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pauldaly's review against another edition
4.0
A fun series that keeps on entertaining and amusing five books in. By now devoted fans will have bonded with these endearing recurring characters and be waiting for new adventures.
benjaminbarlow's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
sandralaurentino's review against another edition
5.0
This book was excellent, as usual for this series. Andrew Cartmel manages something very unusual, to make the reader feel like the characters are actual people that they actually know. Or is it only me? Just incredible!
annarella's review against another edition
5.0
What a discovery! It's a highly enjoyable and engrossing story that kept me hooked.
I had a lot of fun and want to read the other stories in this series.
The music part was a fascinating addition and I liked to read about punk and the age of Sex Pistols.
The narrator did an excellent job in telling the story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC all opinions are mine.
I had a lot of fun and want to read the other stories in this series.
The music part was a fascinating addition and I liked to read about punk and the age of Sex Pistols.
The narrator did an excellent job in telling the story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC all opinions are mine.
clairebillault's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
boomshanker72's review against another edition
3.0
Although it's lost the magic of the first couple of books in the series, it's still a fun way to lose a few hours. Retaining its light hearted approach and flawed but mostly likeable characters it provided another Sunday afternoon murder mystery caper. I would like to see the author lighten up on the wine and coffee snobbery. It's a theme well gone over in the last couple in series and grinds a little each time I read in great detail the quality of the bottle being shared like cheap lager. Still worth a read.
maggierachael's review against another edition
5.0
The fact that the newest Vinyl Detective novel came at such a perfect time that it’s the book that finished off my reading goal for the year is maybe the best thing that’s happened to me in weeks.
I’ve always loved this series, and I always will. It’s high energy, it’s hilarious, and it’s extremely well written, and Low Action is no exception. I’ve been looking forward to this installment in the VD franchise since I found out it was going to center around punk music, and it certainly didn’t let me down. I mean, come on — I knew it was going to be good when it name checked Poly Styrene within the first thirty pages. And like all the VD books before it, the ending came out of absolutely nowhere, but fit rather well with the buildup surrounding it. I love when a book can surprise in that Agatha Christie kind of way.
And the characters in this book are just spectacular. Nevada and Agatha are two of my favorite female characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading (and I maintain that Gail Ann Dorsey should play the latter if this ever gets adapted for the screen), and every book brings around a new cast of characters that are wildly interesting. The Blue Tits reminded me so much of The Slits, and to center the story around a female punk band just makes my little feminist heart sing. I loved the clear send-up of the Pistols on the Bill Grundy show in the 70s, and the phrase “Goat Aid” is not one I was expecting to read, but I’m hilariously amused that I did. Five stars all around, as per usual.
And as someone who used to live in Roehampton and travel via public transit, all the shade about the Hammersmith Bridge being closed is deeply, deeply appreciated.
I’ve always loved this series, and I always will. It’s high energy, it’s hilarious, and it’s extremely well written, and Low Action is no exception. I’ve been looking forward to this installment in the VD franchise since I found out it was going to center around punk music, and it certainly didn’t let me down. I mean, come on — I knew it was going to be good when it name checked Poly Styrene within the first thirty pages. And like all the VD books before it, the ending came out of absolutely nowhere, but fit rather well with the buildup surrounding it. I love when a book can surprise in that Agatha Christie kind of way.
And the characters in this book are just spectacular. Nevada and Agatha are two of my favorite female characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading (and I maintain that Gail Ann Dorsey should play the latter if this ever gets adapted for the screen), and every book brings around a new cast of characters that are wildly interesting. The Blue Tits reminded me so much of The Slits, and to center the story around a female punk band just makes my little feminist heart sing. I loved the clear send-up of the Pistols on the Bill Grundy show in the 70s, and the phrase “Goat Aid” is not one I was expecting to read, but I’m hilariously amused that I did. Five stars all around, as per usual.
And as someone who used to live in Roehampton and travel via public transit, all the shade about the Hammersmith Bridge being closed is deeply, deeply appreciated.
fleeno's review against another edition
1.0
The Vinyl Detective follows a young(ish) man who lives in London with his two cats and pays the bills by selling records online. It isn’t enough to pay for a new boiler but it lets him spend his time doing what he loves most: building up his record collection and listening to music that would otherwise be lost to the past.
Then a beautiful, mysterious woman turns up on his doorstep with an offer he cant refuse. She represents a wealthy client and wants to pay him an obscene amount of money to find a priceless lost recording: Easy Come, Easy Go by Easy Geary, on the Hathor label.
I, like many others, picked up this book based on the recommendation of Ben Aaronovitch and while there are some similarities in the style, The Vinyl Detective has none of the dry humour or engaging story that Aaronovitch's books have. I'm sure there are people who love music and will find the details of jazz and records interesting but by God I was bored. VD doesn't seem to care why anyone would pay a vast sum of money to find a record or why they're being followed or why anyone would kill over it, it's all just a series of things that happen. I was hoping this could be a new series but alas. I would rather stick knitting needles in my ears than read another sentence about jazz.
Then a beautiful, mysterious woman turns up on his doorstep with an offer he cant refuse. She represents a wealthy client and wants to pay him an obscene amount of money to find a priceless lost recording: Easy Come, Easy Go by Easy Geary, on the Hathor label.
I, like many others, picked up this book based on the recommendation of Ben Aaronovitch and while there are some similarities in the style, The Vinyl Detective has none of the dry humour or engaging story that Aaronovitch's books have. I'm sure there are people who love music and will find the details of jazz and records interesting but by God I was bored. VD doesn't seem to care why anyone would pay a vast sum of money to find a record or why they're being followed or why anyone would kill over it, it's all just a series of things that happen. I was hoping this could be a new series but alas. I would rather stick knitting needles in my ears than read another sentence about jazz.