A review by micahhortonhallett
The Adulterants by Joe Dunthorne

3.0

The adulterants was technically proficient, and carried a twist about the mid mark that I did not see coming, but ultimately I finished with a meh. A deep soul meh. I can deal with an unpleasant protagonist- even one who refuses to learn from anything that he does, but this book has NOTHING else. It was in my local library in the comedy section. I feel that it was misshelved. I winced. Repeatedly, but there was not one chuckle. Not a chortle. Not even a wry knowing smile. I kept waiting for it to get better. It did not. If the novel had been actively bad, that might have even been better. But it wasn't actively bad, it left me feeling like a stone in a stream that has had a patch of beige water run past. It was banal, then it was gone.