Review: The Physicist Detective by Raymond Marylowe

Synopsis: Meet Professor Raymond Marylowe — flamboyant theoretical physicist and self-proclaimed “world’s greatest private detective.” Armed with absurd logic and bizarre applications of physics, he can theorize anyone into guilt—no matter how innocent they are. Wrong and humiliated often, uncertain never.

Follow him on a globe-trotting adventure through seven cases, as he attempts to tackle impossible crimes, outwit phantom thieves, duel secret spies, uncover mythic treasures—and face his most baffling mystery romance, with a woman as much of a chaotic wildcard as he is.

But in every shadow lurks his sworn nemesis, the worst nightmare of every an elite criminal defense attorney, who vows to defend all criminals Professor Marylowe accuses, no matter how guilty…

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Suspend all belief all ye who enter here. This is a farcical, comical, nonsensical, self-indulgent piece of buffoonery. Picture the Tassie Devil from the WB cartoons - that is Professor Marylowe - as he pontificates, accuses, surmises, rushing in like a bull in a china shop, and literally makes it up as he goes along, solving (??) crimes with the use of physics. Usual one dimensional crooks, villains, suspects and numerous other characters, who don't seem to be allocated any real depth but a pretty much page fillers to keep the highly unusual narrative flowing (or rocketing along at break neck speed into oblivion). Continue the journey at your own peril .....

Review: The Brewer of Preston by Andrea Camilleri

This was an added extra when I picked up a few of Camilleri's "Inspector Montalbano" books from the local library.

The setting Vigata in the 1870s, and the proposed production of a play - the Brewer of Preston - at the local theatre by the Prefect of Vigata - an event which the townsfolk intend will never happen. 

What was unexpected was how this writing style differs so much from the "Inspector Montalbano" novels. The chapters, which introduce us to an eclectic and eccentric cast of characters, are presented in no particular order - in fact we are told to read them in whatever order we like! As we slowly read, we pick up little hints as to how each scene and the characters will eventually relate, and the circumstances that bring them all together begins to unfold.

" ... how many things in Sicily happened by mistake ..."

The writing is at times sardonic, comedic, tragic, farcical, absurd. Loaded with clever, and often satirical, writing, Camilleri reveals tempestuous political scheming and double crossing, murder, infidelity, police corruption, anarchy, organised crime - and above, the Sicilian style of justice.

One is left wondering ... is the opera being acted out on the stage or in the real lives of the novel's characters...