Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi

Today I’m thrilled to be sharing my review for this impressive debut novel by Alex Pavesi. Thank you to Michael Joseph at Penguin UK for a digital review copy via NetGalley – my thoughts are my own and not influenced by the gift.

Synopsis:

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.

If Julia wants answers, she must triumph in a battle of wits with a dangerously clever adversary. But she must tread carefully: she knows there’s a mystery, but she doesn’t yet realise there’s already been a murder . . .

My thoughts:

As I’ve already stated above, this is a very impressive debut novel. full of lies, secrets and murder mysteries. I’ve enjoyed reading murder mystery books over the years, starting with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, then onto PD James and Agatha Christie.

However this book takes this genre to the next level. Julia is hoping to solve a mystery, as she reads the thirty year old stories back to the author, hiding on a secluded island. This book takes so many twists and turns, that I think I need to read it again, now I know how it ended. At no stage did I see the ending (or endings) coming.

This is a set of books within a book which should be enjoyed as a book and also be made into a film. Apologies for the brief review – I don’t want to give away any spoilers.

Waterstones order link : bit.ly/EightDetectives_HB