Reviews

Aberystwyth Mon Amour by Malcolm Pryce

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emu1985's review against another edition

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3.0

An enjoyable mix of farce, noir and (some very Welsh) humour.

chloeallegra's review

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adventurous dark funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

2.0

rosieclaverton's review against another edition

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3.0

It took me a while to get into this book. Like Jasper Fforde, you have to be in the right frame of mind and willing to accept the most ridiculous of truths. But once you're accustomed to the laws of the land, the narrative caught me up and I was desperate to follow the fight to the end. The descriptions of Welsh life and Aberystwyth perfectly evoke the feelings, if not the reality, of Wales.

The last chapter threw me, and I feel in two minds about the ending. I'm curious about the next instalments, but am also content to leave it be.

t41's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

Reminded me very much of a daytime tv series ‘Shakespeare and Hathaway’, daft and preposterous, fantastical writing that is so clearly absurd you know not to take it seriously. So it was enjoyable for that.

Possibly, like S&H with its hidden Shakespearean references, this would be funnier if you knew Aberystwyth and possessed more than a smattering knowledge of them Classics…

Liked the ending. Was glad to have finished it. Did not like the violence and gruesome elements.

Content Warnings

bluestarfish's review against another edition

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3.0

A noirish comic thriller that is set in Aberystwyth and involves PI Louie Knight attempting to solve the case of missing school boys in a town overrun with druids and darkness. The tonal disconnect and swings can be jarring and get a bit tedious at times but there were also lots of moments I liked too. Ice cream seller Sospan's existential week promotion of ice cream flavours called Kierkegaard and Heidegger being one of them.

It is an odd mixture of satire and slapstick and surrealness. And it is a lot funnier if you can hear the Welsh voices. Malcolm Pryce plays fair with the clues he sprinkles through this mystery although they only became noticeable to me on the second reading.