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jonathanpalfrey's review against another edition
2.0
This book is basically imitation-Wodehouse (with a touch of Dornford Yates, I think), but even sillier and more exaggerated than the real thing. Perhaps it was intended as parody. The trouble with trying to parody a comedy is that you run the risk of being mistaken for a bad imitator.
Its saving grace is that, parody or not, it's quite amusing in its own right, and could make an amiable time-passer for a journey, unless you have a low tolerance of silliness.
However, the story is deliberately silly and the characters are deliberate caricatures; which seems rather a shame, because the author could surely do better if he wanted to. I have the odd feeling that inside those caricatures are real characters struggling to get out, but the author is determined not to permit any escape.
I'm not a devotee of heavy literature, but this is such light reading that it almost floats away.
There is one slightly sour note: the main caricatures seem superficially likeable and well-meaning, but they're made to say such outrageous things that I suspect the author despises them. Mr Brett, if you despise your own characters, then why waste your time writing about them? For heaven's sake, invent characters for whom you can feel real affection, and write about them instead.
I didn't buy this book, incidentally: my mother sent it to me after reading it herself, with the idea that I might find it amusing.
Its saving grace is that, parody or not, it's quite amusing in its own right, and could make an amiable time-passer for a journey, unless you have a low tolerance of silliness.
However, the story is deliberately silly and the characters are deliberate caricatures; which seems rather a shame, because the author could surely do better if he wanted to. I have the odd feeling that inside those caricatures are real characters struggling to get out, but the author is determined not to permit any escape.
I'm not a devotee of heavy literature, but this is such light reading that it almost floats away.
There is one slightly sour note: the main caricatures seem superficially likeable and well-meaning, but they're made to say such outrageous things that I suspect the author despises them. Mr Brett, if you despise your own characters, then why waste your time writing about them? For heaven's sake, invent characters for whom you can feel real affection, and write about them instead.
I didn't buy this book, incidentally: my mother sent it to me after reading it herself, with the idea that I might find it amusing.
katzreads's review against another edition
3.0
Somewhat reminiscent of P.G. Wodehouse. Not quite as good, but just as silly. Thoroughly enjoyable light read!
jenmcmaynes's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. A Brad recommendation. A silly send-up of P.G. Wodehouse. A bit too mad cap for me (and the mystery was pretty non-existent) but I did like the made-up 1920s slang. Favorites were "me old biscuit barrel", "what a brainbox!", "the lark's larynx", and "oh, rodents!" I may start peppering my speech with them. ;-)
dramatrice's review against another edition
3.0
Like being in Bertie Wooster's head. Which is terrifying.
itabar's review against another edition
1.0
I'm listening to this and don't think I can finish. Blotto is too dim to be believable. I might be able to enjoy it if I read it, but listening is a slog.
ashleylm's review against another edition
4.0
It's a silly book that's not for everyone, but the author is perfectly aware of what he is doing. (Which I'd much rather read than silly books which the author apparently thinks are entirely sensible).
Another intentionally silly series would be Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and they're quite similar, really. The Snicket series is Daniel Handler's take on the poor beseiged rich orphan gothic novel, and Blotto & Twinks is Brett's take on the rich amateur detective Golden Age cosy mystery, complete with a nook in the library from where you can see and hear everything, but no one can see you--the perfect addition to a house of detectives!
If you weren't sure the entire thing was tongue-in-cheek, even the slowest reader must have figured it out when Blotto, a cricket-playing enthusiast, managed to bat back cannonballs that had been blown out of an actual cannon at him. Hilarious!
One reader has noted that Blotto is witty. He's not. He's much too dense to be witty. He's hilarious to read about, but not because he says smart, funny-on-purpose things.
Twinks is one of those brilliant Sherlock Holmesian detectives who can tell upon meeting you that you're left-handed, had toast for breakfast, and were raised by a Nanny in who was born in Swansea but spent a summer in Marseilles.
In all, it's a rollicking jolly adventure, and I'm very much in the mood for more.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
Another intentionally silly series would be Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and they're quite similar, really. The Snicket series is Daniel Handler's take on the poor beseiged rich orphan gothic novel, and Blotto & Twinks is Brett's take on the rich amateur detective Golden Age cosy mystery, complete with a nook in the library from where you can see and hear everything, but no one can see you--the perfect addition to a house of detectives!
If you weren't sure the entire thing was tongue-in-cheek, even the slowest reader must have figured it out when Blotto, a cricket-playing enthusiast, managed to bat back cannonballs that had been blown out of an actual cannon at him. Hilarious!
One reader has noted that Blotto is witty. He's not. He's much too dense to be witty. He's hilarious to read about, but not because he says smart, funny-on-purpose things.
Twinks is one of those brilliant Sherlock Holmesian detectives who can tell upon meeting you that you're left-handed, had toast for breakfast, and were raised by a Nanny in who was born in Swansea but spent a summer in Marseilles.
In all, it's a rollicking jolly adventure, and I'm very much in the mood for more.
(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, but I grade on a curve!
bookcraft's review against another edition
1.0
A send-up of classic house-party cozy mysteries and P.G. Wodehouse, but with none of the latter's charm or affectionate humor. Too heavy-handed for me. DNF.
jonathanrobert's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0