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The Vinyl Detective #4
Flip Back
The fourth book in the hilarious and enthralling Vinyl Detective mystery series. "Like an old 45rpm record, this book crackles with brilliance." David Quantick on Written in Dead Wax
It's all Tinkler's fault. If it weren't for his obsession with the 1970s electric folk band, Black Dog, none of this would have happened.
At the height of their success, the members of Black Dog invited journalists to Holy Island, a desolate island off the northeast coast of England, to an infamous publicity stunt: they burned a million pounds on an enormous bonfire. But the stunt backfired, and tensions between the band members exploded, splitting the band for good, and increasing the value of their final, recalled album tenfold. It is this album that Tinkler's got his eye on.
The Vinyl Detective and Nevada accept the challenge to hunt a copy down for Tinkler, but soon realize that the search for this record is going to be their most dangerous yet.
Narrowly avoiding a killing spree, negotiating deranged Black Dog fans, and being pursued by hack journalist Stinky Stamner and his camera crew, they discover that perhaps all was not as it seemed on Holy Island--and that in the embers of that fire are clues of a motive for murder...
It's all Tinkler's fault. If it weren't for his obsession with the 1970s electric folk band, Black Dog, none of this would have happened.
At the height of their success, the members of Black Dog invited journalists to Holy Island, a desolate island off the northeast coast of England, to an infamous publicity stunt: they burned a million pounds on an enormous bonfire. But the stunt backfired, and tensions between the band members exploded, splitting the band for good, and increasing the value of their final, recalled album tenfold. It is this album that Tinkler's got his eye on.
The Vinyl Detective and Nevada accept the challenge to hunt a copy down for Tinkler, but soon realize that the search for this record is going to be their most dangerous yet.
Narrowly avoiding a killing spree, negotiating deranged Black Dog fans, and being pursued by hack journalist Stinky Stamner and his camera crew, they discover that perhaps all was not as it seemed on Holy Island--and that in the embers of that fire are clues of a motive for murder...
429 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2019
96 people are currently reading
522 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
June 2, 2019
Andrew Cartmel's fourth outing for the Vinyl Detective sees our hero on the trail of a rare record recorded by British electric folk band Black Dog. Back in the dim & distant past the band had staged a crazy publicity stunt in which they burnt a million dollars. Well, they thought a million pounds sounded less impressive!
Flip Back marks the welcome return of not only the Vinyl Detective, but also his usual group of eccentric friends as well as introducing us to many new strange folk along the way. Cartmel's characters may be a little odd, but they are all highly believable & you find yourself caring for them very much.
There are plenty of nicely judged moments of humour, a well conceived plot & a hell of a lot of fun in Flip Back. It's one of those rare books that when you finish it you miss the characters immediately, & you find that the real world is nowhere near as good as the fictional one you've been engrossed in.
Flip Back marks the welcome return of not only the Vinyl Detective, but also his usual group of eccentric friends as well as introducing us to many new strange folk along the way. Cartmel's characters may be a little odd, but they are all highly believable & you find yourself caring for them very much.
There are plenty of nicely judged moments of humour, a well conceived plot & a hell of a lot of fun in Flip Back. It's one of those rare books that when you finish it you miss the characters immediately, & you find that the real world is nowhere near as good as the fictional one you've been engrossed in.
June 6, 2019
The 4th book in the treasured Vinyl Detective series and another absolute gem of a read. The usual gang of awesome characters are present - Nevada, Tinkler, Clean Head, plus everyone's favourite furry friends, Turk and Fanny - and the murder mystery is underpinned by the hunt for an illusive piece of 60's vinyl. It's funny, smart, engaging, and perfect. My only sadness is that I have to wait 12 months for the next one. Am seriously thinking about re-reading the first 3 now...
If you don't know this series, but love music (especially old timey-wimey vinyl), engaging mysteries, scouring charity shops for potential bargains, humour, kitties, and the challenge of trying to find out-of-print items, there's a fair to middling chance you'll enjoy these books.
Give them a whirl. It can't hurt, can it? But make sure you start at the very beginning!
If you don't know this series, but love music (especially old timey-wimey vinyl), engaging mysteries, scouring charity shops for potential bargains, humour, kitties, and the challenge of trying to find out-of-print items, there's a fair to middling chance you'll enjoy these books.
Give them a whirl. It can't hurt, can it? But make sure you start at the very beginning!
May 12, 2019
‘Flip Back’ is the fourth book in Andrew Cartmel’s excellent ‘Vinyl Detective’ series. I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed the first two books, ‘Written in Dead Wax’ and ‘The Run-Out Groove’ and the good news is that book four is just as good as those two. The even better news (for me at least), is that I’ve somehow missed the release of the third entry completely, so I have another book I can read straightaway.
For anyone who hasn’t read the books, they’re about a record collector and expert for hire (the Vinyl Detective of the title), who searches for rare discs for clients and invariably ends up investigating related mysteries. He has a bunch of pals of tag along – girlfriend Nevada, ice cool cabbie Clean Head (so named because of her shaven head), and the amusingly hapless Tinkler.
This time around, they’re trying to find the rare first pressing of an album by folk band ‘Black Dog’ that Tinkler wants in order to impress a girl. The search sees them get into various scrapes (two of which are as exciting as anything I’ve read in any flat-out thriller lately), investigate apparent paranormal activity and solve a series of murders.
It’s all told with the same charm, humour and talent for mystery that characterised the other books. Cartmel knows exactly what he’s doing and takes the reader on a marvellously enjoyable ride. If it ends up playing a little like a cosy Sunday evening detective show, then that’s only a good thing. The Vinyl Detective is the perfect antidote to the bleak, obsessive investigators that we’re so used to these days. He and his friends are so wonderfully likeable that spending time in their company is an absolute delight. The fact that the mystery they end up investigating is so tantalising, and that Cartmel sprinkles his books with fascinating nerdery are added bonuses that round out the book into a brilliantly satisfying whole.
For anyone who hasn’t read the books, they’re about a record collector and expert for hire (the Vinyl Detective of the title), who searches for rare discs for clients and invariably ends up investigating related mysteries. He has a bunch of pals of tag along – girlfriend Nevada, ice cool cabbie Clean Head (so named because of her shaven head), and the amusingly hapless Tinkler.
This time around, they’re trying to find the rare first pressing of an album by folk band ‘Black Dog’ that Tinkler wants in order to impress a girl. The search sees them get into various scrapes (two of which are as exciting as anything I’ve read in any flat-out thriller lately), investigate apparent paranormal activity and solve a series of murders.
It’s all told with the same charm, humour and talent for mystery that characterised the other books. Cartmel knows exactly what he’s doing and takes the reader on a marvellously enjoyable ride. If it ends up playing a little like a cosy Sunday evening detective show, then that’s only a good thing. The Vinyl Detective is the perfect antidote to the bleak, obsessive investigators that we’re so used to these days. He and his friends are so wonderfully likeable that spending time in their company is an absolute delight. The fact that the mystery they end up investigating is so tantalising, and that Cartmel sprinkles his books with fascinating nerdery are added bonuses that round out the book into a brilliantly satisfying whole.
June 28, 2020
The Vinyl Detective and his crew solve the mystery of who is killing-off members of a defunct, but influential folk band. The series’ obligatory vinyl McGuffin being the band’s rare album. Fourth book in the series.
My dead tree copy was a hefty 430 pages. It had a 2019 UK copywrite.
Andrew Cartmel is a British novelist, and comics author. He is the author of more than ten novels, including his The Vinyl Detective series. This is the fourth book in that series. The last book of his I read was The Run-Out Groove (The Vinyl Detective #2) (my review).
I note I read this book out-of-series sequence. However, the there is not a lot of backstory to the series. Skipping the third book Victory Disc was not a burden.
The original book in the series Written in Dead Wax (The Vinyl Detective, #1) (my review) was a moderately amusing, British, hipster, murder mystery. I’ve since lumped the series into the category of CHEETOS® reading (cheesy, light and airy).
There was a single POV; the protagonist's. That the hipster, protagonist continues to be unnamed has been a continuing source of amusement to me. Prose was OK. Dialog was a bit better than descriptive prose. The protagonist’s sesquipedalian schtick can be tiresome. For example, lachrymose is never a word I’ve encountered in conversation.
Going against noir detective stereotype, the Vinyl Detective is now living in domestic bliss with his GF (Nevada) and two cats (Turk and Fanny). About as much character development is spent on the cats as with Nevada. The Vinyl Detective is a ‘Team Sport’. It has a very Scooby-Doo quality to it, with Nevada ‘Action Girl’, Tinkler ‘Stoner’, and Clean Head the female London cabbie ‘Driver’.
All the books in the series use a vinyl recording as a McGuffin. In this case, it’s a first issue recording of a seminal, British folk band from the 70’s that imploded. At the same time The Vinyl Detective starts hunting Metro-London for the disc, someone starts killing the surviving principals of the band. This story differs from previous books in the series, because of a major change of venue. Instead of London, Cartmel moves the action to a made-up island off the Northumberland coast he modeled after Lindisfarne. Although, he gave very detailed driving directions putting the island further South. The band ‘coincidentally’ had all retired to this island. I really didn’t like the ‘make believe’ island.
Frankly, the story reminded me too much of a screenplay in format. It had a single, linear plotting and things were neatly tied-up at the end. The somewhat Engineered Public Confession at the end was just too lazy.
I had a weak moment starting this book. It was given to me. I didn’t have anything else to read that didn’t require mental effort. I was pining for my London, hipster, youth. I should have searched for and found a copy of A White Merc with Fins ?
My dead tree copy was a hefty 430 pages. It had a 2019 UK copywrite.
Andrew Cartmel is a British novelist, and comics author. He is the author of more than ten novels, including his The Vinyl Detective series. This is the fourth book in that series. The last book of his I read was The Run-Out Groove (The Vinyl Detective #2) (my review).
I note I read this book out-of-series sequence. However, the there is not a lot of backstory to the series. Skipping the third book Victory Disc was not a burden.
The original book in the series Written in Dead Wax (The Vinyl Detective, #1) (my review) was a moderately amusing, British, hipster, murder mystery. I’ve since lumped the series into the category of CHEETOS® reading (cheesy, light and airy).
There was a single POV; the protagonist's. That the hipster, protagonist continues to be unnamed has been a continuing source of amusement to me. Prose was OK. Dialog was a bit better than descriptive prose. The protagonist’s sesquipedalian schtick can be tiresome. For example, lachrymose is never a word I’ve encountered in conversation.
Going against noir detective stereotype, the Vinyl Detective is now living in domestic bliss with his GF (Nevada) and two cats (Turk and Fanny). About as much character development is spent on the cats as with Nevada. The Vinyl Detective is a ‘Team Sport’. It has a very Scooby-Doo quality to it, with Nevada ‘Action Girl’, Tinkler ‘Stoner’, and Clean Head the female London cabbie ‘Driver’.
All the books in the series use a vinyl recording as a McGuffin. In this case, it’s a first issue recording of a seminal, British folk band from the 70’s that imploded. At the same time The Vinyl Detective starts hunting Metro-London for the disc, someone starts killing the surviving principals of the band. This story differs from previous books in the series, because of a major change of venue. Instead of London, Cartmel moves the action to a made-up island off the Northumberland coast he modeled after Lindisfarne. Although, he gave very detailed driving directions putting the island further South. The band ‘coincidentally’ had all retired to this island. I really didn’t like the ‘make believe’ island.
Frankly, the story reminded me too much of a screenplay in format. It had a single, linear plotting and things were neatly tied-up at the end. The somewhat Engineered Public Confession at the end was just too lazy.
I had a weak moment starting this book. It was given to me. I didn’t have anything else to read that didn’t require mental effort. I was pining for my London, hipster, youth. I should have searched for and found a copy of A White Merc with Fins ?
August 18, 2019
So much false drama that the potential for any real drama gets lost. The characters frequently start jumping to the obviously wrong conclusions and then just as suddenly realise the equally obvious truth. When things go wrong for them the foreshadowing has usually been so heavy handed there is no sense of surprise and the complete lack of realistic consequences remove any meaning from the events. Such a shame as the concept of these books have such promising potential.
October 24, 2021
You know you’ve made it as a band when you can go wild and burn a million dollars, but that was the final act of Black Dog as the band broke up and the value of their last album shot through the roof. Years later and the Vinyl Detective is on the search for it and ends up trying to staying alive and avoid a demonic pig.
Book four in the Vinyl Detective series and the high standard continues, highly recommended.
Book four in the Vinyl Detective series and the high standard continues, highly recommended.
June 18, 2023
The least interesting of the first 5 books.
felt like author was out of ideas when he had Tinkler be the client. Tinkler is comic relief, nothing more. plus, having the story take place in a different location is always tricky, often doesn't work as the familiar locals are gone.
Plus all of the band members as character were pretty boring.
The ending was just thrust upon the group, they didn't really solve anything.
Having a pair of psychopaths as the reason for everyting was a big letdown.
other than Tinkler getting a different car, no reason I can see to read this book as part of the series.
felt like author was out of ideas when he had Tinkler be the client. Tinkler is comic relief, nothing more. plus, having the story take place in a different location is always tricky, often doesn't work as the familiar locals are gone.
Plus all of the band members as character were pretty boring.
The ending was just thrust upon the group, they didn't really solve anything.
Having a pair of psychopaths as the reason for everyting was a big letdown.
other than Tinkler getting a different car, no reason I can see to read this book as part of the series.
April 13, 2025
I would say that the plot here is a little more contrived than in the previous three of the series, but I still love the characters, how they work through it all, and knowing that there are enough vinyl junkies in the world to warrant a series of books!
At some point I was to explore the books Cartmel has written about book collectors.
At some point I was to explore the books Cartmel has written about book collectors.
December 7, 2020
Fun and entertaining as ever, especially for those who enjoy music culture or history.
It very strongly signposts the culprits near the end, so may not be one for more sophisticated crime fans.
Somehow I read the fourth book before the second or third, I’m hoping there aren’t too many spoilers.
It very strongly signposts the culprits near the end, so may not be one for more sophisticated crime fans.
Somehow I read the fourth book before the second or third, I’m hoping there aren’t too many spoilers.
June 7, 2019
This time the vinyl detective takes on a folk music rarity with dangerous results. All the gang are back and the characters involved in this mystery are fascinating too. I liked it a lot.
August 7, 2019
Spinning a great yarn
Another outing for the vinyl detective, this time amongst the murky waters of the film scene. Dark deeds abound. Fast and fun
Another outing for the vinyl detective, this time amongst the murky waters of the film scene. Dark deeds abound. Fast and fun
November 13, 2019
Another good story in this enjoyable series
November 6, 2023
The fourth book in The Vinyl Detective series. Fun and entertaining.
November 16, 2019
Another great addition to the series. Now I have to wait.
May 19, 2019
The cut throat world of folk! Greatly enjoyable read, skips along at a good pace, easy to read and a pleasure to dive into. Too short though, or perhaps that's a side effect of it being so good to read.
A whole album's worth, all new material however too few songs in total. We were spoilt by the first album though, to be fair.
A whole album's worth, all new material however too few songs in total. We were spoilt by the first album though, to be fair.
March 4, 2020
Once again, the vinyl detective is on the case. This time, his friend Tinker hires him to track down a rare album with a strange history. Black Dog, a folk group of the 60's that wanted to move into rock, decided a cool marketing idea, and a middle finger to the establishment, to burn a cool million in a bonfire. Long story short, it went bad, the band broke up, they burned all the copies of the album they were promoting only to rerecord and re-release it. However, Tinker wants the one of the few surviving copies of the initial, pre-fire and break up album and needs our expert to find it. That leads them to speaking to the surviving members of the band, and, of course, the bodies start dropping. Must say, without giving away the bad guy, I found this particular killer really unpleasant and disturbing, which is a good thing, right?
May 19, 2021
I love it when you look forward to reading a new book from a favorite author and he exceeds your expectations. Every time we walk into a record store, with the Vinyl Detective, I can smell the cardboard sleeves, the mold, the sweat of the anxious shoppers. Andrew Cartmel brings the past into the present and all I want to do is slit open the clear plastic wrapper of a new album.
This is a wonderful, humorous series, violent when necessary, drunk as required, that will take you away from whatever or wherever you are. Start here or start at the beginning. Eventually, you'll read them all.
This is a wonderful, humorous series, violent when necessary, drunk as required, that will take you away from whatever or wherever you are. Start here or start at the beginning. Eventually, you'll read them all.
April 25, 2020
I've loved the other books in the series, but this is definitely weaker than the first three. If you want a serious, character driven mystery this is not the book for you. The same set of eccentric characters (including two cats) are still with us, but the book is plot driven - and the plot is far fetched and definitely out there. At its weakest, though, these books are still a fun read and worth a listen.
August 6, 2020
3 1/2 stars really!
This is the fourth book in this series I have read and whilst I did enjoy reading it and perhaps because I have read all of the previous three in close succession, it did seem a little similar to those in the plot progression, which is why I have given 3 1/2 stars.
Still, the characters are still pleasant and I enjoy the chemistry between them all so these books make for a comfortable read.
This is the fourth book in this series I have read and whilst I did enjoy reading it and perhaps because I have read all of the previous three in close succession, it did seem a little similar to those in the plot progression, which is why I have given 3 1/2 stars.
Still, the characters are still pleasant and I enjoy the chemistry between them all so these books make for a comfortable read.
March 17, 2020
Good book but....
I've fallen in love with the Vinyl Detective series however as others have stated book four is the weakest of the bunch. The plot is far fetched, there's virtually no character development and there's WAY too much detail about meaningless events. Still, all of the VD books are great fun and I will probably pick up the fifth book when it's available.
I've fallen in love with the Vinyl Detective series however as others have stated book four is the weakest of the bunch. The plot is far fetched, there's virtually no character development and there's WAY too much detail about meaningless events. Still, all of the VD books are great fun and I will probably pick up the fifth book when it's available.
December 10, 2020
A baggy tale, but I love these characters and it's so much fun.
Light-hearted mysteries for readers of Mojo magazine wasn't a niche I knew existed, but I'm glad it's been filled.
Light-hearted mysteries for readers of Mojo magazine wasn't a niche I knew existed, but I'm glad it's been filled.
May 18, 2019
I'm very grateful to Titan for sending me a free copy of Flip Back for review.
"He's the Vinyl Detective, a private detective with a very special set of skills: no matter how rare, no matter how elusive, if you're looking for a record he's the man to find it for you..."
This is the fourth adventure of The Vinyl Detective (we still don't know his name), his partner Nevada, and friends Tinkler (well, I say friend...) and Clean Head. Tracking down rare records is only the beginning: invariably the search leads them into danger, shady dealings, unsolved mysteries and danger.
I should declare myself from the start: I just love this series and I'm pleased it's still going strong (after all it does seem an unlikely premise...) Reading Flip Back reminded why I like these books so much. First, there's the strong setting. While the stories range all over the place - the Detective has visited Japan and the US, not to mention Kent - they are centred on London, display a familiarity with streets, frustrating London travel and have a certain London sensibility, an irreverence, a knowingness. That's where the Detective is at home, scouting record dealers and charity shops and working his dodgy contacts. It's not exactly the London of Holmes and Watson but as these stories open I always feel something of the same thrill, the same eagerness to know what's afoot, as I do read Conan Doyle.
I also like the portrayal of a group of friends who, despite their bickering, try to look out for each other in a crisis (even if, realistically, nobody is actually a hero here) and who are just... well, convincing. And of course the books are full of crises - described with a certain note of dark comedy, for sure, but, even so, often pretty desperate crises. The gang have grown together through the series. And they frequently have fun on their investigations, too, so that expeditions out of London to survey a location or interview a witness are just as much daytrips and likely to include a nice meal or an afternoon in a pub garden (which gives plenty of scope to discuss the case, of course).
Overall, I think these books have just the right balance between action, mystery and... well, life, I suppose. I like reading about life!
Anyway, back to Flip Back. As with the previous books, Cartmel keeps the story humming along. It all starts off with Tinkler this time, of all people, retaining our hero to track down a rare record. It's the first version of Wisht, the last album by notorious folk-rock group Black Dog (you must remember them? Maybe they were before your time).
The version they had withdrawn from sale and destroyed. Not the re-release - the original version. The one with the flip back cover...
Just why the record is so important to Tinkler* that he's actually prepared to pay good money to cover the costs of the search doesn't really matter. In these books, the quest is the thing, invariably bringing mayhem and exploring the shady margins of musical history. Sure enough, someone is soon following the gang, someone determined that the record won't be found - and who's prepared to take extreme steps to make sure it doesn't. In previous books, there's been some hint or clue about the villain based on who approached the Detective in the first place and what their story was. Here, though, we know nothing about why Tinkler's sudden interested in Wisht has led to... well, to what it leads to. There's only the record, and Black Dog (named after the Barghest, the spectral hound whose presence heralds a death).
Inevitably, then, the story takes the gang deep into the history of Black Dog. The group were famous for burning a million dollars on a remote island in the North Sea and after they split, most of them settled down there. To get to the bottom of what happened - and track down that missing record - we will need to follow to Halig Island (evading the ever annoying Stinky Stanmer). This being a Vinyl Detective book, and as Tinkler is financing the operation, it proves to be a stay with plenty of good food and fine wine (I love the way the Detective insists on only the best coffee, and Nevada wields her command of wine like a weapon: see a particular episode set in a pub called the Alexander von Humbolt, where knowledge of wine - or not - is used to convey so, so much about a character).
And there is no shortage of danger, double-dealing or unlikely turns.
Overall, Flip Back continues to do what these books do so well. It doesn't bring anything new or very different to the series, but that wasn't what I was looking for. Basically an enjoyable crime-tinged romp in the company of some sharp and enjoyable characters.
*Something to do with impressing a woman.
"He's the Vinyl Detective, a private detective with a very special set of skills: no matter how rare, no matter how elusive, if you're looking for a record he's the man to find it for you..."
This is the fourth adventure of The Vinyl Detective (we still don't know his name), his partner Nevada, and friends Tinkler (well, I say friend...) and Clean Head. Tracking down rare records is only the beginning: invariably the search leads them into danger, shady dealings, unsolved mysteries and danger.
I should declare myself from the start: I just love this series and I'm pleased it's still going strong (after all it does seem an unlikely premise...) Reading Flip Back reminded why I like these books so much. First, there's the strong setting. While the stories range all over the place - the Detective has visited Japan and the US, not to mention Kent - they are centred on London, display a familiarity with streets, frustrating London travel and have a certain London sensibility, an irreverence, a knowingness. That's where the Detective is at home, scouting record dealers and charity shops and working his dodgy contacts. It's not exactly the London of Holmes and Watson but as these stories open I always feel something of the same thrill, the same eagerness to know what's afoot, as I do read Conan Doyle.
I also like the portrayal of a group of friends who, despite their bickering, try to look out for each other in a crisis (even if, realistically, nobody is actually a hero here) and who are just... well, convincing. And of course the books are full of crises - described with a certain note of dark comedy, for sure, but, even so, often pretty desperate crises. The gang have grown together through the series. And they frequently have fun on their investigations, too, so that expeditions out of London to survey a location or interview a witness are just as much daytrips and likely to include a nice meal or an afternoon in a pub garden (which gives plenty of scope to discuss the case, of course).
Overall, I think these books have just the right balance between action, mystery and... well, life, I suppose. I like reading about life!
Anyway, back to Flip Back. As with the previous books, Cartmel keeps the story humming along. It all starts off with Tinkler this time, of all people, retaining our hero to track down a rare record. It's the first version of Wisht, the last album by notorious folk-rock group Black Dog (you must remember them? Maybe they were before your time).
The version they had withdrawn from sale and destroyed. Not the re-release - the original version. The one with the flip back cover...
Just why the record is so important to Tinkler* that he's actually prepared to pay good money to cover the costs of the search doesn't really matter. In these books, the quest is the thing, invariably bringing mayhem and exploring the shady margins of musical history. Sure enough, someone is soon following the gang, someone determined that the record won't be found - and who's prepared to take extreme steps to make sure it doesn't. In previous books, there's been some hint or clue about the villain based on who approached the Detective in the first place and what their story was. Here, though, we know nothing about why Tinkler's sudden interested in Wisht has led to... well, to what it leads to. There's only the record, and Black Dog (named after the Barghest, the spectral hound whose presence heralds a death).
Inevitably, then, the story takes the gang deep into the history of Black Dog. The group were famous for burning a million dollars on a remote island in the North Sea and after they split, most of them settled down there. To get to the bottom of what happened - and track down that missing record - we will need to follow to Halig Island (evading the ever annoying Stinky Stanmer). This being a Vinyl Detective book, and as Tinkler is financing the operation, it proves to be a stay with plenty of good food and fine wine (I love the way the Detective insists on only the best coffee, and Nevada wields her command of wine like a weapon: see a particular episode set in a pub called the Alexander von Humbolt, where knowledge of wine - or not - is used to convey so, so much about a character).
And there is no shortage of danger, double-dealing or unlikely turns.
Overall, Flip Back continues to do what these books do so well. It doesn't bring anything new or very different to the series, but that wasn't what I was looking for. Basically an enjoyable crime-tinged romp in the company of some sharp and enjoyable characters.
*Something to do with impressing a woman.
July 22, 2019
Another search for missing vinyl by our intrepid hero and his friends.
This is the second book that I have read in this series, and although the basic plot remains the same, our detective, together with his girlfriend Nevada and his friends Clean Head and Tinkler are searching for a rare vinyl record, the plot is entertaining as well as being amusing.
Black Dog was a successful band back in the day, but they became famous when the leader of the group decided to burn a million dollars on a remote island off the coast of Northumberland just because he could. He also decided to destroy all copies of their final album, but The Vinyl Detective discovers that there may be a few left which can be distinguished by the album cover that has a flip back, hence the title of this book.
Most of the group that split up after the stunt with the money have lived or had houses on Halig Island and eventually our intrepid band travel there in the hope of finding the elusive record in one of the band’s collections.
However, things become complicated when various members of the band start to die. The manager has already been killed apparently by a deranged groupie who then committed suicide. Then, drummer of the band is also killed by his wife, and the violinist is accused of killing his wife. When The Detective and his friends are also almost killed by crossing from the island to the mainland when the tides are dangerous, and they discover that the warning board has been tampered with, they realise that maybe the publicity stunt was faked, and someone has still got all the money supposedly burnt and is killing the band members to ensure the truth is not revealed.
I did enjoy this book but, at times, it was too far-fetched and therefore not as good as the previous one I had read. The characters did not really become more real to me, and I feel that maybe there are not too many variations on the theme of searching for a rare record left to be written. Well worth a read but not as good as his other book for me.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
This is the second book that I have read in this series, and although the basic plot remains the same, our detective, together with his girlfriend Nevada and his friends Clean Head and Tinkler are searching for a rare vinyl record, the plot is entertaining as well as being amusing.
Black Dog was a successful band back in the day, but they became famous when the leader of the group decided to burn a million dollars on a remote island off the coast of Northumberland just because he could. He also decided to destroy all copies of their final album, but The Vinyl Detective discovers that there may be a few left which can be distinguished by the album cover that has a flip back, hence the title of this book.
Most of the group that split up after the stunt with the money have lived or had houses on Halig Island and eventually our intrepid band travel there in the hope of finding the elusive record in one of the band’s collections.
However, things become complicated when various members of the band start to die. The manager has already been killed apparently by a deranged groupie who then committed suicide. Then, drummer of the band is also killed by his wife, and the violinist is accused of killing his wife. When The Detective and his friends are also almost killed by crossing from the island to the mainland when the tides are dangerous, and they discover that the warning board has been tampered with, they realise that maybe the publicity stunt was faked, and someone has still got all the money supposedly burnt and is killing the band members to ensure the truth is not revealed.
I did enjoy this book but, at times, it was too far-fetched and therefore not as good as the previous one I had read. The characters did not really become more real to me, and I feel that maybe there are not too many variations on the theme of searching for a rare record left to be written. Well worth a read but not as good as his other book for me.
Dexter
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
July 13, 2020
Another delightful jaunt into the blood-soaked world of record collecting under the confident and colourful direction of Andrew Cartmel, this fourth Vinyl Detective novel provided everything that I wanted from it, and more. My favourite characters were all present and correct, and all in fine form as they set off in pursuit of another fabled black circle. Perhaps the inciting rationale for this search was a trifle weak, but that barely mattered as I was plunged headlong into the mystical and mysterious world of folk rock (or was it rock folk?) band, Black Dog.
There are some cunningly planned and precisely executed set pieces in this volume that I think set it above the previous entry (Victory Disc) the plot of which I never felt that I was quite involved in somehow but, IMO, Flip Back> comfortably hits the heights that both Written in Dead Wax and The Run-Out Groove attained and mastered.
Our hero's wonderfully dry and pithy, yet always amusing narration is as engaging as ever here, and I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in music, detective fiction or 'just' a skilfully crafted, gently humorous story with the odd, satisfyingly inventive murder here and there.
I would have gone to five stars, but Turk and Fanny were not featured nearly enough ;O)
There are some cunningly planned and precisely executed set pieces in this volume that I think set it above the previous entry (Victory Disc) the plot of which I never felt that I was quite involved in somehow but, IMO, Flip Back> comfortably hits the heights that both Written in Dead Wax and The Run-Out Groove attained and mastered.
Our hero's wonderfully dry and pithy, yet always amusing narration is as engaging as ever here, and I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in music, detective fiction or 'just' a skilfully crafted, gently humorous story with the odd, satisfyingly inventive murder here and there.
I would have gone to five stars, but Turk and Fanny were not featured nearly enough ;O)
August 3, 2023
It was a long hiatus between the last volume of this series and this one (that I read, anyway), and a happy return. In this outing, VD and his sidekicks Nevada, Tinkler, and Clean Head go on the hunt for an elusive first edition of a record, most of which was destroyed after the acrimonious dissolution of the legendary folk band who made it, Black Dog. Along the way they encounter some of their old nemesises (nemesi??) and escape death a number of times, as someone clearly doesn't want them to find the record. They find themselves on an island whose details are almost as mythical as the band itself -- the Demon Pig who roams its forests, the disappearing tidal causeway -- and much of the action unfolds there. There is the usual cast of eccentric supporting characters, which Cartmel manages to bring to life effortlessly, it seems, and enough action to propel the plot without too much stress or anxiety for the reader (the next volume is sitting on my bedside table, so I know the main players will not come to too much grief). I was waffling between 4 and 5 stars on this review, but I bumped it up to 5 not just for the sparkling prose, but also for the inclusion of just enough music geekery and the dip into the appreciation of the pig as a creature of intelligence and empathy, which is entirely factual. I have a few library holds to devour before I get into the next one, and I can hardly wait!
April 20, 2021
Not so much a review; more a few random thoughts to fill the space...
Andrew Cartmel has been pumping out these amusing tales at the rate of one a year since 2016.
Although there is a certain amount of "action", I find these novels a fairly mellow, humorous read, enjoying how AC here and there sprinkles little nuggets of research/personal knowledge regarding the somewhat esoteric vinyl that his protagonist detects assisted by his girlfriend, his pal and their regular cab-driver of choice.
In this fourth volume, the four-strong ensemble are again seeking out a long-deleted rarity, hampered by the malodorous nemesis that is the (unaccountably popular) DJ, Stinky Stanmer, and encountering a series of suspicious deaths along the way.
Given the very niche area of business, it is fascinating to see how the author keeps things fresh by mixing up the music genres and time periods with each new title.
Yes, I've deliberately refrained from dropping in any plot details but would definitely recommend that those who like a witty "mystery" to give this a go. Maybe it would help narrow down the potential readership if I admitted that I liked the premise, but not always the execution/plotting, of Jonathan Creek.
Andrew Cartmel has been pumping out these amusing tales at the rate of one a year since 2016.
Although there is a certain amount of "action", I find these novels a fairly mellow, humorous read, enjoying how AC here and there sprinkles little nuggets of research/personal knowledge regarding the somewhat esoteric vinyl that his protagonist detects assisted by his girlfriend, his pal and their regular cab-driver of choice.
In this fourth volume, the four-strong ensemble are again seeking out a long-deleted rarity, hampered by the malodorous nemesis that is the (unaccountably popular) DJ, Stinky Stanmer, and encountering a series of suspicious deaths along the way.
Given the very niche area of business, it is fascinating to see how the author keeps things fresh by mixing up the music genres and time periods with each new title.
Yes, I've deliberately refrained from dropping in any plot details but would definitely recommend that those who like a witty "mystery" to give this a go. Maybe it would help narrow down the potential readership if I admitted that I liked the premise, but not always the execution/plotting, of Jonathan Creek.
June 26, 2019
Andrew Cartmel just doesn't produce Vinyl Detective novels fast enough! I've enjoyed the 3 previous books, and this one is as good. The hero, who remains nameless*, and his partner, Nevada, are lured into hunting for another obscure album, for his friend Tinkler. After a couple of promising leads fizzle out, they end up going to a remote island off the coast of northern England - I couldn't work out where it was, but Cartmel mentions in the acknowledgements that it's based on Lindisfarne. As usual, the plot goes somewhat haywire towards the end, but it's so entertaining getting there that it doesn't really matter. (Not enough about the cats in this one, he obviously knows cat behaviour very well, and it's one of the bits I enjoy; however, that should not dissuade ailurophobes from reading these books!)
* He's nameless, but I find I always forget that until I start to write review, as it's done very subtly; (unlike Daphne du Maurier's really clumsy handling of the heroine's non-name in Rebecca - where she tells Max her name, he comments that it's beautiful and unusual, and she replies that her father was a beautiful and unusual man - so you spend the rest of the book focussed on her namelessness!)
* He's nameless, but I find I always forget that until I start to write review, as it's done very subtly; (unlike Daphne du Maurier's really clumsy handling of the heroine's non-name in Rebecca - where she tells Max her name, he comments that it's beautiful and unusual, and she replies that her father was a beautiful and unusual man - so you spend the rest of the book focussed on her namelessness!)
July 10, 2022
A solid addition to the series, if the ending was a bit weak. But what I really want to talk about is the Nevada wine subplot. (Doesn’t spoil any story points.)
So she supposedly only drinks Rhone wines (or is it Rhone-style?), which is odd itself — Rhone wines are great, sure, but refusing others is a strange affectation. The specific brands that do get mentioned tend to be mainstream, relatively boring choices… not bad wines per se, but not something someone who thinks about wine as much as she supposedly does would get excited about. (Which is also an interesting contrast to the narrator’s wildly eclectic musical tastes.)
Then she goes to Tom’s cellar and is disappointed that there is only older Bordeaux and Burgundy, which is odd because: a) most wine lovers — even Rhone snobs, if those exist — would find something to enjoy there, b) she enthusiastically ordered a Pinot Noir earlier in the book and c) their job is literally finding vintage things and flipping them for a profit.
All that said, what is the author getting at with these details? Is Nevada supposed to be some sort of sophisticated aesthete, illustrated through mediocre wine? Or is she just a pretentious poser?
So she supposedly only drinks Rhone wines (or is it Rhone-style?), which is odd itself — Rhone wines are great, sure, but refusing others is a strange affectation. The specific brands that do get mentioned tend to be mainstream, relatively boring choices… not bad wines per se, but not something someone who thinks about wine as much as she supposedly does would get excited about. (Which is also an interesting contrast to the narrator’s wildly eclectic musical tastes.)
Then she goes to Tom’s cellar and is disappointed that there is only older Bordeaux and Burgundy, which is odd because: a) most wine lovers — even Rhone snobs, if those exist — would find something to enjoy there, b) she enthusiastically ordered a Pinot Noir earlier in the book and c) their job is literally finding vintage things and flipping them for a profit.
All that said, what is the author getting at with these details? Is Nevada supposed to be some sort of sophisticated aesthete, illustrated through mediocre wine? Or is she just a pretentious poser?
January 4, 2025
Not as good as the others in the series. The main plot is that Tinkler wants a long forgotten album found to impress an ex of his. The bands called Black Dog and after a few meetings with former band members, the gang are invited to the island just off the English mainland where the band members happen to live.
Some band members are now deceased in double suicide/murder cases but this doesn’t deter them from looking through the bands vinyl collection, as they seek out the elusive album.
The band in the sixties also burnt one million dollars on the island as a publicity stunt. This is where the plot becomes a joke. They visit the burn site, you know like 50 years later yet someone tries to kill them before getting to the truth. The truth of actually fixing the pit so little in cash was actually incinerated.
As if any evidence of that would still remain due to the length of time passed and the fact the culprit had removed everything nine days after the bonfire in the sixties. It’s a seriously rubbish plot.
The group get stranded on the tidal road to the mainland and almost drown. This was fixed by the killer yet did they inform the police when they survived? Cause they didn’t.
It’s an easy read but pretty lame
Some band members are now deceased in double suicide/murder cases but this doesn’t deter them from looking through the bands vinyl collection, as they seek out the elusive album.
The band in the sixties also burnt one million dollars on the island as a publicity stunt. This is where the plot becomes a joke. They visit the burn site, you know like 50 years later yet someone tries to kill them before getting to the truth. The truth of actually fixing the pit so little in cash was actually incinerated.
As if any evidence of that would still remain due to the length of time passed and the fact the culprit had removed everything nine days after the bonfire in the sixties. It’s a seriously rubbish plot.
The group get stranded on the tidal road to the mainland and almost drown. This was fixed by the killer yet did they inform the police when they survived? Cause they didn’t.
It’s an easy read but pretty lame
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2021
Another excellent entry in the Vinyl Detective series by Andrew Cartmel. The initial pretence is a little weaker this time, with the quest only taking place so Tinkler can impress his ex, but once things get going it's impossible to resist it's story, location and now familiar cast.
This time, our Vinyl Detective is on the mission for a rare first pressing, flip back cover version of a folk-rock band album, of which all copies were supposedly destroyed at the command of the band's leader before it was re-recorded and rereleased. Naturally, some of these were missed and it's our crews job to try and find a copy.
Of course, it isn't long before things go south, and as they hunt for a record somebody seemingly is hunting our detective hero. A tale full of interesting characters, folk festivals, black magic, murder and...pigs? All with a lovely English seaside backdrop that put me in mind of St Michael's mount in Cornwall (though is actually inspired by Lindisfarne). It's nothing drastically new, but it's a very good story and a complete page turner.
This time, our Vinyl Detective is on the mission for a rare first pressing, flip back cover version of a folk-rock band album, of which all copies were supposedly destroyed at the command of the band's leader before it was re-recorded and rereleased. Naturally, some of these were missed and it's our crews job to try and find a copy.
Of course, it isn't long before things go south, and as they hunt for a record somebody seemingly is hunting our detective hero. A tale full of interesting characters, folk festivals, black magic, murder and...pigs? All with a lovely English seaside backdrop that put me in mind of St Michael's mount in Cornwall (though is actually inspired by Lindisfarne). It's nothing drastically new, but it's a very good story and a complete page turner.
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