Eight Detectives: The Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month

As you would expect for a novel about murder mysteries, 'Eight Detectives' is packed full of twists and red herrings, to the point that you enter a state of second-guessing every word you read. I found it quite tiring to read as I felt the urge to read with greater concentration than normal, trying to spot inconsistencies and double meanings, distrusting each sentence. It's certainly a clever book, although it's not always as enjoyable as it is smart.The story centres on Julia, who works for a publisher specialising in crime fiction. She has travelled to a remote Mediterranean island to meet the reclusive mathematician Grant McAllister, whose book she hopes to republish. Back in the 1930s he worked out a mathematical formula to describe the plot of any murder mystery, and penned seven short stories to demonstrate his principles. The novel alternates these short stories with Julia and McAllister discussing them, and Julia's attempts to understand this strange recluse and why he abandoned his family and work to live in seclusion. As she reads on, Julia finds more and more oddities in the books - strange allusions and possible coded references, apparent inconsistencies, and a disturbing potential link to a real unsolved murder.I felt there was an undercurrent of nastiness in most of the short stories and in the linking story. I know that's a strange thing to say about stories dealing in murder - you don't expect murder to be nice - but there are degrees of unpleasantness and I found a lot of the stories really quite dark. I think I'd expected more of a light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek style of murder mystery where the murder side is very incidental and unrealistic and the story is more about unbelievably complicated mysteries and implausible clues.The whole mathematical theory idea was quite interesting/original although ultimately you do wonder why bother? It's only really useful as a literary device for the novel. I'm also not convinced by the mathematical robustness of it as it does make certain assumptions. I felt baffled in some of the short story mysteries as I could see other alternative explanations but they were presented as if there was only one and the solution in the book was the correct one. A couple of them were beyond far-fetched (and yes, I do give murder mysteries a lot of laxity in that regard).On the whole, this is quite a gripping and interesting novel with a good idea underpinning it. I can't say I fully enjoyed it because I felt it was nastier than necessary, and some elements of the plot didn't work for me. But you have to admire the author for coming up with a different take on a very very well trodden genre.

As a lover of murder mysteries this has it all. Seven short murder mystery stories interspaced with the overarching story of Julia. Really fantastic couldn't put it down. Love the nod to the queen of cosy murder mysteries.

This book reveals a mathematical equation for a murder mystery with 7 short stories that highlight the various permutations. It starts, however, with the first permutation which is disorientating, as you are not sure what you are reading, however, once you get into it the stories are quite enjoyable. The twist itself is fine and probably done to give the book more substance, but not something that piqued my interest. I liked the fact there was a double ending, as both characters' stories are concluded, however, it was also a let down at the same time as you are drawn in, but then the endings are mediocre.

Oh my goodness! This was another one of those novels that had a promising start, and had an interesting premise, but which ultimately led me down a rabbit hole to disappointment. The novel begins with a story set in Spain. It’s 1930, and we’re introduced to two characters, Henry and Megan, who have been invited to their friend Bunny’s villa. Bunny has gone upstairs to have a siesta after the three of them have returned from lunch and a drinking session at a local restaurant. When Bunny doesn’t show up after a few hours have lapsed, Henry and Megan go upstairs to wake him up - only to find him dead on his bed! 😱 He has been murdered - but by who? Not wishing to give away spoilers, I’ll just say that the story is completed by the end of the chapter. Chapter 2, which appears to be set in the 1950’s or 1960’s begins with Julia Hart (an editor) reading aloud the closing lines from Chapter 1. It turns out that the first chapter is a story taken from The White Murders, a collection of short stories written 30 years previously. It transpires that Julia has been sent by her publisher (Blood Type Books) to interview the now elderly author, Grant McAllister, who lives alone on a small Mediterranean island. The rest of Eight Detectives includes each of the stories taken from The White Murders interspersed with Julia’s interview/conversations with Grant.Despite the good start, as I clicked through those Kindle pages, I slowly began to lose my belief in the ludicrous plots and wooden characters set out before me. I also didn’t really get a true sense of time and place with each of the stories, and became frustrated with the clunky writing. In addition, I couldn’t get over how so many of the ordinary folk who found mutilated murder victims didn’t seem to be in any way traumatised by their experiences - it was almost as if they were taking part in an innocent game of Cluedo, instead of seeing some dead bloke with his head caved in. It seems to me as though Alex Pavesi was trying to write this like Agatha Christie on steroids. In my opinion he isn’t up to anywhere near the standard of that lady’s work - and I say that as someone who is not a big fan of AC, but one who has still been reasonably entertained over the years by a handful of her more popular novels.Grant McAllister kept referring to the key ‘ingredients’ that must be included in a successful murder mystery, and used a mathematical formulae to illustrate this - that’s fine, but was there any real need for the Grant and Julia characters to allude to this formulae ad nauseam? Quite frankly, I found that element rather boring. Getting to the finishing line was a chore, but I persevered in the hope that a really good short story would come out of all of this - but such a tale never materialised. The twisty denouement in the final chapter did kind of cleverly tie up a few loose ends, but by then my interest had waned to the point where I just wanted to turn that last page. It’s with a sense of relief that I can now crack on and read something far more rewarding from one of my favourite ‘tried and tested’ authors. So, sorry folks, this one was not for me. I’m usually more generous with my Amazon stars, but I’d be fooling myself (and you) if I gave this novel any more than a 2 out of 5 rating.

Apenas voy en el capítulo 4, pero la lectura ha sido excelente hasta el momento. Si te gustan las historias de crimen con giros inesperados, este libro es altamente recomendado.

It’s very difficult to find a murder mystery these days which is 'original' so as to say. We find murders done in the most outrageous manners that can be conceived. The characters may come out of zoo or Mars or the neighbourhood.But when did you last read a whole book that's... different?Well, here it is.A Mathematics Professor had theorised all possible murder mysteries. Then he had published a set of seven stories, each one dealing with a different permutation and combination of the factors mentioned by him.Now, after many-many years, someone has come to find him. That someone wishes to reissue the volume, with the author's insights.All that needs to be done is to go through the seven stories.And to find out, why the volume had been named 'The White Murders'.How was it? I found the experience to be hugely enjoyable. It deliberately imitated the dry and precise style of so-called Golden Age mysteries. But overall the effect was refreshing.Above all, it provides the pleasure of reading and solving eight murders!Despite the somewhat underwhelming and predictable ending, I enjoyed the book.Recommended.

Such a clever and unique story!Multiple detective stories with an Agatha Christie vibe. The murder mystery rules. Grant McAllister wrote 7 stories, hiding the secrets in them. Only those with a super keen eye will find them.30 years after they were first published, Julia Hart tracks the author down with a view to re-publish them. But she believes that the clues in the story link to a true crime case.This is a much talked about book and I couldn't wait to read it. The story was interesting and very very addictive. The ending will shock you - well it did me!

The book might seem inconsistent with its simplistic short stories. But stick aeound till the end and your patience will be rewarded!