Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi

Author : Alex Pavesi
Title : Eight Detectives
Pages : 340
Publisher : Michael Joseph / Penguin
Publication date : August 20, 2020

| ABOUT THE BOOK |

All murder mysteries follow a simple set of rules. Grant McAllister, an author of crime fiction and professor of mathematics, once sat down and worked them all out.

But that was thirty years ago. Now he’s living a life of seclusion on a quiet Mediterranean island – until Julia Hart, a sharp, ambitious editor, knocks on his door. His early work is being republished and together the two of them must revisit those old stories: an author, hiding from his past, and an editor, keen to understand it.

But as she reads, Julia is unsettled to realise that there are things in the stories that don’t make sense. Intricate clues that seem to reference a real murder, one that’s remained unsolved for thirty years.

Julia realises she’s unwittingly entered a battle of wits where there can only be one winner. But Grant will soon realise that he underestimates her at his peril.

| MY THOUGHTS |

Eight Detectives was one of those books that almost made me burst with excitement the minute it was announced. And so it shot its way right up my “most anticipated books of the year” list and I patiently awaited publication day. Naturally, I dropped everything I was doing when my copy landed on my doorstep and I dove right in.

So imagine my disappointment when after 100 pages, it still wasn’t quite grabbing me. This is one of those instances where I felt some parts worked really well, but as a whole it just didn’t come together. The parts that absolutely work are the short stories that are spread out throughout the book. My favourite was an abundantly clear Agatha Christie rip-off but I’m going to assume it was supposed to be obvious. For reasons, I guess. All the stories had that golden age of crime fiction feel to it. So while I enjoyed those stories, they also made me think I might as well just be reading Christie’s books instead.

According to elusive professor/author Grant McAllister, crime fiction novels follow a simple set of mathematical rules. Thirty years ago, he sat down and worked them all out. Now his earlier work is being republished and editor, Julia Hart, travels to the secluded island where McAllister has been living. But Julia soon realises there are things about the short stories that don’t quite add up. Could they hold intricate clues about a murder case that was never solved?

Unique and refreshing way to possibly solve a cold case? Absolutely yes! If nothing else, the premise was definitely extremely intriguing. The rules are fairly basic and easy to follow. Obviously, there needs to be a murder, a killer, a suspect and a detective in all its various permutations. I loved seeing those being brought to life through the short stories, even if McAllister’s explanations sometimes completely lost me. I never was good at mathematics.

Despite the brilliant writing and the potential of an excellent plot, something remained missing for me throughout the entire book though. I can’t even explain what it is but it felt as if the story never really picked up. The characters left me completely cold and since I, as the reader, had little information about the murder from thirty years ago, finding the clues in the short stories was almost impossible.

So, no, Eight Detectives unfortunately didn’t entirely work for me. But I can absolutely see this book appeal to many other readers, and it has done as it looks like I might be somewhat in the minority with my slightly unpopular opinion. In an odd sort of way, I’m glad I read it. I’m glad I was introduced to Alex Pavesi and despite my disappointment in this book, I will gladly pick up his next book when it comes.

Eight Detectives (The Eighth Detective in the US.) is available to buy!

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20 Books of Summer : 17/20