A review by nglofile
Ten Dead Comedians: A Murder Mystery by Fred Van Lente

2.0

Once upon a time, it was slightly less common for writers to pay what they might call "homage" by reworking the celebrated work of another creator. That's certainly not the case any longer -- and, I'll freely acknowledge, some can do so with a great deal of invention. The challenge is to do right by the original work, showing the proper degree of honor, but also weaving in an original idea of one's own, and (I cannot emphasize enough) matching the quality of the venerated story. A tall order, which is why perhaps it should not be attempted nearly as often as it is.

Recreating Christie's And Then There Were None with stand-up comedians - and even adding the delicious prospect that each victim might be offed in a way that corresponds to the individual performance style - sounds promising, does it not? I'll even acknowledge that the story does occasionally get it right.

Spoiler

A culminating scene -- let me be clear: NOT the final scene -- had a flair that it would have been refreshing to see evidenced throughout earlier chapters.

However, most of the characters aren't given enough distinction, and the inset sections that offer samples of their comedy stylings are both awkward in their insertion and remarkable only in how flatly each excerpt lands. Which perhaps brings us to the greatest crime of all: don't set up your mystery with a roster of comedians and then fail to make any part of it funny in the least.

A caveat: stand-up comedy is far from my entertainment of choice. I acknowledge that a reader with different sensibilities may find this both an effective satire and a satisfying read. I do keep these rubrics in mind as I mentally assess, especially as I consider to which readers I might suggest a book such as this, but my personal reactions stand.