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nyom7's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
4.5
As ever, an excellent novel from Brookmyre. Comedy, con artistry, science, and murder. Who could ask for more. And, as ever, if you’re familiar with Glasgow it just adds a wee jot more enjoyment.
matt357's review against another edition
3.0
I brought this not realising it was number 5 in a series, which I'm sure coloured my view of it.
I found it fundamentally disappointing. The central mystery didn't seem to start until half way though, and by its nature gave you few clues to guess the end yourself with. The comedy landed maybe half the time for me, and the two narrators didn't have a different enough voice from each other to know which was which when they switched mid chapter.
That said, it's well written, with some good interesting ideas, so I'll likely try to double back and pick up the first at some point
I found it fundamentally disappointing. The central mystery didn't seem to start until half way though, and by its nature gave you few clues to guess the end yourself with. The comedy landed maybe half the time for me, and the two narrators didn't have a different enough voice from each other to know which was which when they switched mid chapter.
That said, it's well written, with some good interesting ideas, so I'll likely try to double back and pick up the first at some point
nuthatch's review against another edition
3.0
I've loved all the other Christopher Brookmyre books I've read but this one was a disappointment. It involved the unmasking of a phony psychic. It lacked the humor of the earlier books The mystery was okay but seemed kind of contrived in places.
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
4.0
This audio book was part of my revisit of the entire Parlabane series so I was cheating a bit, having already done "all the emotions" over the opening line of the blurb.
I do get the idea of telegraphing the end of Jack and the whole Parlabane series was going to grab some attention. And I understand fully that being elected Rector of Kelvin University was a bit of a parting surprise. I can even get behind the idea that Parlabane going out in a blaze of psychic attention seeking was just the ticket for getting your average fan steamed up and in a take no prisoners mood. And I will admit that even on first reading I was firmly trying to convince myself that "this is Christopher Brookmyre right?" And there's that "Or is he?". Is that the sliver of light in an otherwise hefty cloud of "what the's"?
Book number five in the Jack Parlabane series, ATTACK OF THE UNSINKABLE RUBBER DUCK is a glorious / clever title, for a seriously good book. Good because he's launching an almighty forehand at the spoon bending fraternity, with a very nice backhand lob at the creationists along the way (it's Australian Open time / I might have heard some terminology floating around...). Good because I'm particularly partial to Christopher Brookmyre when he mounts his umpires chair and starts chucking some pointed commentary from on high. Good in that it's got it's moments of hilarity and sheer weirdness. Good because he really shouldn't be rector of Kelvin University, and yet he really could be a worthy one. Perhaps not quite so good because it does take a while to get going, which did stand out a lot more in audio than I remember on the page. Even better ultimately because it's a complex plot, with the return of some favourite characters (Spammy has to be one of the all time greats - and the narrator's voice for him in these books has been gold).
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/attack-unsinkable-rubber-duck-christopher-brookmyre
I do get the idea of telegraphing the end of Jack and the whole Parlabane series was going to grab some attention. And I understand fully that being elected Rector of Kelvin University was a bit of a parting surprise. I can even get behind the idea that Parlabane going out in a blaze of psychic attention seeking was just the ticket for getting your average fan steamed up and in a take no prisoners mood. And I will admit that even on first reading I was firmly trying to convince myself that "this is Christopher Brookmyre right?" And there's that "Or is he?". Is that the sliver of light in an otherwise hefty cloud of "what the's"?
Book number five in the Jack Parlabane series, ATTACK OF THE UNSINKABLE RUBBER DUCK is a glorious / clever title, for a seriously good book. Good because he's launching an almighty forehand at the spoon bending fraternity, with a very nice backhand lob at the creationists along the way (it's Australian Open time / I might have heard some terminology floating around...). Good because I'm particularly partial to Christopher Brookmyre when he mounts his umpires chair and starts chucking some pointed commentary from on high. Good in that it's got it's moments of hilarity and sheer weirdness. Good because he really shouldn't be rector of Kelvin University, and yet he really could be a worthy one. Perhaps not quite so good because it does take a while to get going, which did stand out a lot more in audio than I remember on the page. Even better ultimately because it's a complex plot, with the return of some favourite characters (Spammy has to be one of the all time greats - and the narrator's voice for him in these books has been gold).
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/attack-unsinkable-rubber-duck-christopher-brookmyre
annasbookishbrew's review against another edition
1.0
Did not finish it. I really didn't care about the story. :(
nothingtosay's review against another edition
4.0
I actually 'read' the book since late last year through a friend's audiobook CD, then I decided to buy the book so I can read the missing parts.
This book is the first book I heard from the author (as the result of the audiobook), which belongs to the Parabane universe. This time Jack got himself into the seemingly mysterious world of psychic and ghost, due to his 'investigative journalism' instinct. If you know this universe well, you won't be disappointed.
This book is the first book I heard from the author (as the result of the audiobook), which belongs to the Parabane universe. This time Jack got himself into the seemingly mysterious world of psychic and ghost, due to his 'investigative journalism' instinct. If you know this universe well, you won't be disappointed.
naebotherbigman's review against another edition
5.0
My favourite Christopher Brookmyre book by a distance - and I've enjoyed all of them so far.
The Unsinkable Rubber Ducks of the title refers to a metaphor coined by James 'The Amazing' Randi and the book is one long look at psychics, the dead and a satire on everything from football to cynics and rich, egotistical Christians pushing Intelligent Design.
I finished this book quickly because it was just too good to put down.
The Unsinkable Rubber Ducks of the title refers to a metaphor coined by James 'The Amazing' Randi and the book is one long look at psychics, the dead and a satire on everything from football to cynics and rich, egotistical Christians pushing Intelligent Design.
I finished this book quickly because it was just too good to put down.
sam_magowan's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0