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88th out of 451 books
—
23 voters
Past Mortem
by
Ben Elton
In romantic desperation, mild-mannered detective Edward Newsonlogged on to the "Friends Reunited" website searching for the girlfriends of his youth. As his old class begins to reassemble in cyberspace, the years slip away and old feuds and passions burn hot once more. A school reunion is planned, and as history begins to repeat itself, the past crashes headlong into the p...more
Paperback, 459 pages
Published
May 1st 2005
by Transworld Publishers
(first published 2004)
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As you will see from my other reviews, I generally enjoy reading Mr. Elton's output in the form of novels. 'Past Mortem' disappointed, however. What I normally like is the way he is able to combine wit, social issues and realistic characters into an intriguing storyline. The characaters in this novel were not as well fleshed out as in some others (such as 'Inconceivable'), but they were real enough to keep the plot going. So what didn't I like about this one? First, it was not very funny. That i...more
"Past Mortem" is Ben Elton's ninth novel which was first published back in 2004. Described on the sleeve as a "heart-stopping thriller and a killer comic romance", having been written by the comedian Ben Elton, you were sure to have a fair amount of comedy within the book.
The novel reads like a black comedy version of a Shaun Hutson thriller novel, being very easy to read, delivering short fast paced chapters that end on miniature cliff hangers throughout the book. The novel follows the life of...more
The novel reads like a black comedy version of a Shaun Hutson thriller novel, being very easy to read, delivering short fast paced chapters that end on miniature cliff hangers throughout the book. The novel follows the life of...more
"Past Mortem" is a mystery which takes place in contemporary England. Edward Newson, a detective inspector from Scotland Yard, together with Natasha Wilkie, a detective sergeant, trace a thread of murders in which victims die from lengthy torture. The scenes of each crime are connected only by a single common element -- the meticulousness and elaborate planning to avoid quick death.
On the surface this would have been a mystery about the psychology of the perpetrator, there is that, but what this...more
On the surface this would have been a mystery about the psychology of the perpetrator, there is that, but what this...more
There's no doubt that this is an entertaining thriller that is easy to read, but the book also has a bitter and somewhat mean-spirited undercurrent that I always thought underpinned a lot of Elton's comedy. While most of his characters are likeable and therefore soften the impact of what is being portrayed, I think that many readers will be switched off by the key plot devices that are used to carry the story. There is also one sex scene that is almost stomach-churning in what it depicts, and wi...more
After his stand-up career stalled, Mr Elton turned to writing comic novels, and in my opinion, he is much more talented in that vein. He may air similar opinions, but somehow controversial issues are more acceptable on paper rather than in an outraged spoken rant. This particular effort involves young Detective Inspector Edward Newson and his attractive sidekick Detective Sergeant Natasha Wilkie as they investigate a series of bizarre and very gruesome murders. In his spare time, D.I. Newson is...more
Anyone who enjoyed the Brit-coms "Blackadder" and "Thin Blue Line" on PBS in past years is familiar with Ben Elton's brand of humor. He is one of the few writers who can make me laugh out loud, and he did that several times in this murder mystery, based on school bullying and how it affects peoples' later lives. A serial killer is on the loose, torturing his victims for hours in horrible and bizarre ways before he finally kills them. If you hate detailed descriptions of this sort of thing, you s...more
I had never read a Ben Elton book before but have always liked his screen work. I can honestly say that this book was not what I was expecting but with my previous experience of his work being Blackadder, The Thin Blue Line and Maybe Baby that came as little surprise. This book was an absoulute gripping thriller and a prime example of how talented a writer Ben Elton is as he is able to pen this thriller novel which quite rightly ranks alongside the work of some of the full-time thriller writers...more
I have read quite a few of Ben Elton's novels and with the exception of Blast from the Past have enjoyed them, some of them (High Society, Chart Throb) very much so.
Past Mortem is an okay mystery very heavy on the message about bullying. It's an important issue and I presume it was personal for Elton. An enjoyable read it is not, but then I suppose it's not meant to be.
Past Mortem is an okay mystery very heavy on the message about bullying. It's an important issue and I presume it was personal for Elton. An enjoyable read it is not, but then I suppose it's not meant to be.
Ben Elton frustrates the hell out of me because his writing is almost great. Honestly, I think I'd enjoy his books more if they were a little worse. Past Mortem was okay. There's the usual Ben Elton trademarks - clever dialogue, amusing ponderings on the minutiae of life - but there's also a shitload of clunk - utterly unlikable characters, a completely unnecessary sex scene that feels like it was dumped in to add some spice, and I had picked the murderer by the sixth chapter.
I would recommend t...more
I would recommend t...more
I really enjoyed the first Ben Elton book I read, The First Casualty. It was very well written, and contained almost nothing objectionable (at least nothing that I remember almost four years later). However I cannot recommend this book, and I would actually actively discourage people from reading this book. The book is fixated with sexuality, and with twisted sexuality at that. One scene in particular involves rather graphic and explicit descriptions of hardcore sex acts. I finished the book bec...more
The sex scene is not even worthy of the phrase. Sick scene more like. Unecessary too. The plot would have survived without it. The level of detail for that scene even more unecessary. Can't see why he included it. Ended up concluding Ben Elton was getting off on it himself.
Otherwise, it was the usual Elton stuff. It was trying to tell us that school bullying has long term consequences and should be taken more seriously and that's a good point.
BUT...
the scene in the kitchen was appalling and not...more
Otherwise, it was the usual Elton stuff. It was trying to tell us that school bullying has long term consequences and should be taken more seriously and that's a good point.
BUT...
the scene in the kitchen was appalling and not...more
I really enjoyed this book. If 'Life' hadn't got in the way I could have read it from cover-to-cover in one go. Behind the main plot of the book is the theme of bullying, and it did bring back thoughts of what my school life was like, and how things are a lot different for me and those I went to school with now.
There is quite a graphic sex scene in this book, which for some maybe a bit too much, (unless you've read 50 Shades of Grey, then you might find it tame by comparison. Though I haven't ac...more
There is quite a graphic sex scene in this book, which for some maybe a bit too much, (unless you've read 50 Shades of Grey, then you might find it tame by comparison. Though I haven't ac...more
I enjoyed this book although the ending was somewhat predictable. I picked the murderer somewhere around the two-thirds mark of the book but it was still enjoyable seeing how the leading character got to the conclusion (a bit like the old Columbo TV series!).
Elton shows quite a few insights into the way real people appear cool and confident while feeling all sorts of self-doubts (even self-loathing) inside.
The humour is gentle and subtle most of the time and Elton strikes a good balance between...more
Elton shows quite a few insights into the way real people appear cool and confident while feeling all sorts of self-doubts (even self-loathing) inside.
The humour is gentle and subtle most of the time and Elton strikes a good balance between...more
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Ben Elton has managed to wrap a very tough subject up in a intricate plot. Detective Inspector Ed Newson is investigating a high profile murder, while at the same delving into his own past through Friends Reunited. The two situations start to merge together, linking other unsolved murders together, while also discovering that his memories of his schooldays were far from similar to anyone elses in his class. It starts to emerge that the murderer is after class bullies, and it's not until Ed's old...more
It's an interesting story which is a mix of a morality tale, a police procedural, a grim series of serial killing with nostalgia infused from school memories and how we seek closure on past issues, not to mention psychology of bullying and how it can scar people permanently. Elton's writing is enjoyable as usual, moves at a brisk pace and succeeds at its particular breed of morbid humor. I took out one star for a particularly repulsive sequence in the book (and I am not even talking about the se...more
Apart from the odd gruesome bit in this book, I really enjoyed Ben Elton's style of writing and couldn't put this book down once I'd started. I suppose it's the mixture of the hapless, almost geekish detective, who is searching for love and the suspense of wanting to know who had been committing the macabre murders. Many characters had the potential of being the culprit. A great read, interesting lead character and lots of humour.
Really enjoyed this book as I do most Ben Eltons as easy, disposable reading. Good, classic British humour as to be expected from Elton and an enjoyable murder mystery, despite the sometimes disturbing nature of the murders and the theme of bullying throughout. I didn't see the ending coming and the interactions between the main characters and the relationship between the past and present made it an intersting, recommendable read.
Ben Elton is unashamedly into the groove of selecting themes of popular culture and satirising them. This is a typical offering, this time centring round a Friends Reunited-type website, and contains a lot of humour as well as some rather startling sex scenes. The whodunnit was weak, I thought, as I guessed the perpetrator pretty early on. There was still a minor twist I didn't guess, though, so top marks to him there. Not his best, but not his worst by any means.
I was a bit hesitant when this book was recommended to me, but I have really enjoyed it. Very graphic scene included, which I was not expecting! Story was very good, and the twist at the end to solve the crime and name the killer was very good, although as soon as I realised it wasnt who I thought for a lot of the book, I could name who it was for the final chapter so that was a little disappointing - by the time I read the penultimate chapter, it was pretty obvious, although not expected throug...more
Nice mystery thriller ...someone was Killing the bad bullies of London .....bullies who info of what they did "specifically" were being posted to an old classmates sight.... The killer killed the bullies exactly how they lived and bullied.. Inspector Ed Newsome and his partner Natasha slowly began to unravel the mystery...the killer was KNOWN by ALL Nhis/victims because they all had let him in!
Interesting plot for a whodunnit exploring bullying and the consequences of looking back to the past. Liked the story - although particularly gruesome at times. However, I did guess the killer about halfway through the book, and also thought that a couple of things just weren't required as part of the story. Enjoyed it and will be looking for the Ben Elton books that I haven't read yet.
My first Ben Elton; a little disappointing considering all the hype he generates with his hilarious screenwriting, but then perhaps 'Past Mortem' was not the best pick to begin with? Apart from just being a little boring really, 'Past Mortem' is an all out quick read, with some refreshing characterization: a great murder mystery to take with you to the beach - if that's the kind of thing you do.
Unlike most people, I did not guess the killer until the very end. I had a few wrong guesses, but each was wrong. I loved this book- I found it wrote in a perfect way, that served the brilliant storyline justice and really helped us all to picture the characters. The two main characters were mostly likable, and I found the tale very intresting. Ben Elton is an amazing author.
Typical Ben Elton, very dark in parts, and I found parts of it particularly gruesome. I enjoyed the plot but worked out "who dunnit" around half way through the book which spoiled my enjoyment of the rest of it somewhat. It also didn't seem particularly believable that Detective Inspector Newsom didn't work it out sooner. A good read though.
It had its moments and I did finish it but it was a little too predictable. It has been a while since I read anything by Ben Elton and I think my tastes have changed a lot since then. I think he still has comic genius status and his writing has a catchy quirky style that I quite like. This kept the pages turning quite fast but I think I found myself rushing through it a little so that I could start reading something else.
Having read only one book from Ben Elton, I was expecting this one to be similar, a murder story with lots of ironic remarks and comments on how we live today. It's not quite like that, the comic part is always present, it´s a good thriller full of gory parts but I thought I knew who the killer was a long way before the ending and I was right. It's fast paced and kept me entertained, but I'll need to read more from Mr Elton to confirm how good he is.
Crap. I seriously thought this was going to be good, after all Ben Elton is a great screen writer. But instead I got an interesting concept for a plot (friends reunited serial killer caper) which was ruined by poor characterisation, bad humour, and weird sex (peeing-why?). Crap.
An easy read. Likeable main characters. The mystery got a little farfetched and co-incidental at times. One episode of sex was too graphic for my taste. The subject of bullying and revenge was clearly illustrated as well as the danger of putting too much info on the net.
Of the Elton books, I've read, this one is my least favorite. It's not much of a mystery when you know who the killer is (AND the motive!) before the end. Still, Big Up to Elton for interesting characters and plot, even if it was obvious whodunnit.
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Ben Elton was born on 3 May 1959, in Catford, South London. The youngest of four, he went to Godalming Grammar school, joined amateur dramatic societies and wrote his first play at 15. He wanted to be a stagehand at the local theatre, but instead did A-Level Theatre Studies and studied drama at Manchester University in 1977.
His career as both performer and writer encompasses some of the most memo...more
More about Ben Elton...
His career as both performer and writer encompasses some of the most memo...more
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Feb 17, 2013 01:55am