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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A rare read that combined humor with drama and mundane with unimaginable. Fans of the author would rate his more famous Hitchhiker Trilogy at a higher degree, but I personally liked this novel more. It had more rounded if less eccentric characters. It had a plot, however messy. It had more grounded humor.
This novel is not about Dirk Gently. He is one of the main characters, but it's not about him. He doesn't even show up until one-third of the book. Rather, it's a murder-mystery that doesn't get solved, about a Doctor Who stand-in who doesn't like traveling through time, a ghost who unknowingly murdered his crewmates, another ghost who unknowingly got murdered by a robot, a software engineer with a chesterfield sofa irrevocably stuck in his staircase, and a cellist who I would've loved to see more of. Sorry, that was a lot. Let me try again.
After a strange dinner at his ulma-mater, Richard finds out that his boss was found shot and mutilated. He goes to a long-time acquaintance from college, Dirk, who has set up a detective agency claiming to work with the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. Dirk helps Richard find out the cause of the strangeness at and after the dinner instead of solving the murder-mystery, and the mystery of the murder is ultimately not solved at all. Instead he solves an altogether more strange mystery. I now hold myself from divulging any more in case I spoil anything. You'll have to read and find out for yourself.
The only problem I had with this book is that it's too fast-paced. I know that's kind of the trademark of a detective novel. But a little more character work and a little more detailed description would've helped in the engagement and immersion. Otherwise, it's a perfectly weird novel. Enjoyable to the brim.
Oh! The ending also doesn't really makes sense. You'll have to make up your own excuses for how it works. But that was not a problem for me. I didn't care about everything working out at the end.
This novel is not about Dirk Gently. He is one of the main characters, but it's not about him. He doesn't even show up until one-third of the book. Rather, it's a murder-mystery that doesn't get solved, about a Doctor Who stand-in who doesn't like traveling through time, a ghost who unknowingly murdered his crewmates, another ghost who unknowingly got murdered by a robot, a software engineer with a chesterfield sofa irrevocably stuck in his staircase, and a cellist who I would've loved to see more of. Sorry, that was a lot. Let me try again.
After a strange dinner at his ulma-mater, Richard finds out that his boss was found shot and mutilated. He goes to a long-time acquaintance from college, Dirk, who has set up a detective agency claiming to work with the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. Dirk helps Richard find out the cause of the strangeness at and after the dinner instead of solving the murder-mystery, and the mystery of the murder is ultimately not solved at all. Instead he solves an altogether more strange mystery. I now hold myself from divulging any more in case I spoil anything. You'll have to read and find out for yourself.
The only problem I had with this book is that it's too fast-paced. I know that's kind of the trademark of a detective novel. But a little more character work and a little more detailed description would've helped in the engagement and immersion. Otherwise, it's a perfectly weird novel. Enjoyable to the brim.
Oh! The ending also doesn't really makes sense. You'll have to make up your own excuses for how it works. But that was not a problem for me. I didn't care about everything working out at the end.
mysterious
medium-paced
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very Adams-ian.. maybe too Adams-ian? I couldn't keep track of the plot, constantly confused. However, still very much enjoyed the concepts and will probably try the sequel.
medium-paced