Mystery Man - Bateman

Crime fiction is sort of like the problem child of the book world that the parents like to hide under the stairs. Even the geeky kids, like science fiction and fantasy, get to poke their head out once in a while to breathe some fresh air, or have a film based on them. No, it is crime fiction that is sneered at most for being derivative, bland, simple and forgettable. As a fan of the genre... I agree! There is a lot of rotten crime fiction about. You read a debut novel only to discover yet another author rehashing the same ideas trying to make money off people who don't want to be challenged in anyway. Luckily for those that do want something a little better there ...  Read the complete review

Are you looking for a mystery with many comic twists and a character you aren't sure whether to love or hate? Had enough of the usual kind of crime books full of serious characters and the usual results? Then search no further, "Mystery Man" is possibly the strangest book I have ever read and I've read plenty. After finishing the book 5 hours ago, the jury is still out. One thing is for certain, it isn't a book I'll forget easily, the story isn't one ill forget at all, and the main character is not one I'll forget ever! *****Story ****** It is the story of an unnamed owner of "No Alibis", a crime fiction bookshop in ...  Read the complete review

Blurb He's the man with no name and the owner of No Alibi's a mystery bookshop in Belfast. But when a dectective agency next door goes bust, the agency's clients start calling into his shop asking him to solve their cases. It's not as if there's any danger invovlved. It's an easy way to sell books to his gullible customers and Alison, the beautiful girl in the jewellery shop accross the road, will surely be impressed. Except she's not - because she can see the bigger picture. And when the break into the shuttered shop next door on a dare, they have there answer. Suddenly they are catapulted along a murder trail which leads them from small-time publishing ...  Read the complete review

I must admit that I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to books with a 'Richard & Judy book club' sticker. I have no idea where this prejudice came from, but I'm assuming it is because the kind of books they normally choose are not really my cup of tea. However, every now and again there are exceptions and one of those is the hilarious 'Mystery Man' by Bateman. The main reason this book grabbed my attention was because of the amusing tagline - "Murder, Mayhem & Damn Sexy Trousers", it immediately made me smile and had me intrigued - after reading the blurb I was sure this would be something I would like... ...and I was right. I've ...  Read the complete review

I am not normally a fan of crime writing, but I saw this was on the Richard and Judy book list I thought it was worth a shot, as when they include a 'genre' book it tends to be a bit more accessible. I haven't read anything else by this author so didn't know quite what to expect, but it had me chuckling from the first few pages. The plot isn't the most memorable thing about this book (although it is the usual twists and turns and red herrings and working out who the real baddies are...), but the characters are incredibly well rendered and very funny indeed. The main character is a crime bookshop owner, and the mysteries he solves are the customers ...  Read the complete review