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ewanl's review against another edition
5.0
Just before I picked up Stevyn Colgan’s 2nd instalment of South Herefordshire “whodunit-ery”, I finished reading Barbara Vine’s A Dark Adapted Eye. It was like going from the sublimely disturbing to – you’ve guessed it – the ridiculously funny. I had read “A Murder to Die For” and enjoyed it very much. So I looked forward to “The Diabolical Club” with some enthusiasm. Reader, I was very far from disappointed. Those familiar with the author’s work will remember Colgan’s diligent research, and the watchmaker’s precision of his plotting.
It is a couple of years since the outrage at the Agnes Crabbe Murder Mystery Festival, but Frank Shunter is still chafing at retirement. A local politico is suspected of murder and seeks out Shunter’s help to prove him innocent. The herrings are red and some of the jokes are blue but as usual the author manages to write good-natured humour that is actually FUNNY. (You try it, it’s not easy). Keep an eye out for references to delight golden age whodunit fans as they are another pleasure of this episode of South Herewardshire fun.
Thoroughly good fun, and as such I recommend it to you.
I came by my copy of “The Diabolical Club” through backing the book at Unbound.com, and I shan’t hesitate to do the same for the third volume in the series, “Cockerings“, just as soon as finances allow.
It is a couple of years since the outrage at the Agnes Crabbe Murder Mystery Festival, but Frank Shunter is still chafing at retirement. A local politico is suspected of murder and seeks out Shunter’s help to prove him innocent. The herrings are red and some of the jokes are blue but as usual the author manages to write good-natured humour that is actually FUNNY. (You try it, it’s not easy). Keep an eye out for references to delight golden age whodunit fans as they are another pleasure of this episode of South Herewardshire fun.
Thoroughly good fun, and as such I recommend it to you.
I came by my copy of “The Diabolical Club” through backing the book at Unbound.com, and I shan’t hesitate to do the same for the third volume in the series, “Cockerings“, just as soon as finances allow.
willowcat's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyably silly comic romp. Reminded me of some of Tom Sharpe books. A good lightweight and entertaining read.
neil_denham's review against another edition
4.0
Set in a fictional village which is fictionally famous for being the fictional village in a fictional series of crime novels. It's quite simple really.
snoakes7001's review against another edition
5.0
Combining a strong plot with elements of high farce, The Diabolical Club is a rollicking British comedy. The story is populated by a cast of delightfully eccentric characters including fans of local crime novelist Agnes Crabbe, animal rights activists, police, a philandering MP, local residents & shopkeepers - not to mention an enthusiastic contingent of doggers. The story centres around a murder mystery with not one but two bodies found in the grounds of a public girls' school, complicated by sightings of a mysterious beast in the woods. Stevyn Colgan combines all these elements with wit, tight plotting and a fine sense of the absurd. What you end up with is something like a cross between Agatha Christie and a seaside postcard.
I'm delighted to discover that this isn't the first book to be set in Nasely and I look forward to reading A Murder to Die For in the near future.
Thanks to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read and review.
I'm delighted to discover that this isn't the first book to be set in Nasely and I look forward to reading A Murder to Die For in the near future.
Thanks to Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read and review.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
A weird, light and entertaining read that made me laugh more than once.
It's full of quirky characters and peculiar humour, the plot kept my attention and the characters are interesting.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's full of quirky characters and peculiar humour, the plot kept my attention and the characters are interesting.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
faysieh's review against another edition
2.0
There was a plot involving a posh girls school, a philandering politician, a village full of odd characters, a group of activists (FLAN), police officers (currently employed and one retired) and a fair bit of detail of the ancestry of a particularly wealthy aristocratic family. There was a lot of innuendo, ridiculous names and a humour that just did not resonate with me. I am sure other people would find the Carry On style of humour in this book funny but this just was not for me.
There is a murder so it is a who-dunnit but I was not sufficiently inspired to want to read any more after this particular book.
I guess you'll either love it or hate it.
There is a murder so it is a who-dunnit but I was not sufficiently inspired to want to read any more after this particular book.
I guess you'll either love it or hate it.
kaz_loves_books's review against another edition
5.0
This is the first time I have read this author and I wasn't disappointed, it was slightly different to my normal crime genre as it's more comedy crime but it's brilliantly witty and well written.
There have been some strange sightings at Black Dog Wood. A big shaggy beast? Rumours of some strange goings on. Graffiti on the wall of a house. Protests about emptying the lake at Harpax Grange.
A body found at the mausoleum, local MP, Sir Giles Luscott-Whornes arrested for murder!
Sir Giles only hope is retired policeman detective Frank Shunter. He asks him to try and help prove his innocence, as the police are looking only at him. Frank agrees to take a look.
I really enjoyed reading this brilliantly funny book, had lots going on and a murder to be solved. It made me laugh and I will be looking out for more books by this author.
There have been some strange sightings at Black Dog Wood. A big shaggy beast? Rumours of some strange goings on. Graffiti on the wall of a house. Protests about emptying the lake at Harpax Grange.
A body found at the mausoleum, local MP, Sir Giles Luscott-Whornes arrested for murder!
Sir Giles only hope is retired policeman detective Frank Shunter. He asks him to try and help prove his innocence, as the police are looking only at him. Frank agrees to take a look.
I really enjoyed reading this brilliantly funny book, had lots going on and a murder to be solved. It made me laugh and I will be looking out for more books by this author.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
A weird, light and entertaining read that made me laugh more than once.
It's full of quirky characters and peculiar humour, the plot kept my attention and the characters are interesting.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's full of quirky characters and peculiar humour, the plot kept my attention and the characters are interesting.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
traceyroberts's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second book in a series but can definitely be read as a stand alone as I did. It's a very well written whodunit with plenty of red herrings and a bucket load of humour. So if you're looking for a book full of mystery and laughs then this is the book for you.
urbansapphire's review against another edition
4.0
Stevyn Colgan is a retired policeman of over 30 years service, and is now writing for QI and it's sister show, The Museum of Curiosity. An engaging and popular Tweeter, Stevyn has produced a great little series in the combined styles of traditional English murder mystery/farce.
This installment brings us some strange beasts rampaging around the local woods at sundown, the discovery of a blindfolded skeleton, a secret history involving some less than salubrious goings-on of the local nobility, and the draining of a local lake and the hapless protestors that come along with it.
Not to be taken too seriously, this is a great little escape back to the traditional old-style murder mysteries of Midsommer Murders and the like, coupled with a little Akybourne like farce and a lot of naughtiness thrown in for good measure. Laugh out loud funny, you won't regret reading it.
Thanks to the Pigeonhole and Stevyn for letting me read this great little book in return for an honest review.
This installment brings us some strange beasts rampaging around the local woods at sundown, the discovery of a blindfolded skeleton, a secret history involving some less than salubrious goings-on of the local nobility, and the draining of a local lake and the hapless protestors that come along with it.
Not to be taken too seriously, this is a great little escape back to the traditional old-style murder mysteries of Midsommer Murders and the like, coupled with a little Akybourne like farce and a lot of naughtiness thrown in for good measure. Laugh out loud funny, you won't regret reading it.
Thanks to the Pigeonhole and Stevyn for letting me read this great little book in return for an honest review.