Reviews

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

hannahelizabooks's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

tiredcloudy's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

aceinit's review against another edition

2.0

I am really conflicted about this one. I wanted to like it, and I had high hopes for it given how much I loved Hitchhiker's. The characters are, by themselves, interesting...with the exception of Dirk, whose legend I loved (as described during his student days, and as he was spying on Richard as he committed the break-in) but whose actual character (once Richard met him) proved too full of himself and juvenile for me to really connect with. Sherlock Holmes, Dirk Gently is not.

I can't help but feel like this cast was thrown into a plot blender to see what could come out, as it becomes progressively more messy and incoherent as the story progresses.

Maybe I missed something. Or maybe this story was just a mess. All I know was that when I started reading, I couldn't wait to turn the page, but somewhere around the 2/3 mark, I couldn't wait for it to be over so I could move on to something else.

julicke95's review against another edition

funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Didn't enjoy it as much as Hitchhikers', but altogether an entertaining read full of Douglas Adams' signature wacky imagination, wit and humour. It started out quite promising, with a number of different storylines that seemed entirely disconnected that I was excited to see come together somehow. Near the end though, little seemed to have been resolved and the ending was rather confusing and anticlimactic, bringing down my overall rating quite a bit. Had the book been longer and better structured, I feel like it could really have come into its own. I'll pick up the sequel and the TV show though to see if they're any better. 

laurasauras's review against another edition

4.0

I love the way Douglas Adams writes. He really has a talent for entertaining similes and personification. The first two thirds of this one were a bit slow, but the final third was amazing and everything came together.

okjaaaaa's review against another edition

4.0

dirk gently is my bestie and i'm going to rewatch the show now

tristanpej's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

It was ok

zsarge's review against another edition

5.0

From time machines to spaceships to inexplicably placed sofas, this book has it all.

dissential's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted 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

3.0

maddie_reads_stuff's review against another edition

4.0

What do a computer programmer, an ancient college professor, an entitled brat, and an Electric Monk have in common?

Only Dirk Gently would know!

Actually, despite the general Douglas Adams whimsy, it took me quite a while to get through this book. I did learn a lot about Samuel Taylor Coleridge afterwards, and I highly recommend Ian McKellen's reading of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" beforehand (or anytime, really) to get some of those somewhat-obscure poetic references.