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ewanl's review
5.0
A debut novel to die for, more like.
There were so many things to admire in Stevyn Colgan's knockabout farce of a whodunit. From the very first page, the author played with the tropes of the golden age murder mystery. It is very clear that the author loves these books and has read and digested very many of them. I would like to say that A Murder to Die For was a book I couldn't put down, but I had to. I wanted to enjoy the laugh out loud moments properly. The clever plotting stands on its own as a whodunit and I wish I could detail some of the clever jokes aimed at the insider (okay, dedicated Agatha Christie et al fans), but I'm afraid almost all of them would involve a spoiler. Suffice to say reading about a possible updating of Murder She Wrote meant putting the book down for a moment or two.
This clever, funny, human updating of the classic murder mystery is perhaps the book Mr Colgan has always been destined to write: I found echoes of the philosophical ideas explored in Connect-o-scope and Why Did The Policeman in his novel.
Funny, thought-provoking and a rollicking-read. Unbound produces another gem. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys being entertained by a novel.
I understand a sequel is in the offing. I can't wait.
There were so many things to admire in Stevyn Colgan's knockabout farce of a whodunit. From the very first page, the author played with the tropes of the golden age murder mystery. It is very clear that the author loves these books and has read and digested very many of them. I would like to say that A Murder to Die For was a book I couldn't put down, but I had to. I wanted to enjoy the laugh out loud moments properly. The clever plotting stands on its own as a whodunit and I wish I could detail some of the clever jokes aimed at the insider (okay, dedicated Agatha Christie et al fans), but I'm afraid almost all of them would involve a spoiler. Suffice to say reading about a possible updating of Murder She Wrote meant putting the book down for a moment or two.
This clever, funny, human updating of the classic murder mystery is perhaps the book Mr Colgan has always been destined to write: I found echoes of the philosophical ideas explored in Connect-o-scope and Why Did The Policeman in his novel.
Funny, thought-provoking and a rollicking-read. Unbound produces another gem. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys being entertained by a novel.
I understand a sequel is in the offing. I can't wait.
alexlaurelhoffman's review
4.0
This is a fantastic book! It’s a very self-aware spoof of all the things you find in a classic detective novel from unrealistic, twisting plots to unexpected reveals and observant (or very in observant) detectives.
A murder occurs at the usually sleepy village of Nasely at the one time or year when it is bustling with business, the weekend of the Agnes Crabbe Murder Mystery Festival. Almost everyone is dressed up as the renowned protagonist of Crabbe’s detective novels, including the victim, and so the story unfolds. It is funny and compelling with a lot of commentary on both the great and ridiculous elements of the detective novel and well worth a read!
A murder occurs at the usually sleepy village of Nasely at the one time or year when it is bustling with business, the weekend of the Agnes Crabbe Murder Mystery Festival. Almost everyone is dressed up as the renowned protagonist of Crabbe’s detective novels, including the victim, and so the story unfolds. It is funny and compelling with a lot of commentary on both the great and ridiculous elements of the detective novel and well worth a read!
balletbookworm's review
4.0
A delightful, madcap murder mystery set at a fan-con for a fictional English crime writer with a Phrynne Fisher-esque 1920s amateur detective. Colgan gleefully breaks all the “rules” of crime writing and name drops all sorts of mystery-related Easter eggs, including Midsomer Murders (and you’ll find the retired DS Shunter a bit of an analog to Tom Barnaby, my favorite dad-detective, although with less of John Nettles’s panache). Not a cosy, since the amateur detectives are quite useless, so I can’t use it for the Read Harder task, but a good, zany whodunnit. The sum-up at the end it a bit awkward, imo.
quietjenn's review
4.0
Part straight up mystery, part sort of spoof (but in a kindly way). Quite funny, as you might expect from a QI writer and a little absurd, but good fun all around.
gothicvamperstein's review
4.0
Personally, I found ”A Murder to Die For” a fun read. It is in a sense a tribute to the Golden Age crime mysteries like Agatha Christie (I guess there is a reason why the celebrated fictional author is named Agnes Crabbe), but the novel also makes a bit fun of mystery novels as well. A deduction in a mystery novel is quite different from real life investigation, which is even pointed out in the novel by one of the characters.
If you’re in search for a mystery novel that has a bit of humour, feel free to pick up this novel.
If you’re in search for a mystery novel that has a bit of humour, feel free to pick up this novel.
danievikfreeman's review
4.0
4.5 stars, a hysterical cluster of a murder mystery. Excellent writing!!
liv_abrams's review
4.0
This classic murder mystery novel with lots of humour peppered throughout made a nice change from the thriller & crime novels that I usually go for. I enjoyed the insights about modern detective work from the ex-police author, even if these were sometimes used to explain away some of the more ridiculous plot twists. I really liked how unpredictable and light-hearted this book is, and as the friend who lent it to me said in her review, it’s definitely one for any Midsomer Murders fans!