Grant McAllister is a retired mathematician living on a remote island in the Mediterranean. Over twenty years ago he wrote a collection of mystery stories and had a meager publishing of them. Julia Hart is an editor representing a small publisher who found a copy of the book and wants to republish the collection. She arranges a meeting and they read and discuss each story methodically, fitting them into his carefully designed mathematical theory of mystery construction.
I don’t want to say much more about the details of the story because it is as cleverly constructed as Grant’s theorem. It took a bit for this slow burn to consume me but when it did, I couldn’t let go. Each story in the collection is presented as if it’s the main one in the book, which initially felt confusing but quickly became something I avidly anticipated. Along the way, I started questioning a lot more than the stories and that was an extremely gradual development.
This is one of the most clever stories I’ve read in a long time and I love clever. It’s also a debut novel by the author and I’ll sign up for the next book he chooses to write and release. I wish I could share more but it would be much too spoilerish. It’s capped with a stunning ending that had me rewinding the audiobook to make certain I’d heard what I heard. And speaking of the audio format, the narrator was outstanding. She was not only responsible for distinctively giving voice to the two main characters but a host of others from the individual stories in the collection, which she handled excellently. This turned out to be a gem in the rough for me.
Book Info
- Release Date: August 4, 2020
- Narrator: Emilia Fox
- Audio Length: 11 hours, 16 minutes
- Publisher: Macmillan Audio
- Alternate Title: “Eight Detectives”
Blue Mood Café 
I still need to read this book. Great review!
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Thank you, Jacob💜 I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
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I love clever story lines too. That is why I love Anthony Horowitz. (although his last one was a tad disappointing!)
I will have to take a look at this one. Clever lovely review too, Jo!
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Thank you, Marialyce💜 I didn’t know Horowitz’s books could be described as clever! Gotta move them up. This is oh, so clever.
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Fab review Jo I definitely want to listen to this one!
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Thanks, Nicki💜 This is one I think you’d enjoy!
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I had a hunch it would be a great book. Your review just proved me correct. Great review, Jonetta. 🙂
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Thank you, Debjani💜 I had no idea what to expect.
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This is a book and author that I am not familiar with Jo. It sounds like one I should become familiar with though. Great review, now to see if I can find the audiobook.
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Thanks, Carla💜 It’s his debut novel and I’m definitely up for whatever he writes next.
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I will have to wait a bit for this one. The libraries don’t have it yet.
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Fab review! I really like the sound of this one. xx
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Thanks, Yvo💜 I’m glad I took a chance on it.
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You had me at mathematician! This sounds amazing and the narrator appealing.
Anne – Books of My Heart
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Oh, you’d love this on audio, Anne!
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I just checked it out at the library on audio.
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That’s where I got mine! Hope you enjoy.
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My initial response? Open up my browser and head to my online wish list and add this one. Damn it, Jo, this really does sound good, and yes, I love clever too.
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Oh, Alex, you’re gonna love this one.
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Ooo, even better, might get this in my next batch of buys, mid month! 😜
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I love a clever story too so I’m going to have to check this one out, probably on audio because I’m loving the sample you shared. Great review!
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Thank you, Suzanne💜 I’m very happy that sample was helpful!
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