If you’re interested in reading my academic work about detective and crime fiction (free PDFs available), check it out here. Or you can take a look at my short story collection of cosy mysteries featuring Victorian “lady detective” Meinir Davies; order now!

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Review

I really enjoyed the premise of this novel: an “unofficial house-sitter” runs into a few more whose methods are far more high-tech than his own, but they’re stuck together by virtue of becoming joint suspects in a murder enquiry. Although stumbling across a crime during the commission of your own—and then being highly motivated to solve the former to save yourself from punishment—isn’t strictly a new concept, I appreciated the thought that had gone into the how of Al’s “interloping” life and the amusement of the amateur detective work, as well as its commentary on the alienation of the younger generation from communities and the ability to put down roots. The constant vigilance, anxiety, uncertainty, and mental investment into just finding a space to be is really moving, and perhaps doubly so because it is covered by the veil of countercultural rebellious lawbreaking.

The novel has some fantastic lines, for example, “Like the Crown Prosecution Service, these things are sent to try us.” At times, it had a certain teen/Young Adult feel because of this levity, but I enjoyed this, and it did keep the novel moving. There was perhaps one too many twist/turn, as it ran a little long, but the capers were certainly inventive. I didn’t feel particularly invested in the crime being solved, but the novel played effectively on enduring sympathy for Al to keep you interested.

The novel does leave some unanswered questions: about Al and who he really is, about whether this thrown-together collective might stick together, and about what other crimes this lot could reasonably solve together without stretching the premise entirely too far (and that last one might just be me…).

I haven’t read any other Andrew Hunter Murray novels but would happily read a few more. It also reminded me that I have yet to read How to Kill Your Family!

See also

These lists capture other stories and characters that I thought of as I was reading this piece. I won’t explain why, to avoid spoilers, but they’re associations and not ‘if you liked this, then you’ll love…’ recommendations!

• Death and Croissants (Ian Moore)
• White Collar (TV series)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)

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Take a look at my short story collection featuring Victorian “lady detective” Meinir Davies; order now!