Gory murder story

This was very well performed. The detective aspect of this story keeps you guessing but it was a bit gory. The thing that I really disliked was the description of the sex between the detective and one of the women. I felt it was demeaning to all women with no plot justification.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

One of my favorite books

While the majority of the story remains this is a slightly abridged version. Funny but serious while addressing some real life truths on bullying. Dated by the use of friends reunited which now surpassed by other social media that could do the same thing.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great book and story shame its abridged version.

Great book and story shame its abridged version. love Ben elton books wish more had audible versions.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Easy listen story

Good angle with the bullying. Felt it was a bit rushed towards the end. Needed a bigger finale fight scene and maybe hints to the killer throughout.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Another detective

I read this after Identity Crisis and found it less engaging and certainly short on the sharp humour one expects from Ben Elton. I guessed the murderer too early for suspense.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Excellent...

I'm not a huge fan of Ben Elton, but this book looked a bit 'crimey' so I gave it a shot. I wasn't disappointed, Ben Miles' reading is excellent, the writing is pure Ben Elton style and the story line is a 'can't put down' type. Definitely worth the money and you will listen to it in one go!!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

Abridged and nothing special

I was looking for audiobooks narrated by Ben Miles after a Coupling re-watch and found this one. I've enjoyed some Ben Elton books before so figured I'd give it a shot.

To be clear, this is abridged so I can't fairly judge the full book and I'll try to stay spoiler free.

The main character is a bit pathetic, he is a lech and quite meek although he has his moments. His police partner is much of the same. Neither are especially likeable and you don't find yourself routing for them in the book.

The murderer is kind of obvious. I don't think you could get it from the second chapter like another reviewer but it wasn't a surprise at the end. He acted in a very odd way for a successful long-term serial killer though. Killing a person every few months and then a bunch of people relating to an investigating detective within days. Seemed odd.

This book is very dated too. Friend's Reunited plays a big roll, now defunct, CDs get mentioned a lot, laughable computer security, apparently no competition commission for businesses etc. It's not Elton's fault but when people are going "Gosh, a computer, I've never touched one." It does seem weird.

There's also the comically violent bullying (everyone seems to ignore a kid getting stabbed and admitted to hospital for blood poisoning) and the really heavy handed message about it that the book tries to get across. Honestly, by the end of it you lose sympathy for the bullied characters because they whinge so much.

The rest of the book seems to flit between coincidence and lazy writing as the main character is pulled along for the ride. The police side seemed poorly researched too; I can't imagine a young woman being used as serial killer bait with a squad of armed police ready to leap out of a van and her only communication to be to the walky-talky of one cop who is out of sight of all the other police. Just stupid.

I never read abridged normally but I was glad of it in the end because the book ended more quickly. Ben Miles' narration was decent enough.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great short listen on a short journey..

Cracking story and great characters. And a trip back to the eighties to... Ben brings the characters alive and keeps the story going at a great pace

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

deeply unpleasant

Horrible, not a fun interesting story as other Ben Eltons have been I want to send it back but cant work out how

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Very poor

I usually Love most of Ben Elton's books but this was very poor. I knew who'd done it by the second chapter. Very un suprising and dull. Don't go for it. Trying another Ben Elton's work. Also it was very short, lacked any story.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!