Big broTher is watchiNg! ... but Not close enoUgh! (Dead Famous - Ben Elton)

Member Name: L0BSTERQUADRILLE

Product:	Dead Famous - Ben Elton
Date:	16/09/04 (585 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: absolutely aMaziNgly superBly brillianT !

Disadvantages: ummm ???

Ben Elton’s ‘Dead Famous’ is a modern day whodunit and is a number 1 best seller.

The book opens with a police officer (Coleridge) investigating a murder that has occurred.
The murder took place in the peeping tom house; (a parody of the reality television show; ‘big brother’) 'a sealed environment; every inch covered by television cameras and microphones; the murder being witnessed by all the camera men and 47 million viewers via live television'.
There were six other housemates in the room that the killer left; to commit the murder and; they were still there: when the murderer returned shortly after.
Yet somehow the murderer had managed to outwit everyone and kept their anonymity.
Coleridge and his team: have to painstakingly watch all the footage of the reality game show; peeping tom. A programme he despises and holds in contempt; to search for clues as to who the murderer is.

I found this book gripping and engaging throughout; it was very focused and fast paced. I was continuously amazed at how remarkably clever and witty Ben Elton is.
The suspense and the tension were sustained throughout the novel; as there were many possibilities as to ‘whodunit’, and; how the murderer had managed anonymity with so many witnesses was intensely intriguing.
You would expect that the identity of the murderer in a whodunit to remain a mystery until the end; Ben Elton does not reveal the identity of even the victim until two thirds through the book: furthermore adding to my suspense and interest.
I couldn’t wait to discover who had done it and how; when I finally did: I wasn’t disappointed!
The characters were all incredibly well and cleverly defined; the stage used in the book was perfect: to introduce and develop the characters; Ben Elton used this opportunity to its optimum.
There were many curious and relevant twists and turns in the book to hold our interest and increase the suspense.

With the story line aside; Ben Elton offered hilarious insights into the big brother phenomenon and portrayed a ‘dyspeptic account of the way we live now, with our insane, inane cult of the celebrity’ (Sunday telegraph). Ben Elton highlighted the arrogance; ignorance and inarticulacy of the youth culture.
Within his writing; Ben Elton uses his characters to highlight and argue controversial issues (some of his statements made me gasp! Seriously!); thus making the reader consider alot of there own opinions on such issues.
This certainly made for a funny and interesting read; for me this aspect was the extra something that made it so remarkable; and left a huge impact on me.

I enjoy fast paced; focused books with strong storylines and clever writing. Ben Elton has the ability to this and he does it outstandingly well.
I feel this book is a masterpiece; monstrously clever and powerfully entertaining.

I highly recommend Ben Elton’s ‘Dead Famous’; it will make you laugh; it will make you think; and you will not be able to put the book down!
It is a light and entertaining, accessible book; suitable for adults. Some situations within the book I would deem unsuitable for children eyes, as well as Ben Elton’s tendency to frequently use profanities; makes it somewhat inappropriate.
Whodunits are not typically a genre I enjoy reading; I read ‘dead famous’ as Ben Elton wrote it. Yet: I enjoyed this book immensely; therefore as a final statement: if whodunit’s don’t appeal to you, please don’t let this dissuade you … try it, you might like it !

Ben Elton’s ‘Dead Famous’ is available from all book stores; priced at £6.99.

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