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charlottethebookharlot's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
Tom Winscombe finds himself in the tricky situation of being kidnapped and his luck doesn't get much better after that. I read the book as it sounded intriguing but I didn't expect the plot to be so funny; the mathematical elements give the story another layer but the humour and characters made this an engaging and addictive read. Tom as the inept protagonist was hilarious and now I will have to read the other books in the series.
Although I hadn't read any of the previous series I saw the synopsis and had to read it immediately as it sounded so intriguing, It does work as a stand alone if you haven't read from the beginning of the series but I do recommend doing so.
Tom Winscombe finds himself in the tricky situation of being kidnapped and his luck doesn't get much better after that. I read the book as it sounded intriguing but I didn't expect the plot to be so funny; the mathematical elements give the story another layer but the humour and characters made this an engaging and addictive read. Tom as the inept protagonist was hilarious and now I will have to read the other books in the series.
Although I hadn't read any of the previous series I saw the synopsis and had to read it immediately as it sounded so intriguing, It does work as a stand alone if you haven't read from the beginning of the series but I do recommend doing so.
achoward's review
3.0
Tom Winscombe is having a very bad series of days, although the title refers only to one. Perhaps it refers only to the first day,when a planned heist go terribly wrong.
This is book four in the Mathematical Mystery series, and although I have not read the first three books, it can work as a standalone on some rather shaky legs. I'd highly recommend reading the books in order, if only to become acquainted with Winscombe's team and the relationships between them. While there are shot talks given that reference the first three, I believe reading those would have lent far more depth to the characters I was meeting for the first time.
That said, this book is of the madcap, how can things possibly get worse genre. Winscombe seems to be a bad luck magnet,first kidnapped in the above referenced heist, then sent into Belarus,then kidnapped by Belarus mafia types, and then standing on the top floor of a building that's on fire,with a firefight of the gun variety going on below as well.
It was quite funny in places, and not as serious as I think it should have been in others, but that's simply my preference in books in the mystery/thriller genre, and I can't ding it for that reason, as the writing tells me this is just the nature of this particular beast, and the story knows what it's doing.
Beyond saying that the first three books would be of immense help to read before this, I'm still giving it three out of five stars.
Thanks to Duckworth Books/Farrago Books and NetGalley for the reading copy.
This is book four in the Mathematical Mystery series, and although I have not read the first three books, it can work as a standalone on some rather shaky legs. I'd highly recommend reading the books in order, if only to become acquainted with Winscombe's team and the relationships between them. While there are shot talks given that reference the first three, I believe reading those would have lent far more depth to the characters I was meeting for the first time.
That said, this book is of the madcap, how can things possibly get worse genre. Winscombe seems to be a bad luck magnet,first kidnapped in the above referenced heist, then sent into Belarus,then kidnapped by Belarus mafia types, and then standing on the top floor of a building that's on fire,with a firefight of the gun variety going on below as well.
It was quite funny in places, and not as serious as I think it should have been in others, but that's simply my preference in books in the mystery/thriller genre, and I can't ding it for that reason, as the writing tells me this is just the nature of this particular beast, and the story knows what it's doing.
Beyond saying that the first three books would be of immense help to read before this, I'm still giving it three out of five stars.
Thanks to Duckworth Books/Farrago Books and NetGalley for the reading copy.
macaronoui's review
4.0
We follow Tom Winscombe in his fourth adventure doomed to go wrong.
I read part three last year as an ARC and was delighted by book 1&2, before reading three.
I do recommend btw to read part 1-3 first. While Jonathan does little summaries of what happens the previous three books are well worth the read and I finished all four in two weeks.
Because I just read 1-3, there was a little more summary than I liked, then again this makes it possible to read it as a standalone book.
The things Tom gets into are very over-the-top, but intriguing and fun. A British kind of Carl Hiaasen story, where you never really know who the good guys and the bad guys are.
Love the strong female leads (that pass the Bechdel test).
If you want to read a silly, nerve wrecking, exciting adventure this is the book for you.
I read part three last year as an ARC and was delighted by book 1&2, before reading three.
I do recommend btw to read part 1-3 first. While Jonathan does little summaries of what happens the previous three books are well worth the read and I finished all four in two weeks.
Because I just read 1-3, there was a little more summary than I liked, then again this makes it possible to read it as a standalone book.
The things Tom gets into are very over-the-top, but intriguing and fun. A British kind of Carl Hiaasen story, where you never really know who the good guys and the bad guys are.
Love the strong female leads (that pass the Bechdel test).
If you want to read a silly, nerve wrecking, exciting adventure this is the book for you.
annarella's review
5.0
i think I could copy a review of the other books because I always have a lot of fun in reading this books.
They are funny, well written and highly entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
They are funny, well written and highly entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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