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carolinerd's review
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Inspector Mick Matlock investigates the murder of a transgender woman. When other killings follow, Matlock feels increasingly out of his depth in a 'woke' world, getting to grips with LGBTQ+ rights, cancel culture, toxic and divisive social media trends and Twitter storms. I can see that Matlock's character might not appeal to everyone. Some might see him as an out of touch middle aged man whose unprogressive approach is irritating and even offensive, but I sympathised wirh him. I felt he was genuinely trying his best and that sometimes he had to walk on eggshells to avoid saying the wrong thing even when his intention was to do the right thing.
It is a good read, thought-provoking, witty, dark, relevant, and it is a cleverly written whodunnit. Ben Elton novels never disappoint me.
It is a good read, thought-provoking, witty, dark, relevant, and it is a cleverly written whodunnit. Ben Elton novels never disappoint me.
daisiesandtea's review
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Sexism, Transphobia, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Death
cicerobeard's review
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
A book with a very clear and articulated message, but it still reads as being written by an old man complaining about a world he no longer understands.
laura_soutar's review
challenging
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ratrug's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
raccoonhighways's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
merissak's review
5.0
Love this book! In true Ben Elton style, he got me thinking about the online and digital state in the world and of cancel culture.
Everything we fear when it comes to the knowledge that our data is being used to mess with human psychology and is the new dictatorship of the future (maybe not so far into the future).
It’s scary to think what we know of Cambridge Analytica and the likes is just one of many ways we are being manipulated. I know this is fiction but the read feels very real.
Such a though-provoking read. I love it so much i’d buy many copies and just distribute it!
Everything we fear when it comes to the knowledge that our data is being used to mess with human psychology and is the new dictatorship of the future (maybe not so far into the future).
It’s scary to think what we know of Cambridge Analytica and the likes is just one of many ways we are being manipulated. I know this is fiction but the read feels very real.
Such a though-provoking read. I love it so much i’d buy many copies and just distribute it!