English language
Published Dec. 22, 2022 by Simon & Schuster, Limited.
I got really into this. I don't think it's at all ground breaking, you won't be massively surprised by anything that happens and I suspect I will forget all about this relatively soon. However, the main point here is it was just really enjoyable to read, and I did do rather quickly which is usually a good sign. Recommend.
Fast paced. Easy read. A jaunt through an episode in Gary's life. A quirky observational take on a ' feel-good' crime thriller. Read with Bob's voice in your head for added charm.
My review of The Satsuma Complex by Bob Mortimer has just been published at:
www.austcrimefiction.org/review/satsuma-complex-bob-mortimer
"... it's not a particularly bad outing, it's just not a standout, grab you by the throat, this is great stuff outing. And it's definitely going to be better if you can hear Mortimer's voice when Gary's on page. "
This is honestly a fantastic little story, you can tell it is Bobs first attempt at this but it is seriously fun and you can tell he wrote it and enjoyed writing it!
I'm always suspicious of celeb authors ... but then of course there's Richard Osman.
As for Mortimer he does an OK job to be honest. There's a slightly unlikely hero, a plausible plot, a twist which in truth I did see coming, and it all works out all right in the end so that's no bad thing. So yeah, worth a read.
Bob Mortimer speaks my language - I grew up with his humour, catching Shooting Stars and Big Night Out, amongst others, in the evenings after school. I knew what I was in for, and it's exactly why I picked up the book - surreal humour.
But the book is actually pretty tame on this. The decision to make it 'book-like' might have limited Bob in this regard. In the end, you have a perfectly readable 'holiday book'; not too complex, easy to follow, enough to keep you going - but it never tested me as a reader, and it didn't stray into anything challenging.
As the book draws on, the surreal drops away to reveal a light plot - which held my attention to the end, but was only 'satisfying'.
All that being said, I enjoyed reading it! And there are some great little moments in here in which Bob's …
Bob Mortimer speaks my language - I grew up with his humour, catching Shooting Stars and Big Night Out, amongst others, in the evenings after school. I knew what I was in for, and it's exactly why I picked up the book - surreal humour.
But the book is actually pretty tame on this. The decision to make it 'book-like' might have limited Bob in this regard. In the end, you have a perfectly readable 'holiday book'; not too complex, easy to follow, enough to keep you going - but it never tested me as a reader, and it didn't stray into anything challenging.
As the book draws on, the surreal drops away to reveal a light plot - which held my attention to the end, but was only 'satisfying'.
All that being said, I enjoyed reading it! And there are some great little moments in here in which Bob's vision of the world really shines through. His descriptions, at points, are impeccable.
After a bit of a shaky start (it took a few chapters to really get used to the style of writing) I actually really enjoyed this book. The ending felt like a bit of a rush, but generally I enjoyed the characters and the plot. I hope Bob decides to write more fiction.
