Die Hard with a haggis (One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night - Chrisopher Brookmyre)

Member Name: username2003

Product:	One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night - Chrisopher Brookmyre
Date:	07/01/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: fast paced, lots of great one liners

Disadvantages: none

Christopher Brookmyre isn't subtle, he deals in nostalgia, sarcasm and explosions. If you dont like those things then look no further this book isnt for you.

But if you love page turing thrillers, comedy violence and a plethora of quotable Scottish insults then you have found home, you have also found the best book in his collection.

The plot is simple, a school reunion, an oil rig and a bunch of terrorists. Yes I know it sounds contrived and it is somewhat silly but the dialogue sparkles and the interplay between the characters is excellent. The plot moves at a fast pace with some decent twists and turns and a great pay off

There are two principle strands to the book, both revolve around characters who are trying to impress others and continually failing, a holiday businessman who was a nobody at school [hence the reunion to show how succesful he has become] and a mercenary becoming a terrorist to impress his older, more successful terrorist friend.

A third strand is something Brookmyre returns to often, how do you grow up? That is something Ally is trying to work out but doing this whilst trying to imitate Die Hard with a weak stomach isn't the best idea.

The book is pretty short and snappy, with chapters only a few pages long. The in jokes and in the constant references to action films such as Die Hard, Star Wars and the Long Kiss Goodnight makes the book a great parody.

A hilarious book, I recommend that anyone who has an acidic sense of humour reads it immeadiately.

Summary: Wonderful book