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jrmarr's review against another edition
4.0
A biting satire of suburban suspicion, Australian complacency and talk-back radio, this was a highly enjoyable read.
esshgee's review against another edition
2.0
2 1/2 stars. Some parts early on were very funny but overall it was only an OK read for me
krasf's review against another edition
3.0
I love Tony Martin and this book is great, but I just felt like the set up took forever. Definitely worth your time and perseverance though.
smitchy's review against another edition
3.0
It's hard to know who Tony Martin is poking more fun at: the media, the general public, the AFP (Australian Federal Police for non-Aussies) or the terrorists.
It is 2006, the post September 11 terrorist media hype has the residents of quiet Dunlop Crescent in suburban Melbourne on high alert. Rumours are flying that the newest residents are Middle Eastern terrorists turning their newly acquired house toward Mecca. The locals are whipped into a frenzy by local busybody Herb and talk show host Julian Spence and the supposed "terrorists" (in reality a Kiwi couple) find themselves homeless after someone sets their house on fire!
Herb is quickly arrested but his mate Gordon knows for all of Herb's many faults an arsonist he is not. Gordon sets out to flush out the real culprit. Along the way there are colourful characters, criminal masterminds, frustrated police and a whole lot of chaos. Retiree Gordon is definitely in over his head.
It is 2006, the post September 11 terrorist media hype has the residents of quiet Dunlop Crescent in suburban Melbourne on high alert. Rumours are flying that the newest residents are Middle Eastern terrorists turning their newly acquired house toward Mecca. The locals are whipped into a frenzy by local busybody Herb and talk show host Julian Spence and the supposed "terrorists" (in reality a Kiwi couple) find themselves homeless after someone sets their house on fire!
Herb is quickly arrested but his mate Gordon knows for all of Herb's many faults an arsonist he is not. Gordon sets out to flush out the real culprit. Along the way there are colourful characters, criminal masterminds, frustrated police and a whole lot of chaos. Retiree Gordon is definitely in over his head.
cartridgepink's review
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Confinement, Mass/school shootings, Xenophobia, Murder, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Islamophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Lesbophobia
j4neh's review against another edition
2.5
Very different to what I would normally choose to read/listen to. enjoyable, odd, funny and weird.
stockenheim's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
solaria's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I wanted to like it more.
The first few chapters were phenomenal, I liked where it was going. Gradually as we passed the halfway point, the plot became barley comprehensible and I wasn't sure where Martin was going. it felt like he had written a TV show script that got rejected and tried panning it off into a book, because the eccentricity of it could only be carried in a visual format IMO.
Wayyyyy too many characters, I kept forgetting who was who and again, needed a face put to the name to remember each person (hence why I think it wouldve worked better as a TV show). The first few chapters introduced characters that were very distinct and thus I had no problem remembering—Gordon, Herb, Spence, The Tamakis, Coral, Jonah. Beyond that though, is where I became lost. It should've focussed on those central six, why did we need to know about Weekes affair? I didn't think it was relevant.
The first few chapters were phenomenal, I liked where it was going. Gradually as we passed the halfway point, the plot became barley comprehensible and I wasn't sure where Martin was going. it felt like he had written a TV show script that got rejected and tried panning it off into a book, because the eccentricity of it could only be carried in a visual format IMO.
Wayyyyy too many characters, I kept forgetting who was who and again, needed a face put to the name to remember each person (hence why I think it wouldve worked better as a TV show). The first few chapters introduced characters that were very distinct and thus I had no problem remembering—Gordon, Herb, Spence, The Tamakis, Coral, Jonah. Beyond that though, is where I became lost. It should've focussed on those central six, why did we need to know about Weekes affair? I didn't think it was relevant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Death, Islamophobia, and Bullying