you can tell, I love this series and I really loved this book. Seriously, if you’ve not yet discovered the joy of Bryant and May: WHAT. ARE. YOU. WAITING. FOR?? Hall of Mirrors is the perfect entry point, or alternatively you could just buy the whole series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of Hall of Mirrors.
December 3, 2018
It’s 1969. Bryant and May are tasked with keeping a witness safe at an English Country House weekend. Unfortunately, the Army has closed the only exit road due to war games. There are nine suspects and more than one potential victim in this Hall of Mirrors.
Hall of Mirrors is the fifteenth entry in the Peculiar Crimes Unit series but the first I’ve read. It is a perfect entry point because it is a prequel of one of Bryant and May’s early cases. London in 1969 sounds like a groovy time, man. The setting of hippies, eastern spirtuality and old staunch England all collide with humorous results. This book includes everything but the kitchen sink: mythical creatures, WWI heroes, innovative murder methods and motives. The conclusion was fabulous. I loved this book and will be looking for more from this series. It is highly recommended to armchair detectives and anyone looking for a challenging mystery. 5 stars!
Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Hall of Mirrors is the fifteenth entry in the Peculiar Crimes Unit series but the first I’ve read. It is a perfect entry point because it is a prequel of one of Bryant and May’s early cases. London in 1969 sounds like a groovy time, man. The setting of hippies, eastern spirtuality and old staunch England all collide with humorous results. This book includes everything but the kitchen sink: mythical creatures, WWI heroes, innovative murder methods and motives. The conclusion was fabulous. I loved this book and will be looking for more from this series. It is highly recommended to armchair detectives and anyone looking for a challenging mystery. 5 stars!
Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 22, 2018
Arthur Bryant is writing his memoirs. The first volume went well, although his publisher has been suggesting a more truthful approach. So Bryant suggests a case from early in his career, back in 1969, when he and May, in disgrace for the merest mishap, were asked to guard the potentially crucial witness at a trial, just for the weekend. But the witness wants to spend the weekend at a country house party, so the two policemen go along too. And before they know it, they seem to be immersed in a classic Agatha Christie type mystery, cut off from civilization by military maneuvers, rain, and a wonky telephone connection...Frankly, I didn't think Fowler needed to add the chapter telling what happened to all the characters during the rest of their lives, but let's face it--I'm so devoted to this series that the author can do practically anything that suits his fancy with no complaints from me.
December 9, 2018
I challenge anyone who lived in the sixties to not get a Burt Bacharach earworm going on as they read the latest Bryant and May from Christopher Fowler. In “Hall of Mirrors”, Bryant and May take the wayback machine to the sixties, to solve an early crime which sets some deep roots for their further careers. (Although it certainly stands alone, this book is all the richer if you know what develops.) Not nearly as bizarre as some of their cases, this is still an entertaining whodunnit, with a crackpot cast of characters, and plenty of plot twists. Bryant and May, though younger, are every bit as idiosyncratic as in their previous (chronologically later) outings.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 19, 2019
What fun to join up with John and Arthur in the early days. They have the job of babysitting a key witness for the weekend. They end up in an Agatha Christie type country manor murder. Throw in some hippies, a pig, crazy weather, war games, along with some corpses, and you have an outrageously, crazy plot that’s sure to entertain.
May 11, 2019
finished this one yesterday the 10th of may 2019 first from fowler for me good read three stars i liked it kindle library loaner if you stop and consider elements of the story maybe your willing suspension takes a kick in the pants...but...what can you do? now i want to go back and read some sherlock holmes...i bet i don't have any of those stories listed as read though i have, more than a few.
April 2, 2019
Another top-form entry in the dependably solid detective series. This time, our stalwart duo are stranded in an Agatha Christie style parlour room mystery filled with madcap characters and exciting high-jinks. Spiffing fun!
September 26, 2025
Bryant and May is my guilty night shift audiobook pleasure. Always engaging, this pair of extraordinary detectives is exactly what you need to see you through the night. Thoroughly entertaining, easy listening.
June 9, 2019
Brilliant, twisty and hilarious.
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