8 nods to the murder mysteries of yesteryear. We review 8 Detectives by Alex Pavesi.
8 Detectives – the blurb
All murder mysteries follow a simple set of rules.
Grant McAllister, an author of crime fiction and professor of mathematics, once sat down and worked them all out. But that was thirty years ago. Now he’s living a life of seclusion on a quiet Mediterranean island – until Julia Hart, a sharp, ambitious editor, knocks on his door. His early work is being republished and together the two of them must revisit those old stories.
An author, hiding from his past, and an editor, probing inside it.
But as she reads the stories, Julia is unsettled to realize that there are parts that don’t make sense. Intricate clues that seem to reference a real murder. One that’s remained unsolved for thirty years . . .
If Julia wants answers, she must triumph in a battle of wits with a dangerously clever adversary. But she must tread carefully: she knows there’s a mystery, but she doesn’t yet realize there’s already been a murder . . .
A tale within a tale
A mathematic formula for murder? Well not quite, it’s a formula for writing murder mysteries. Fictional author Grant McAllister explains all to editor Julia Hart taking in all the hallmarks of the genre. There are locked rooms, isolated islands and final denouements a plenty. Reading as a collection of short stories with an overarching tale fans of Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes are in for a treat.
Yet it’s also bang up to date. The murders are brutal in a way that would have caused Miss Marple to take a turn. The old tales wrapped up in a modern bow immediately reminded me of the very good Magpie Murders. I think the modern tale was actually my least favorite. I spent the whole time waiting for the inevitable twist and found it quite drawn out/repetitive.
The individual short stories though were really enjoyable and the format made it really easy to dip in and out of, Something always appreciated over Christmas! If you’re a fan of the genre you won’t be disappointed and there is just about enough guts and gore for modern crime enthusiasts to get their teeth into too.
