Full Dark House – The Review
Written by Nikki-ann on Saturday, 12 March , 2011 at 2:43 pm
Author: Christopher Fowler
Publisher: Transworld Publishers
ISBN: 978-0-553-82466-7
When a bomb blows up the offices of the Peculiar Crimes Unit in London claiming Arthur Bryant’s life and leaving behind just his false teeth, it brings to an end a partnership that has lasted for decades. John May must find out exactly what happened and who was responsible for his partner’s death. His search takes him back to the London Blitz and to their very first assignment together – the death of a beautiful dancer who had lost her feet and the beginning of a bizarre mystery at the Palace Theatre.
Full Dark House is the first book in Christopher Fowler’s Bryant & May series, although it is the third one that I’ve read. Having already ‘On the Loose’ and ‘Off the Rails’, I’d come to know Bryant & May quite well, so it was interesting to come back to ‘Full Dark House’ and read about their first case together. In fact, I found the Bryant of days-gone-by even more comical in this book.
I just love the characters of Bryant & May, especially the eccentric Bryant – they definitely broke the mould when he was created! They’re not your average pair of detectives, in fact they are a fair bit older to say the least. John May is the saner one of the two and he keeps (or tries to, at least) Bryant on the straight & narrow, though that’s not always possible!
Full Dark House flashes between the current day and Bryant & May’s first investigation together during the Blitz, as the stories intertwine with each other.. I got confused a couple of times as to which time-period the story was in, but it became obvious within a line or two. Most of the story is set within their first investigation, with a chapter every now and then bringing us back to the current day.
Full Dark House and the Bryant & May series are good old-fashioned crime novels. Christopher Fowler doesn’t rely on gore and such to make his stories exciting, though that’s not to say that there isn’t blood & guts in the stories, it’s just that it’s not all over the place, it’s only there because murders often require it.
This story contains murders, mystery, history and comedy. I find the Bryant & May series more light-hearted than other crime novels I’ve read and Full Dark House was a refreshing change. I’ll definitely be reading the other books in the series.
Buy Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler at the Book Depository.
Read my reviews for other books in the series:
Bryant & May On the Loose
Bryant & May Off the Rails
Visit the Peculiar Crimes Unit website.
Christopher Fowler is an award-winning British author from London.
This is the 8th book I’ve read for the British Books Challenge.
Comments (7)
Category: Books,Crime,Mystery,Reviews,Thriller
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Made Saturday, 12 of March , 2011 at 2:50 pm
[...] of Death by Simon Beckett (My review posted 6th March 2011) Full Dark House by Christopher Fowler (My review posted 12th March 2011) Going Postal by Terry [...]
Comment by Jo
Made Saturday, 12 of March , 2011 at 8:45 pm
I enjoyed this book far more than I thought I would when I selected it for the Crime Caper challenge. Thanks for the links to your other reviews, I might go and check these books out now.
I have just got sent The Chemistry of Death so that is next to be read.
Comment by Shelley Munro
Made Sunday, 13 of March , 2011 at 4:22 am
I remember reading one of your other reviews. This time I’ve scribbled myself a note to check them out because they sound like interesting reads.
Comment by Yvonne
Made Sunday, 13 of March , 2011 at 7:32 am
Hello Nikki-ann,
Another author that has to be added to my list!!!!
I checked out your other reviews and these books sound fantastic, I love everything about them … the cover art is brilliant, the official website is great fun and the storylines fun and entertaining.
I could see your analogy with ‘New Tricks’ straightaway, but when you described the story as going back and forth in time, my next thought was ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’.
The characters names were interesting as well … check them out on Wikipedia, ‘Bryant and May’ were an old firm that made matches, back in the 60s and 70s.
A very clever and innovative author.
Thanks for the recommendation
Comment by Annie
Made Sunday, 13 of March , 2011 at 2:41 pm
I read this maybe two or three year ago and fully intended to go on with the series, but you know how it is, something else comes along and before you know it it’s completely gone out of your mind. Thanks for reminding me about them. I must put the second one on my library list now, before I forget again.
Comment by vivienne
Made Sunday, 13 of March , 2011 at 3:11 pm
Ooh I haven’t heard of this series. It sounds just like Goodnight Sweetheart as mentioned above by Yvonne.
Definitely a series I need to add to my list.
Comment by Beth
Made Tuesday, 15 of March , 2011 at 2:27 pm
I hadn’t heard of these either, but have added this to my wishlist. Great review, thanks. You sound quite fond of the characters.
