... wildly entertaining ... Granted, parts of the solution may look more obvious to younger folk than to our older detectives, in much the same way that the killer was flummoxed by the generational divide that more or less sets off this tale of grief and vengeance. It’s to Christopher Fowler’s credit that he provides that contrast and acknowledges it frankly while weaving it seamlessly into his narrative ... Fowler also continues his excellent work chronicling the endlessly fascinating minutiae of the city of London. Interspersed with the murder mystery are excerpts from Bryant’s idiosyncratic walking tour guide, which reveal both a boundless knowledge and affection for the great metropolis ... Poetic and evocative, the myriad glimpses into London life had me greatly missing a city I’ve always been fond of but have had only a very few days as an adult to explore. Reading Bryant & May: The Lonely Hour felt like living a love letter, not only to a magnificent city in all its dirt and glory, but also to an unconventional detecting partnership that may have been dealt a deadly blow. Die-hard fans will either love this installment of the series or scream bloody murder: regardless, we’ll all be eagerly awaiting the next book in order to find out what lies in store for our beloved investigative team.
Readers of the series are treated to a history lesson and tour of London; exposure to an ensemble of quirky, unique characters; and a vocabulary lesson, with an emphasis on arcane insults. And, of course, there is an intriguing, baffling mystery at the beating heart of each volume, as well as a dollop or two of romance. One receives quite a bit for the price of admission ... Fowler, who is involved with other projects on a regular basis, never sacrifices quality or quantity. But I don’t know if I can wait another year to see what occurs.
There’s nothing funny about murder, much less serial murders, yet readers can count on a few lighthearted, even laugh-out-loud, moments ... A significant entry in a series that’s as entertaining as it is eccentric.
Fowler’s 17th installment in the series has all the idiosyncrasies and dark humor of its predecessors but stands alone well. Perfect for fans of police procedurals with nontraditional, especially older, detectives.
... exceptional ... Fowler maintains suspense by alternating between Blake’s bloody campaign and the PCU’s desperate efforts to stop it by trying to find a connection between the victims. Meanwhile, Bryant and May’s decades-old partnership is tested as never before as the two argue fiercely over how to proceed. This whydunit is the epitome of an intelligent page-turner.
Complications ensue along with the wackiest digressions in the business, at least one gobsmacking coincidence, and two deaths that will catch even the most devoted fans of this wacky franchise by surprise ... The crime spree is relatively straightforward, but the devil is in the details, and Fowler’s details are hilariously devilish.
