The Folly Irregulars discussion

What did you think?

I'll go first. It could be because of Kobna, but this was one of my favorite books. It was more focused on the mystery, and Peter was finding his own, I thought, as investigator. Of course, he does make mistakes in doing so, being a bit overconfident. I liked that the end was a good old-fashioned murder, no crazy unspeakable stuff involved.

Can I just say how much I loved Kobna's Zach? He captures that surfer-dude-whiner so well. And Seawoll. Love his Seawoll, cursing and grumping his way through the investigation.

I also enjoyed Madame Chang (bad memory, can't remember her exact name I think) and have quite the hope that she will show up again. It is both intriguing and a bit frustrating that Aaronovitch drops these tempting little bits in and then doesn't follow them up.

I loved his Zach as well! Hilarious. And Seawoll is fantastic as well.

Question: I think I lost something through the audio and couldn't go back and check. So at the very beginning there's Abigail who was hanging out on the tracks and there was the part with the ghost getting hit by the ghost train.

That didn't have any connection to the Gallagher mystery right?

It was just a brief mention that was later picked up at the end of the book?

I don't remember the ghost getting hit by a train being a direct connection to the Gallagher case, but maybe the place where Abigail leads Peter and Lesley to is the entrance to the sewer-people's underground city. I think Peter and Co. return to that entrance/tunnel later on in the story after discovering something about broken pottery that had something to do with Gallagher. Or something like that. Sorry. It's been awhile and all the subplot details are fuzzy. Hopefully someone else with better memory can fill in the gaps.

Philip wrote: "I loved his Zach as well! Hilarious. And Seawoll is fantastic as well.

Question: I think I lost something through the audio and couldn't go back and check. So at the very beginning there's Abigai..."

I don't think that the ghost getting hit by the train had anything to do with the Gallagher mystery. I also listened to book 3, and found myself a little confused about the relevance of this incident.

Lata--agree that it didn't have anything to do with Gallagher. I think that was one of the things that was hard to get used to with the series--that sometimes certain events/situations would happen but they don't necessarily play a role in that particular book's plot. But I've decided I like it because it keeps me guessing about what is major plot points and what is routine policework, kind of like a real investigation--some of the stuff that is found will tie in and some of it won't.

I think that scene introduced Abigail and the idea of the Folly Girl Guides and gave us a little more background on Peter's home life, as well as just a nice chance to see him and Leslie working together. Although like Mimi said, I think it does give the impetus to the thought that there are unauthorized ways into the tunnels.

So, I finished last night. I have to admit, I ha dsome difficulties with the book as it was moving in a far slower pace than the first two. But it was good and it got better towards the end.

What I really grasped in the novel though was how much I love the support cast. Now that most of them are back on board (with exception of Berverly) I knew what I was missing in MoS where Peter was mostly on his own.

I agree, love the supporting cast, but I also enjoy the way he doesn't seem to need to make sure they all appear in each one (except Nightingale, naturally).

I like how the members of the supporting cast don't all show up in each book. Unlike some tv shows where the whole cast has to show up, even if only to hand a cup/pencil/scarf/etc. to some other member of the cast and say something inconsequential, here the supporting cast shows up when the situation/setting warrants it. Much as I wanted to see Beverly in book 2, the book 2's ction doesn't happen out where she is. I like the confidence of an author who does that.

Beverley does come back though eventually right? Right?!

Do you want to know? Really? Because I'm the type of person that likes to know a lot of stuff--to me, it adds to my enjoyment because I stop reading so fast to try and figure out everything. So if you do want to know (view spoiler)[ yes. absolutely. (hide spoiler)]

Carol. wrote: "Do you want to know? Really? Because I'm the type of person that likes to know a lot of stuff--to me, it adds to my enjoyment because I stop reading so fast to try and figure out everything. So if ..."

I hope she does, but I don't want to be spoiled.

Carol. wrote: "I'll go first. It could be because of Kobna, but this was one of my favorite books. It was more focused on the mystery, and Peter was finding his own, I thought, as investigator. Of course, he does..."

Carol. wrote: "Lata--agree that it didn't have anything to do with Gallagher. I think that was one of the things that was hard to get used to with the series--that sometimes certain events/situations would happen..."

It's Madame Teng

Philip wrote: "I loved his Zach as well! Hilarious. And Seawoll is fantastic as well.

Question: I think I lost something through the audio and couldn't go back and check. So at the very beginning there's Abigai..."

No. It didn't have a connection with James Gallagher part of the story other than they both involve underground trains. Abigail comes up again at the end of the book.

Ileana wrote: "Carol. wrote: "I'll go first. It could be because of Kobna, but this was one of my favorite books. It was more focused on the mystery, and Peter was finding his own, I thought, as investigator. Of ..."

Thank you! I wish she would make a re-appearance. It could be an intriguing storyline.

I really liked somewhat lippy Abigail Kamara. She shows lots of potential as a great character. And she's already seen a ghost and a ghost train and is involved with the Folly.

Abigail reminds me of the line...

'And don't talk to any strange things that are also people!"

:D

That is a terrific line! It made me laugh out loud!

Lata wrote: "I really liked somewhat lippy Abigail Kamara. She shows lots of potential as a great character. And she's already seen a ghost and a ghost train and is involved with the Folly."

I liked her, too. And I thought it really cool of Nightingale to say that if the need arises he would be perfectly willing to teach her formae. Shows yet again how forward a man he is at heart.

She will appear again in Broken Homes, and from what I gathered from the announcement will play a bigger role in that upcoming novella The Furthest Station. I'm really lokking forward to that one.

That's right! I forgot Abigail's going to appear in the Furthest station.

Just re-read this again yesterday. Everytime I reread any of these books I catch something I've missed previously.

This time it was a mention of the Skygarden Estate which features so prominently in "Broken Homes". Peter mentions in passing that he can see it from the balcony of Albert Woodville-Gentle at the Barbican.

I didn't notice that one, Margaret, but agree--every time I notice something new, or feel like I collect another piece in the puzzle of world-view. :)

A new puzzle piece, a reference. There's Douglas Adams reference in Broken Homes that I swear I did NOT pick up until I was reading the book for about the sixth time!

I did not notice the reference to Skygarden in Whispers. I love the little details Aaronovitch sprinkles throughout this series!

Just heard that, Lata. Makes me think that even though Ben says he doesn't plot the series out, he still has a very good idea.


Weirdly, Kobna's reading of the American is growing on me.

Lata wrote: "I did not notice the reference to Skygarden in Whispers. I love the little details Aaronovitch sprinkles throughout this series!"
It makes every re-read as much fun as the very first read.

I literally laughed out loud at Seawoll's disgusted, "bollocks" line.

Carol. wrote: "I literally laughed out loud at Seawoll's disgusted, "bollocks" line."

Now I'm really tempted to binge-listen to the whole series before "The Furthest Station2 will be out in September. I blame you! Just so you now it. ;-)

Srsly, I don't know if it's me or what, but Kobna is amazing. I was listening to the part where he does Virvana (or whatever her first alias is) and the Crocodile with the stroke (I'm terrible with names), and I felt like I really believed his wheezy, bonhomie old man impersonation and his stiff Russian woman. And Leslie's slurred but authoritative tones. He really brings it to life, almost better than the books (something about the punctuation seems off to me). One of the things that annoys me in audio is opposite sex voicings--it's so rarely done well. Kobna is so good at it by the third book... except the American. Sigh. I'll probably keep going.

Carol. wrote: "Srsly, I don't know if it's me or what, but Kobna is amazing. I was listening to the part where he does Virvana (or whatever her first alias is) and the Crocodile with the stroke (I'm terrible with..."

Kobna is aMAZING! I am such a fan of this man's voice work!

Zach, oh Zach. What a conniving git, but so incompetent at it, you have to just laugh.

Conniving git is a great description of Zach.

I love Zach Palmer. "My dad was a fairy. And by that I don't mean he dressed well and enjoyed musical theatre."

Do you remember when he says there are "two kinds of people," then looks at Leslie, corrects himself and says , "three kinds..." one, totally funny as read by Kobna. Two, really interesting in terms of Leslie.

Interesting period. It shows that Zach thinks quite deep thoughts for someone who is, on the surface, quite shallow.

Whoa! I forgot Zach said that. Yup, smarter than he acts.

Okay, a few thoughts/questions:

1) Interestingly, when Abagail shows Peter and Leslie where the 'ghost train' is, he notices the acrid odor of fox urine. Leslie also wonders if the hole in the fence is due to 'foxes.'
Wonder if this multi-book fox thing is going places.

2) I've changed my mind on Stephanopolous (spelling, I know) and the possible slight on lesbians. I think she's the only copper in power that has maintained integrity. She's scarily competent, calm, has a bitey kind of humor and can read Peter like a book. (Seawoll, after all, went bonkers with Punch and says 'fucking' about every other word in this one).

I love Stefanopolous. She totally has Peter's number, and has a lot of personal integrity.

Carol. wrote: "Okay, a few thoughts/questions:

1) Interestingly, when Abagail shows Peter and Leslie where the 'ghost train' is, he notices the acrid odor of fox urine. Leslie also wonders if the hole in the fen..."

Well Miriam's wife reads Pratchett, so she's probably best qualified to deal with Peter. :)

Still love this.

I think it's my favourite in the series. I adore Jaget Kumar.

I adore Kobna reading Jaget Kumar. "So... who does the aliens then?"

We need more Jaget Kumar.

Absolutely, we need more Jaget Kumar!

Just caught an obscure reference.... it's when the murder team is meeting FBI Agent Reynolds. Later, when Peter is talking to Stephanopolous, she tells Peter, "I'm surprised she didn't ask for your birth certificate." President Obama had been in office a couple of years, so I'm guessing this is one of Ben's little jokes.

Hah! Good catch. I totally missed that one. Actually, didn't even make the connection.

Didn't notice that at all the last two reads/listens.

It never quite made sense to me--I mean, Reynolds was suspicious but not outright hostile, I didn't think, and it's not like questioning a birth certificate is a common way to imply legitimacy. Then I checked the dates.

So... I'm re-listening, and I think it's about Chapter 18, when Kumar, Peter, Leslie, and Nightingale are heading down to the tunnels to see if they can discover where the vegetables are going. Peter makes a D&D reference about needing a thief to spot the hidden door, and they have a short discussion about it. I think the chapter ends with Peter saying, "I couldn't help but think we were short a cleric and a rogue."

So what does that make the rest of the party-Peter, Leslie and Kumar--? I didn't do D&D, but sort of get the concept of the 5 person party--hero/knight, rogue, hunter, mage and... ??

Mage/Cleric and Thief.

I used to work for a printer that did the hit sheets for a local D&D group.