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Constable Twitten #4
Psycho by the Sea
In the latest installment of this funny, charming and quirky series - longlisted for the acclaimed CWA Historical Dagger - our trio of redoubtable detectives are faced with the arrival in town of an escaped criminal with an unlikely penchant for boiling the heads of policemen...
It's September in Brighton and the city is playing host to weeks of endless rain and lashings of villainy.
A trusted member of a local gang has disappeared part way through planning a huge heist; a violent criminal obsessed with boiling the heads of policemen has escaped Broadmoor and is rumoured to be headed towards the city, while at Gosling's department store an American researcher has been found dead in the music section.
Inspector Steine has other things on his mind – since the triumphant conclusion to his last case, Steine has so many awards and invitations coming his way that he has had to take on a secretary – but Sergeant Brunswick and Constable 'Clever Clogs' Twitten are both on the case.
If only they could work out just who is behind these dastardly acts…
It's September in Brighton and the city is playing host to weeks of endless rain and lashings of villainy.
A trusted member of a local gang has disappeared part way through planning a huge heist; a violent criminal obsessed with boiling the heads of policemen has escaped Broadmoor and is rumoured to be headed towards the city, while at Gosling's department store an American researcher has been found dead in the music section.
Inspector Steine has other things on his mind – since the triumphant conclusion to his last case, Steine has so many awards and invitations coming his way that he has had to take on a secretary – but Sergeant Brunswick and Constable 'Clever Clogs' Twitten are both on the case.
If only they could work out just who is behind these dastardly acts…
301 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2021
73 people are currently reading
584 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Truss
115 books1,016 followersLynne Truss is a writer and journalist who started out as a literary editor with a blue pencil and then got sidetracked. The author of three novels and numerous radio comedy dramas, she spent six years as the television critic of The Times of London, followed by four (rather peculiar) years as a sports columnist for the same newspaper. She won Columnist of the Year for her work for Women's Journal. Lynne Truss also hosted Cutting a Dash, a popular BBC Radio 4 series about punctuation. She now reviews books for the Sunday Times of London and is a familiar voice on BBC Radio 4. She lives in Brighton, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
February 3, 2022
Lynne Truss is hilarious, but with this fourth installment of the Constable Twitten series, she has outdone herself. My thanks go to Net Galley and Bloomsbury for the review copy. This book is riotously funny, and it's for sale now.
Truss first came on my radar with her monstrously successful nonfiction grammar primer, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. A decade later I began reviewing, and one of my first reviews was for Cat Out of Hell, and later, the first in the Constable Twitten series, A Shot in the Dark, followed by the second, The Man That Got Away. I somehow missed the review copy for the third, Murder by Milk Bottle, which I discovered when I received the review copy for this fourth in the series; after sulking for a bit, I took myself to Seattle Bibliocommons and checked it out so that I’d be up to date when I began reading this one. It proved to be a good idea.
I tell you all this so you’ll see why I thought I had this author figured out. She had proven to have a distinctive, rather odd fiction writing style, which began in a sort of corny, groaning, oh-my-God-is-this-the-best-you-can-do style, but then sneakily grew better and funnier until by the second half, I’d be laughing my butt off. So as I open Psycho by the Sea, I have fortified myself to give Truss a minute or two to warm up. It will be funny, I am sure, but probably not just yet.
Surprise! This time, Truss has me laughing right out of the gate.
For the uninitiated, this satirical series is set in Brighton, a coastal resort town in England, in the 1950s. Our protagonist, Constable Twitten, is brilliant but irritating. He joins a small force that consists of Chief Inspector Steine, who has, until recently, been more interested in boosting tourism by pretending that Brighton has no crime, than in breaking up the formidable organized crime gang that runs amok, than in solving any of the crimes that have been committed. That was true until the last installment, when he inadvertently covered himself in glory and is now basking in the limelight, some of it literal as he is invited to speak on television or receive yet another award for his cleverness and courage. We also have Sergeant Brunswick, who would solve crimes gladly if he weren’t so everlastingly stupid; instead, he yearns to go undercover, even when there is no earthly purpose in it; when he does, he always manages to be shot in the leg at least once.
By now the readers know that the cleaning lady in charge of the station is a criminal mastermind. Mrs. Groynes is part cleaner, part den mother, and part overlord, and she makes herself loved and indispensable by showing up with cake, providing constant cups of tea, and listening to the cops to make sure that her operation is nowhere close to being discovered. In the first of the series, Twitten discovers what Groynes has been up to, but not a single, solitary cop or civilian will believe him. He’s new, after all, and they’ve known Palmyra Groynes forever. Mrs. Groynes, a crime lord? Don’t be ridiculous!
Now it seems that Palmyra has a competitor, someone that wants her turf and is willing to mow down her operatives in order to take it. I never would have seen this coming, and it’s an ingenious development. Old characters come back, and a new one, a formidable secretary sent down from London, turns the cop shop into a much more legitimate enterprise, and also sends Groynes packing. Even Twitten wants her back.
My favorite moment is when Twitten is being held at gunpoint, and he is so pedantic and obnoxious that he bores his assailant out of shooting him.
Not only does this book hit my funny bone right away, it also features a more complex, well balanced plot, and more character development. Until now, I had assumed no real character development was being attempted, because it’s satire, satire, satire, but now, it appears one can do both, and Truss does both bally splendidly.
“Flipping hedgehogs!” You have to get this book, but it will be even more enjoyable if you read the other three first. Highly recommended.
Truss first came on my radar with her monstrously successful nonfiction grammar primer, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. A decade later I began reviewing, and one of my first reviews was for Cat Out of Hell, and later, the first in the Constable Twitten series, A Shot in the Dark, followed by the second, The Man That Got Away. I somehow missed the review copy for the third, Murder by Milk Bottle, which I discovered when I received the review copy for this fourth in the series; after sulking for a bit, I took myself to Seattle Bibliocommons and checked it out so that I’d be up to date when I began reading this one. It proved to be a good idea.
I tell you all this so you’ll see why I thought I had this author figured out. She had proven to have a distinctive, rather odd fiction writing style, which began in a sort of corny, groaning, oh-my-God-is-this-the-best-you-can-do style, but then sneakily grew better and funnier until by the second half, I’d be laughing my butt off. So as I open Psycho by the Sea, I have fortified myself to give Truss a minute or two to warm up. It will be funny, I am sure, but probably not just yet.
Surprise! This time, Truss has me laughing right out of the gate.
For the uninitiated, this satirical series is set in Brighton, a coastal resort town in England, in the 1950s. Our protagonist, Constable Twitten, is brilliant but irritating. He joins a small force that consists of Chief Inspector Steine, who has, until recently, been more interested in boosting tourism by pretending that Brighton has no crime, than in breaking up the formidable organized crime gang that runs amok, than in solving any of the crimes that have been committed. That was true until the last installment, when he inadvertently covered himself in glory and is now basking in the limelight, some of it literal as he is invited to speak on television or receive yet another award for his cleverness and courage. We also have Sergeant Brunswick, who would solve crimes gladly if he weren’t so everlastingly stupid; instead, he yearns to go undercover, even when there is no earthly purpose in it; when he does, he always manages to be shot in the leg at least once.
By now the readers know that the cleaning lady in charge of the station is a criminal mastermind. Mrs. Groynes is part cleaner, part den mother, and part overlord, and she makes herself loved and indispensable by showing up with cake, providing constant cups of tea, and listening to the cops to make sure that her operation is nowhere close to being discovered. In the first of the series, Twitten discovers what Groynes has been up to, but not a single, solitary cop or civilian will believe him. He’s new, after all, and they’ve known Palmyra Groynes forever. Mrs. Groynes, a crime lord? Don’t be ridiculous!
Now it seems that Palmyra has a competitor, someone that wants her turf and is willing to mow down her operatives in order to take it. I never would have seen this coming, and it’s an ingenious development. Old characters come back, and a new one, a formidable secretary sent down from London, turns the cop shop into a much more legitimate enterprise, and also sends Groynes packing. Even Twitten wants her back.
My favorite moment is when Twitten is being held at gunpoint, and he is so pedantic and obnoxious that he bores his assailant out of shooting him.
Not only does this book hit my funny bone right away, it also features a more complex, well balanced plot, and more character development. Until now, I had assumed no real character development was being attempted, because it’s satire, satire, satire, but now, it appears one can do both, and Truss does both bally splendidly.
“Flipping hedgehogs!” You have to get this book, but it will be even more enjoyable if you read the other three first. Highly recommended.
November 16, 2021
All is not well in Brighton. Inspector Steine has a criminally insane murderer of policemen after him, a visiting professor has been murdered at a department store, and worse, Mrs Groynes, charlady and gang leader, has been booted from the police department by the new police secretary.
This book is utterly hilarious and made me laugh out loud quite a bit. The characters are endearing though rather bumbling - as the reader is told more or less from the beginning who the villains are, I did spend a lot of time wondering how the twain would meet! There were some really hilarious sequences and asides that I enjoyed, such as the relationship between the governor of Broadmoor and his 'Carlotta'.
Though the author does a good job explaining events of the previous books, this one's plot heavily relies on characters introduced before, so it was a bit of a tricky read at times. I did also think that the plot might have been too complex for the length of the book - consequently, events like the professor's murder get short shrift.
Ultimately an enjoyable darkly comic romp, perhaps more for fans of comedy than of mysteries.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This book is utterly hilarious and made me laugh out loud quite a bit. The characters are endearing though rather bumbling - as the reader is told more or less from the beginning who the villains are, I did spend a lot of time wondering how the twain would meet! There were some really hilarious sequences and asides that I enjoyed, such as the relationship between the governor of Broadmoor and his 'Carlotta'.
Though the author does a good job explaining events of the previous books, this one's plot heavily relies on characters introduced before, so it was a bit of a tricky read at times. I did also think that the plot might have been too complex for the length of the book - consequently, events like the professor's murder get short shrift.
Ultimately an enjoyable darkly comic romp, perhaps more for fans of comedy than of mysteries.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
June 24, 2021
Psycho By the Sea is the fourth instalment in the Constable Twitten series of cosy mysteries set in the coastal town of Brighton in the 1950s. Mayhem reigns while Inspector Steine is on a trip to London to honour his bravery in the line of duty and is wrapped up in his own celebrity after being labelled a hero for his exploits after shooting villain Terry Chambers the previous month. But back in Brighton, chaos has not taken a day off and Twitten and Sergeant Brunswick are having to make the best of a bad situation. Initially, they are investigating the possible whereabouts of an escaped nutcase turned serial killing cop from Broadmoor who somehow managed to break loose and skulk off in a terrifyingly inconspicuous manner; there's also the small detail that he very much enjoys decapitating policemen before boiling their heads presumably to partake in some justice-flavoured cannibalism.
But the crazy cannibal cop is just the beginning as there's also the dead body of a professor discovered in a department store to investigate and a strange attack in a photography shop to deal with. And we all know that what can go wrong almost certainly will. Could the crimes possibly be connected? This is such a compelling, madcap and whimsical cosy mystery by an author who is at the top of her game and is farcical in terms of both the plot and cast of idiosyncratic characters. It's immersive and twisty with that small-town community feel where everyone knows each other’s business and gossip runs rife with the way the story is cleverly woven making it a pure unadulterated joy to read. It has every ingredient required for a brilliant cosy: humour, an engrossing mystery, engaging, quirky characters and plenty of surprises. A captivating, charming and thoroughly entertaining read.
But the crazy cannibal cop is just the beginning as there's also the dead body of a professor discovered in a department store to investigate and a strange attack in a photography shop to deal with. And we all know that what can go wrong almost certainly will. Could the crimes possibly be connected? This is such a compelling, madcap and whimsical cosy mystery by an author who is at the top of her game and is farcical in terms of both the plot and cast of idiosyncratic characters. It's immersive and twisty with that small-town community feel where everyone knows each other’s business and gossip runs rife with the way the story is cleverly woven making it a pure unadulterated joy to read. It has every ingredient required for a brilliant cosy: humour, an engrossing mystery, engaging, quirky characters and plenty of surprises. A captivating, charming and thoroughly entertaining read.
May 31, 2021
Another wonderfully funny journey with the unfortunate Constable Twitten (too clever for his own good); The 'Stupid' Sergeant Brunswick (always getting shot in the leg whilst desperate to go undercover); and the infuriatingly incompetent Inspector Steine (that's S-T-E-E-N).
This time, our Twitten is busy trying to work out what an escaped lunatic who has a penchant for boiling policeman's heads is going to mean for his Inspector, whilst Inspector Steine himself is far too wrapped up in his newly found celebrity status to worry about such petty incidents as a Broadmoor escapee, and is savouring the fandom of all around him.
Our lovely Mrs. Groynes (charlady-cum-criminal-mastermind) is put out somewhat when Inspector Steine's new secretary arrives in the form of Roberta Lennon, and the delights and magic of her new electric kettle are soon pushed aside. And just what has happened to her close aide Barrow-boy Cecil?
I absolutely adore this series, and this one was no exception. Each one is witty, clever, funny and subtly mocks the patriarchy and incompetence of our Great British Police Force with a warm fuzzy feeling. You can't help but feel for poor Twitten, root for clever Mrs. Groynes and cringe at Inspector Steine.
Despite this being the fourth in the series it does standalone well, as the previous events are explained at the beginning.
Good, light hearted, quintessential, funny and endearing crime, with some clever words thrown in the mix for entertainment. I can't wait for the next one! Who knew crime and humour went so well.
5 silver truncheon, wobble blancmange stars.
This time, our Twitten is busy trying to work out what an escaped lunatic who has a penchant for boiling policeman's heads is going to mean for his Inspector, whilst Inspector Steine himself is far too wrapped up in his newly found celebrity status to worry about such petty incidents as a Broadmoor escapee, and is savouring the fandom of all around him.
Our lovely Mrs. Groynes (charlady-cum-criminal-mastermind) is put out somewhat when Inspector Steine's new secretary arrives in the form of Roberta Lennon, and the delights and magic of her new electric kettle are soon pushed aside. And just what has happened to her close aide Barrow-boy Cecil?
I absolutely adore this series, and this one was no exception. Each one is witty, clever, funny and subtly mocks the patriarchy and incompetence of our Great British Police Force with a warm fuzzy feeling. You can't help but feel for poor Twitten, root for clever Mrs. Groynes and cringe at Inspector Steine.
Despite this being the fourth in the series it does standalone well, as the previous events are explained at the beginning.
Good, light hearted, quintessential, funny and endearing crime, with some clever words thrown in the mix for entertainment. I can't wait for the next one! Who knew crime and humour went so well.
5 silver truncheon, wobble blancmange stars.
July 9, 2021
Psycho by the Sea is the fourth instalment in Lynne Truss's series featuring Constable Twitten, set in Brighton in the 1950s.
This was my first of the series and didn't feel hindered that I have yet to read the first three novels. Lynne Truss's police characters, Sergeant Brunswick, Constable Twitten and Inspector Steine are expertly drawn. The farcical tale is immersive and twisty with a typical cosy mystery small-town community emphasis. The story is cleverly told making it an absolute delight to read. An engrossing and charming mystery that I recommend very highly.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bloomsbury Publishing/Raven Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
This was my first of the series and didn't feel hindered that I have yet to read the first three novels. Lynne Truss's police characters, Sergeant Brunswick, Constable Twitten and Inspector Steine are expertly drawn. The farcical tale is immersive and twisty with a typical cosy mystery small-town community emphasis. The story is cleverly told making it an absolute delight to read. An engrossing and charming mystery that I recommend very highly.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bloomsbury Publishing/Raven Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
November 15, 2022
This is a tale so convoluted and so chock full of double-dealing characters who are on the verge of stereotypes, not to mention loaded with impossible coincidences... and it's one of the most entertaining things I've read in a long time!!!! Truss is a brilliant humorist. Her characters (and there are many) are so meticulously drawn that I have clearer pictures of them in my mind than perhaps I've ever had with any other book. The situations are ridiculous and the "heroes" are all bumbling buffoons, but they are lovable and hilarious all at once. It's a wonderful twist to the typical mystery; we know right off the bat that nearly all the "criminals" are guilty, but Truss keeps up the suspense as culprits try to outdo each other with more and more outrageous plans and the climax is so improbable...but it totally works. This tale has plenty of dark humor as well, for those of you who are fans of that. This was quite a find. Highly recommended!
March 2, 2024
Hilarious! Fourth book in series. As mentioned in the introductory Author's Note, it may be read as a stand-alone. Have collected book #1 from the library. Can't wait to begin the beginning...
November 2, 2021
The minute I see another Constable Twitten mystery is available, I drop everything to read it. I hate having multiple books going at a time (although often my job kinds of dictates it) and this one popped on my radar at a particularly inauspicious time where, due to a big meeting, I had FIVE books already going. Surely I wasn’t going to start a sixth? OH HECK YES I WAS.
In the fourth book in this series, we get a bit of a twist. Once again, the dim-witted Inspector Steine has been given credit for a great solving of a case (which he had nothing to do with–didn’t even know the murders in question were happening and didn’t know who he shot) which nicely takes him out of the way of Sergeant Brunswick and Constable Twitten for a while. While he’s off publicizing the police, he gets so much fan mail that his boss assigns him a secretary to take care of it all. And to everyone’s horror, she fires the department’s char lady, Mrs. Groynes, and no one else can figure out how to make tea!
Now, her firing also puts Twitten in a quandary as he alone knows her secret, and this makes him question what is the right thing to do. (Sorry, can’t tell you.)
Meanwhile, there’s a plot afoot, a murder takes place, a prisoner who beheads police officers has escaped and is heading to Brighton, a local is missing, and many characters from the first three books return to tie up loose ends! I love that Ms. Truss has done that, as it really rewards faithful readers and I do hate when there are loose ends that just dangle. I suspect she does as well.
If you love anything British, if you’re a watcher of GBBO or Escape to the Chateau or Masterpiece Theatre, if you like historical mysteries at all, or if you just like a good fun story that will keep you guessing, has delightfully quirky characters, and manages to make murders funny, this is the series for you! Please start reading! These are excellent.
In the fourth book in this series, we get a bit of a twist. Once again, the dim-witted Inspector Steine has been given credit for a great solving of a case (which he had nothing to do with–didn’t even know the murders in question were happening and didn’t know who he shot) which nicely takes him out of the way of Sergeant Brunswick and Constable Twitten for a while. While he’s off publicizing the police, he gets so much fan mail that his boss assigns him a secretary to take care of it all. And to everyone’s horror, she fires the department’s char lady, Mrs. Groynes, and no one else can figure out how to make tea!
Now, her firing also puts Twitten in a quandary as he alone knows her secret, and this makes him question what is the right thing to do. (Sorry, can’t tell you.)
Meanwhile, there’s a plot afoot, a murder takes place, a prisoner who beheads police officers has escaped and is heading to Brighton, a local is missing, and many characters from the first three books return to tie up loose ends! I love that Ms. Truss has done that, as it really rewards faithful readers and I do hate when there are loose ends that just dangle. I suspect she does as well.
If you love anything British, if you’re a watcher of GBBO or Escape to the Chateau or Masterpiece Theatre, if you like historical mysteries at all, or if you just like a good fun story that will keep you guessing, has delightfully quirky characters, and manages to make murders funny, this is the series for you! Please start reading! These are excellent.
August 25, 2021
Another enjoyable read from this series.
The other books I have listened to and so I can hear Jan Raven’s voice speaking for Mrs Groyne.
My only complaint is that I had forgotten a lot of the ins and outs of the previous book and the review given at the start of this one didn’t give enough detail so I struggled a bit initially e.g. remembering exactly how the gang leader was shot.
The other books I have listened to and so I can hear Jan Raven’s voice speaking for Mrs Groyne.
My only complaint is that I had forgotten a lot of the ins and outs of the previous book and the review given at the start of this one didn’t give enough detail so I struggled a bit initially e.g. remembering exactly how the gang leader was shot.
June 6, 2022
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Psycho by the Sea is the fourth book of a procedural mystery series set in 1950's Brighton. Based on Lynne Truss' BBC Radio 4 series with some of the same characters, this novelization is a decidedly odd & farcical lampooning of post-WW2 police procedurals. Released 9th Nov 2021 by Bloomsbury on their Raven imprint, it's 320 pages and available in hardcover, ebook and audio formats. Paperback format out in August 2022.
The author has an unerring ear for dialogue and setting. The book really reads exactly like it was written contemporaneously for the time in which it's set. The pacing is superb and it moves along at a good clip. I never found my interest flagging. Ms. Truss has a deft touch with characterizations (she's been writing these characters for a while for audio plays, and it shows). There's a decidedly "keystone cops" element to the characterisations, with the lead policemen being naive and/or dim, whilst the criminal elements of Brighton attempt to exterminate one another with one of the chief underworld bosses actually working in the police department facility as a charwoman.
That being said... for an almost cozy read, there is a prodigious amount of violence (much of it gratuitous). People are constantly being stabbed, bashed with rocks, shot, throttled, run over, and otherwise mutilated. There is a disconcerting amount of *glee* in the descriptions.
The language is way over the top. The violence is omnipresent. I personally loved the denouement, but readers who need everything to be tied up in a neat bow with the good guys the unequivocal winners by page 298 are going to be driven mad by the end.
Four stars. Worth a read, but definitely different. Not a cozy, and not precisely a procedural.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Psycho by the Sea is the fourth book of a procedural mystery series set in 1950's Brighton. Based on Lynne Truss' BBC Radio 4 series with some of the same characters, this novelization is a decidedly odd & farcical lampooning of post-WW2 police procedurals. Released 9th Nov 2021 by Bloomsbury on their Raven imprint, it's 320 pages and available in hardcover, ebook and audio formats. Paperback format out in August 2022.
The author has an unerring ear for dialogue and setting. The book really reads exactly like it was written contemporaneously for the time in which it's set. The pacing is superb and it moves along at a good clip. I never found my interest flagging. Ms. Truss has a deft touch with characterizations (she's been writing these characters for a while for audio plays, and it shows). There's a decidedly "keystone cops" element to the characterisations, with the lead policemen being naive and/or dim, whilst the criminal elements of Brighton attempt to exterminate one another with one of the chief underworld bosses actually working in the police department facility as a charwoman.
That being said... for an almost cozy read, there is a prodigious amount of violence (much of it gratuitous). People are constantly being stabbed, bashed with rocks, shot, throttled, run over, and otherwise mutilated. There is a disconcerting amount of *glee* in the descriptions.
The language is way over the top. The violence is omnipresent. I personally loved the denouement, but readers who need everything to be tied up in a neat bow with the good guys the unequivocal winners by page 298 are going to be driven mad by the end.
Four stars. Worth a read, but definitely different. Not a cozy, and not precisely a procedural.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
December 23, 2021
I've been in a kind of reading slump lately--nothing seemed to catch or retain my interest. How better to snap out of it than a new book by Truss, featuring 1950's Brighton and the very clever, though also very naive, Constable Twitten? A number of people seem to be converging on Brighton, where the none-too-bright Inspector Steine is returning from London and his 15 minutes of fame. He's been assigned a secretary, too, who antagonizes the cleaning lady Mrs. Groynes, loved by all, though Twitten knows that she's really the head of a gang of criminals. But there seems to be a problem in her criminal empire, too--someone knows all her plans and seems determined to thwart them. Then there's the escaped madman who likes to decapitate policemen--why is he after Inspector Steine?
April 24, 2025
Another gently amusing and entertaining instalment with Brighton’s best and brightest.
June 2, 2021
Firstly let me say this is the first book in the series that I have encountered. Secondly I listened to the audio book rather than read the novel. I mention this as it may have a bearing on my opinion.
There are some things that I really liked about the book, I loved the idea of some of the characters, like the tea lady who is head of a crime gang, and the barrow boy with his clockwork rabbits. I felt that these characters could have yielded a great deal more than they did, I feel that we only got the tip of the iceberg with them, there was so much more that could have been developed. I think that is true of all the characters.
The story was simple and amusing, but it certainly wasn't a gripping page turner. I do think that the choice of narrator didn't help. I found him incredibly bland, and I think that a different narrator could have brought the story to life.
I also thought that the book was trying to be a little too "P G Woodhouse", and felt that this also didn't help the overall experience.
I think this story would work much better as a book rather than an audio book, and I might well try to read the first in the series to see if my own imagination is better than the forced narration.
There are some things that I really liked about the book, I loved the idea of some of the characters, like the tea lady who is head of a crime gang, and the barrow boy with his clockwork rabbits. I felt that these characters could have yielded a great deal more than they did, I feel that we only got the tip of the iceberg with them, there was so much more that could have been developed. I think that is true of all the characters.
The story was simple and amusing, but it certainly wasn't a gripping page turner. I do think that the choice of narrator didn't help. I found him incredibly bland, and I think that a different narrator could have brought the story to life.
I also thought that the book was trying to be a little too "P G Woodhouse", and felt that this also didn't help the overall experience.
I think this story would work much better as a book rather than an audio book, and I might well try to read the first in the series to see if my own imagination is better than the forced narration.
April 5, 2023
This is the fourth and best installment in this charming series. It would be impossible to describe the plot without spoilers both for this book and the one that preceded it. I can tell you that it has a betrayed Mrs. Groynes, a terrified Inspector Steine, a confused Sergeant Brunswick (this is nothing new), a tender-hearted Constable Twitten, and penguins. And I adored them all!
The most amazing thing about these books is that reading them feels like reading a book written in the time period and place - Brighton in the 1950s. Truss never puts a foot or a word wrong. And for an added bonus, the covers are glorious!
The afterword was a little disconcerting as it left me feeling that she might be done with the series which would break my little historical mystery loving heart.
The most amazing thing about these books is that reading them feels like reading a book written in the time period and place - Brighton in the 1950s. Truss never puts a foot or a word wrong. And for an added bonus, the covers are glorious!
The afterword was a little disconcerting as it left me feeling that she might be done with the series which would break my little historical mystery loving heart.
February 17, 2022
I love it. Another fantastic clever story from Lynne slightly subverting the murder mystery format. Enjoyable, but also dark.
April 22, 2022
Not interested in it.
November 1, 2022
I forced myself to read this drivel. One of the top 10 worst books I’ve ever read. Probably number 2 after 100 Years in Paradise, the worst piece of fiction ever written.
July 14, 2023
3.5 stars, subliminally influenced to bally-well make it 7.5 out of 5
Okay, Future me, I admit it: I started the series with the latest book.
But, you know, it was there. I had to buy it or I wouldn't have remembered it existed until the next time I was annoyed by a greengrocer's apostrophe and I suddenly went 'wait, Lynne Truss ... didn't she write another novel? What on earth was it?'
Anyhow, leaving that aside, I was curious. I'd read four of her other books plus the commas one years ago. Jury was out on exactly how much I'd liked them...
... Jury is out on exactly how much I liked this one.
I always seem to have this trouble with Truss's novels. Her writing is excellent, but her sense of humour just doesn't quite align with mine. Her main comedy trope is extreme and eccentric characters. And I just don't find that sort of thing funny. For my taste, if you want to be funny, you have to be funny, not just set up a row of grotesques, bump them into each other and expect us to laugh. Her style and humour can feel a bit like a Punch and Judy show in places ... appropriately enough for the setting, in this case.
Of course, I started with book four, so I shouldn't whine about lack of character development. And we do get an adequate view of the main characters, particularly Twitten and Mrs Groynes (the names ... do you see? The names are 'funny' in that exaggerated music hall way that somehow doesn't quite achieve wit). These two, in fact, have an interesting and complex relationship, which is pleasingly low key.
Okay, let's to the freaking dot points, you know you want to.
I liked:
* the concept—low key but near universal incompetence in a detective series is (from where I'm sitting) refreshing
* the setting and time. Very well captured and woven in. Apparently effortless world building.
* the inventive, complex story, well handled, and very well paced
* that it's a great example of how to use of omniscient voice in humour
* the omniscient voice means that we have a safe distance between us and all the melodramatic goings-on. I'd never read something with this amount of violence by anyone with pretentions to realism or (heaven forfend) grittiness
* the wry authorial voice, which is the best source of humour for me
* my personal 'every detective is Ace until proven otherwise' rule holds true in this one (so far).
I wasn't so keen on:
* the frequent pointing out of the bleeding obvious
* the jokes sometimes being a little too nudge, nudge, wink, wink for me
* the repetition of the verbal ticks in the main characters did start to get on my nerves. Was it deliberate? To ensure that we are annoyed by literally every character in the book? Even the MCs?
* the non-swearing-swearing in general. Did people really not swear properly in the 50s? Are you sure? I mean, marks for period atmos, but really?
* the cheerful stereotypes that we are clearly meant to find funny rather than mildly problematic—I mean there was a lot of stereotype subversion as well, so I'm not trying to be judgy about it. It was just ... the psychologist ... that whole plot strand ... hmmm ...
Jury's still out on:
* the characters—there's the suggestion of something likeable in Twitten, but she insists on making him so bally annoying as well. It's hard to commit to a series when you're low key annoyed by everyone.
* the tone—somehow? or is it just culture shock from my reading so much small press gay trash this year? Who can say? (talking of which—my main motivation for thinking I might read one of the earlier books is to see whether I should start shipping Twitten with Oliver ... but I'm sure I shouldn't, really)
In conclusion ... it was amusing, engaging, but a bit of a curate's egg in terms of humour. And, of course, not really a mystery at all, because we knew who was up to what most of the time.
Also, I think too much.
Thank you and good afternoon.
Okay, Future me, I admit it: I started the series with the latest book.
But, you know, it was there. I had to buy it or I wouldn't have remembered it existed until the next time I was annoyed by a greengrocer's apostrophe and I suddenly went 'wait, Lynne Truss ... didn't she write another novel? What on earth was it?'
Anyhow, leaving that aside, I was curious. I'd read four of her other books plus the commas one years ago. Jury was out on exactly how much I'd liked them...
... Jury is out on exactly how much I liked this one.
I always seem to have this trouble with Truss's novels. Her writing is excellent, but her sense of humour just doesn't quite align with mine. Her main comedy trope is extreme and eccentric characters. And I just don't find that sort of thing funny. For my taste, if you want to be funny, you have to be funny, not just set up a row of grotesques, bump them into each other and expect us to laugh. Her style and humour can feel a bit like a Punch and Judy show in places ... appropriately enough for the setting, in this case.
Of course, I started with book four, so I shouldn't whine about lack of character development. And we do get an adequate view of the main characters, particularly Twitten and Mrs Groynes (the names ... do you see? The names are 'funny' in that exaggerated music hall way that somehow doesn't quite achieve wit). These two, in fact, have an interesting and complex relationship, which is pleasingly low key.
Okay, let's to the freaking dot points, you know you want to.
I liked:
* the concept—low key but near universal incompetence in a detective series is (from where I'm sitting) refreshing
* the setting and time. Very well captured and woven in. Apparently effortless world building.
* the inventive, complex story, well handled, and very well paced
* that it's a great example of how to use of omniscient voice in humour
* the omniscient voice means that we have a safe distance between us and all the melodramatic goings-on. I'd never read something with this amount of violence by anyone with pretentions to realism or (heaven forfend) grittiness
* the wry authorial voice, which is the best source of humour for me
* my personal 'every detective is Ace until proven otherwise' rule holds true in this one (so far).
I wasn't so keen on:
* the frequent pointing out of the bleeding obvious
* the jokes sometimes being a little too nudge, nudge, wink, wink for me
* the repetition of the verbal ticks in the main characters did start to get on my nerves. Was it deliberate? To ensure that we are annoyed by literally every character in the book? Even the MCs?
* the non-swearing-swearing in general. Did people really not swear properly in the 50s? Are you sure? I mean, marks for period atmos, but really?
* the cheerful stereotypes that we are clearly meant to find funny rather than mildly problematic—I mean there was a lot of stereotype subversion as well, so I'm not trying to be judgy about it. It was just ... the psychologist ... that whole plot strand ... hmmm ...
Jury's still out on:
* the characters—there's the suggestion of something likeable in Twitten, but she insists on making him so bally annoying as well. It's hard to commit to a series when you're low key annoyed by everyone.
* the tone—somehow? or is it just culture shock from my reading so much small press gay trash this year? Who can say? (talking of which—my main motivation for thinking I might read one of the earlier books is to see whether I should start shipping Twitten with Oliver ... but I'm sure I shouldn't, really)
In conclusion ... it was amusing, engaging, but a bit of a curate's egg in terms of humour. And, of course, not really a mystery at all, because we knew who was up to what most of the time.
Also, I think too much.
Thank you and good afternoon.
August 31, 2021
I received an ARC of Psycho by the sea through NetGalley.
I requested this book expecting it to be a cozy mystery. I was mistaken, it’s more of a police procedural. You know from the begging who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. There isn’t really a big twist or anything, you’re just waiting to see whether or not the bad guys get away with it. It’s about a police informant who goes missing, and a bunch of other stuff. There were too many things happening. I love when a mystery has a lot going on, not just a one and done murder, but slowly builds the mystery with higher and higher stakes. This wasn’t how Psycho by the Sea went though. Rather than starting with a small event and building, it had all the events happen at once. And we don’t know that they’re connected so it just feels disjointed and hard to keep track of.
This book is fourth in a series, and I haven’t read the first three. My ARC came with a brief introduction to the returning characters but, it still took a while for me to get familiar with them. One thing that confused me was that despite the series being listed as the Constable Twitten series, his presence was no greater than the other detectives. So why is his name on the cover and not the others? I also gotta say I’m a little confused by the title. I’m pretty sure who the “psycho” of the novel is, but I don’t recall a single mention of the sea or ocean in the text. With “the Sea” being in the title I thought it would have played a more significant role in the story.
I’m not normally one to knock a book for using profanity, I believe that since vulgar language is common in reality, it’s only natural for books to reflect that. However, they said “bally” way too bally much in this book. I’d never even heard that one before, and the word itself doesn’t offend me, but the fact that it was used 67 times is egregious. I get wanting to use language ticks to portray personality, but this was just way too much bally.
So far this reads like a pretty negative review, but I did not dislike it! One of the expectations of NetGalley is that I provide an honest review, and these are my honest opinions. It was a fine book, and I enjoyed some of the characters. The late-night conversations between Twitten and Mrs G were fun, and the axe-wielding cop-killer brought some excellent color to the story, even if those colors were black and white! This isn’t my preferred sub-genre of mystery, but if you’re a fan of police procedurals then Psycho by the Sea has a lot to offer.
I requested this book expecting it to be a cozy mystery. I was mistaken, it’s more of a police procedural. You know from the begging who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. There isn’t really a big twist or anything, you’re just waiting to see whether or not the bad guys get away with it. It’s about a police informant who goes missing, and a bunch of other stuff. There were too many things happening. I love when a mystery has a lot going on, not just a one and done murder, but slowly builds the mystery with higher and higher stakes. This wasn’t how Psycho by the Sea went though. Rather than starting with a small event and building, it had all the events happen at once. And we don’t know that they’re connected so it just feels disjointed and hard to keep track of.
This book is fourth in a series, and I haven’t read the first three. My ARC came with a brief introduction to the returning characters but, it still took a while for me to get familiar with them. One thing that confused me was that despite the series being listed as the Constable Twitten series, his presence was no greater than the other detectives. So why is his name on the cover and not the others? I also gotta say I’m a little confused by the title. I’m pretty sure who the “psycho” of the novel is, but I don’t recall a single mention of the sea or ocean in the text. With “the Sea” being in the title I thought it would have played a more significant role in the story.
I’m not normally one to knock a book for using profanity, I believe that since vulgar language is common in reality, it’s only natural for books to reflect that. However, they said “bally” way too bally much in this book. I’d never even heard that one before, and the word itself doesn’t offend me, but the fact that it was used 67 times is egregious. I get wanting to use language ticks to portray personality, but this was just way too much bally.
So far this reads like a pretty negative review, but I did not dislike it! One of the expectations of NetGalley is that I provide an honest review, and these are my honest opinions. It was a fine book, and I enjoyed some of the characters. The late-night conversations between Twitten and Mrs G were fun, and the axe-wielding cop-killer brought some excellent color to the story, even if those colors were black and white! This isn’t my preferred sub-genre of mystery, but if you’re a fan of police procedurals then Psycho by the Sea has a lot to offer.
Read
May 11, 2022This is the fourth comic novel about Constable Twitten fighting crime in 1950s Brighton, England. He is more hindered than helped by his co-workers, Sergeant Brunswick and Chief Inspector Steine and Mrs. Groynes, the police station's charlady and the crime boss of Brighton.
Some crime series can be read in any order. The Nero Wolfe or Hercule Poirot stories are each stand-alone mysteries with little development as they go along from book to book. The four Constable Twitten novels are at the opposite extreme. They are almost one long episodic story.
Truss, in her author's note, tries to claim that this can be read as a stand-alone book, but she promptly admits defeat by including a quick overview of the plot of the first three books.
Twitten is an intelligent diligent officer with no common sense and a terrifying level of guile-less sincerity. Brighton is a seedy ocean resort town filled with scamps, conmen and crooks. "Mister Harold", the monomaniacal owner of the second largest Department Store in Brighton, fits right in. This is one of those books chock full of funny stuff.
The plot is satisfyingly complicated. Mrs. Groynes is planning her biggest score ever and some unknown person is attacking her gang. Twitten wanders through the middle of the mess trying to be a good policeman.
Truss enjoys telling these stories. She drops in asides to the reader; "As the reader will have gathered, the opening of the zebra crossing at noon on Friday is destined to bring many strands of our narrative together." We are all in this together enjoying the fun.
Truss enjoys 1950s culture. Twitten is fascinated by Vance Packard's book, "The Hidden Persuaders". It was a best seller in 1957. Truss has great fun weaving the book and its warnings about subconscious advertising into her story.
If you have read the first three books in this series, you will read and enjoy this one. If you have not, get going. Start with "A Shot In The Dark".
July 28, 2021
I liked the other book that I read out of context in the series but was not fascinated by it. When I saw this as an audiobook, I had to give it another shot.
I loved the narrative style and listened to it another time, almost completely once I finished it. In this audio mode, the author's subtle humour really shines through and makes the whole thing hilarious. It is almost as if the characters were written to be listened to, some of the jokes being too subtle for me until I heard the tone in which it was delivered.
The story plays out in the backdrop of the seaside town of Brighton, which is milling with shady people who are out to make easy money the illegal way. The best part about this instalment was that it talks of all the things that have gone on in the previous works and the intricate and delicate balance of the main people we follow around. Their idiosyncrasies and eccentricities made all of them (even the villains) endearing.
There are multiple plots ongoing when the story begins. We are first walked through the people we are meeting (like in a play), and then the disturbing influences that will overturn the normal order of things make their way onto the main stage. Some truly dangerous times befall the people, but the tone is light and engaging for the most part. It was easy to imagine the people and their faces as they deliver their dialogues based on the words they used.
I would love to listen to the next in the series if given a chance. Now that I know how the conversations sound, I am not averse to reading the next instead either. I would highly recommend this to others who like subtle humour in historical fiction.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
I loved the narrative style and listened to it another time, almost completely once I finished it. In this audio mode, the author's subtle humour really shines through and makes the whole thing hilarious. It is almost as if the characters were written to be listened to, some of the jokes being too subtle for me until I heard the tone in which it was delivered.
The story plays out in the backdrop of the seaside town of Brighton, which is milling with shady people who are out to make easy money the illegal way. The best part about this instalment was that it talks of all the things that have gone on in the previous works and the intricate and delicate balance of the main people we follow around. Their idiosyncrasies and eccentricities made all of them (even the villains) endearing.
There are multiple plots ongoing when the story begins. We are first walked through the people we are meeting (like in a play), and then the disturbing influences that will overturn the normal order of things make their way onto the main stage. Some truly dangerous times befall the people, but the tone is light and engaging for the most part. It was easy to imagine the people and their faces as they deliver their dialogues based on the words they used.
I would love to listen to the next in the series if given a chance. Now that I know how the conversations sound, I am not averse to reading the next instead either. I would highly recommend this to others who like subtle humour in historical fiction.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
June 27, 2021
*** Possible spoilers ***
This isn't quite literary slapstick but it certainly is farce and if you take your mystery novels seriously this isn't for you.
There are three policemen who comprise the core characters and, while they aren't the Keystone Cops, they're not far removed. Inspector Stein is often referred to as Inspector Idiot. Sergeant Brunswick received the moniker, Sergeant Stupid and that leaves Constable Twitten as the sole officer who has an ounce of intelligence. Unfortunately he is aptly named. In addition to being a twit, he is highly neurotic.
So there we have the police playing a comedic role while two organizations of bad guys set about trying to destroy one another. Not surprisingly the lesser of the evil bad guys prevails.
The pacing is crisp, the plot twists sufficiently bizarre to maintain interest, and plenty of subplots abound. Still, somehow it felt a little flat. Writing humour is quite difficult and I have to give the author credit for producing an offbeat story but it didn't quite jell for me. I think the policemen were a little too bland and they were the principle characters. In addition I found the work 'bally' overused to the point of being annoying. If you want a bit of light reading this one is okay but I don't think I'll bother with the others in the series.
This isn't quite literary slapstick but it certainly is farce and if you take your mystery novels seriously this isn't for you.
There are three policemen who comprise the core characters and, while they aren't the Keystone Cops, they're not far removed. Inspector Stein is often referred to as Inspector Idiot. Sergeant Brunswick received the moniker, Sergeant Stupid and that leaves Constable Twitten as the sole officer who has an ounce of intelligence. Unfortunately he is aptly named. In addition to being a twit, he is highly neurotic.
So there we have the police playing a comedic role while two organizations of bad guys set about trying to destroy one another. Not surprisingly the lesser of the evil bad guys prevails.
The pacing is crisp, the plot twists sufficiently bizarre to maintain interest, and plenty of subplots abound. Still, somehow it felt a little flat. Writing humour is quite difficult and I have to give the author credit for producing an offbeat story but it didn't quite jell for me. I think the policemen were a little too bland and they were the principle characters. In addition I found the work 'bally' overused to the point of being annoying. If you want a bit of light reading this one is okay but I don't think I'll bother with the others in the series.
December 30, 2022
Lynne Truss has such a fun way with the English language which adds so much to these fun cosy crimes books. Sadly I believe this might be the last in the series. It did look like it was coming to a definitive end but then didn't so I'm still holding out hope that Truss will revive the series at a later date.
This book brings together so many threads and characters from the earlier instalments in the series and mixes them all together into what initially looks like a complete and total mess but turns out to be quite an ingenious plot. We follow several crimes including a breakout from a mental hospital, the assault and robbery of a local photographer and the usual murder this time of a visiting American academic. Are all these things connected? The answer is yes and no which is fantastic. I really did some of the twists and turns coming.
As well as a lot of returning characters we get a few new ones including a formidable secretary for Inspector Stein after the events of the last book have not only made him famous but a target for various villains. Has Mrs Groynes finally met her match?
Such a fun cosy read I just hope it's not the last we see of Constable Twitten and the rest of the Brighton force.
2022 Goals – Series up to date/completed
This book brings together so many threads and characters from the earlier instalments in the series and mixes them all together into what initially looks like a complete and total mess but turns out to be quite an ingenious plot. We follow several crimes including a breakout from a mental hospital, the assault and robbery of a local photographer and the usual murder this time of a visiting American academic. Are all these things connected? The answer is yes and no which is fantastic. I really did some of the twists and turns coming.
As well as a lot of returning characters we get a few new ones including a formidable secretary for Inspector Stein after the events of the last book have not only made him famous but a target for various villains. Has Mrs Groynes finally met her match?
Such a fun cosy read I just hope it's not the last we see of Constable Twitten and the rest of the Brighton force.
2022 Goals – Series up to date/completed
April 26, 2021
Psycho by the Sea was a fun and easy read with an excellent ending!
Whilst it would perhaps have been easier to read had I read the two previous instalments, the ‘brief (helpful) notes’ were just that and established this as a fairly effective standalone story. It was funny and well-paced and you are soon sucked into the escapades of our heroes(?) Sergeant Brunswicke and Constable Twitten as they race to find an escaped convict with a penchant for decapitating and boiling the heads of policemen!
After several weeks of essay writing (perhaps more tense this week due to impending deadlines!) it was exactly the kind of book to unwind to – whilst I couldn’t put it down myself, it doesn’t pressure you the same way other thrillers and mysteries are perhaps more likely to do, which I thoroughly appreciated. Perhaps a book to read on Brighton Beach? Do keep an eye out for anyone with overpriced mechanical rabbits though, they may be wanted by the police!
My thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing, Ravens Books and Lynne Truss for this ARC.
Whilst it would perhaps have been easier to read had I read the two previous instalments, the ‘brief (helpful) notes’ were just that and established this as a fairly effective standalone story. It was funny and well-paced and you are soon sucked into the escapades of our heroes(?) Sergeant Brunswicke and Constable Twitten as they race to find an escaped convict with a penchant for decapitating and boiling the heads of policemen!
After several weeks of essay writing (perhaps more tense this week due to impending deadlines!) it was exactly the kind of book to unwind to – whilst I couldn’t put it down myself, it doesn’t pressure you the same way other thrillers and mysteries are perhaps more likely to do, which I thoroughly appreciated. Perhaps a book to read on Brighton Beach? Do keep an eye out for anyone with overpriced mechanical rabbits though, they may be wanted by the police!
My thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing, Ravens Books and Lynne Truss for this ARC.
June 11, 2021
Inspector Steine is being treated as a hero, having shot the villain Terry Chambers a month before. But Twitten and Brunswick are trying to stay out of his way; as the newfound fame has gone to his head.
But when a professor's body is found in a department store, a serial killing cop has escaped from Broadmoor and there is an attack within the photography shop, what does it all mean?
Twitten and Brunswick must solve all three, but are they linked? And if so, how and why?
This is a series of books; and, this is the 4th within that series.
Although I haven't read the series it's easy to follow as Truss recaps on what has previously happened. However, A LOT has happened, and the reader would have better context if they had read the previous books.
There are double agents upon double agents. Extremely cleverly written and I hadn't guessed who the final villain was either.
This is a light read and funny in places;
the scene with the governor and the psychologist I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
I can see this being a really enjoyable series to read.
But when a professor's body is found in a department store, a serial killing cop has escaped from Broadmoor and there is an attack within the photography shop, what does it all mean?
Twitten and Brunswick must solve all three, but are they linked? And if so, how and why?
This is a series of books; and, this is the 4th within that series.
Although I haven't read the series it's easy to follow as Truss recaps on what has previously happened. However, A LOT has happened, and the reader would have better context if they had read the previous books.
There are double agents upon double agents. Extremely cleverly written and I hadn't guessed who the final villain was either.
This is a light read and funny in places;
the scene with the governor and the psychologist I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
I can see this being a really enjoyable series to read.
August 31, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for providing me with an advanced copy of Psycho By The Sea.
I felt a little lost when I started this book. I thought I was getting into a mystery/thriller more than a cheeky comedy and it was definitely the latter. Not having read the first books in the series, it took me a bit of time to get into it, though it does stand alone.
The book follows a police department trying to catch a killer that has recently escaped and is threatening one of their own.
I've never read a book quite like this. The main plot is mostly a set up for the witty banter and silliness happening in the police department. There certainly isn't a clear demarcation between who the good guys are and who the bad guys are and at times, you find yourself wondering for which side you should be rooting.
Lynne Truss has developed a cast of quirky and charming characters that are often inept, but their ineptitude is sometimes so great that it also works in their favor.
Though the sense of humor was not for me, it was clever and would probably be enjoyed by many.
If you like witty comedy and banter and are more into quirky, funny stories than thrills and chills, pick up a copy of Psycho By The Sea, being published November 9th, 2021.
-Happy Reading
I felt a little lost when I started this book. I thought I was getting into a mystery/thriller more than a cheeky comedy and it was definitely the latter. Not having read the first books in the series, it took me a bit of time to get into it, though it does stand alone.
The book follows a police department trying to catch a killer that has recently escaped and is threatening one of their own.
I've never read a book quite like this. The main plot is mostly a set up for the witty banter and silliness happening in the police department. There certainly isn't a clear demarcation between who the good guys are and who the bad guys are and at times, you find yourself wondering for which side you should be rooting.
Lynne Truss has developed a cast of quirky and charming characters that are often inept, but their ineptitude is sometimes so great that it also works in their favor.
Though the sense of humor was not for me, it was clever and would probably be enjoyed by many.
If you like witty comedy and banter and are more into quirky, funny stories than thrills and chills, pick up a copy of Psycho By The Sea, being published November 9th, 2021.
-Happy Reading
December 23, 2021
I can’t believe I haven’t heard about this series before! It is witty with a touch of dark comedy… right in my wheelhouse.
I loved the witty humor in this book. This author can turn the purchase of an electric tea kettle into an entertaining and fun story. The police officers are a little bit bumbling and at the same time, a little bit brilliant. They are helped along the way by their station charlady and criminal mastermind, Mrs. Groynes.
If you haven’t started this series yet, I would recommend reading them in order. It is clear that this series builds upon each book. However, the author does readers the big favor of giving a brief summary of what has happened before so I was not completely lost.
I recommend this book to readers who like their cozy/historical mysteries with a side of humor.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for this gifted book which is out now; released November 9, 2021. I also had the joy of listening to the audiobook via the hoopla app through my local library. The audiobook narrator was excellent and had me laughing out loud!
Book: 4.5/5
Narrator:5/5
I loved the witty humor in this book. This author can turn the purchase of an electric tea kettle into an entertaining and fun story. The police officers are a little bit bumbling and at the same time, a little bit brilliant. They are helped along the way by their station charlady and criminal mastermind, Mrs. Groynes.
If you haven’t started this series yet, I would recommend reading them in order. It is clear that this series builds upon each book. However, the author does readers the big favor of giving a brief summary of what has happened before so I was not completely lost.
I recommend this book to readers who like their cozy/historical mysteries with a side of humor.
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for this gifted book which is out now; released November 9, 2021. I also had the joy of listening to the audiobook via the hoopla app through my local library. The audiobook narrator was excellent and had me laughing out loud!
Book: 4.5/5
Narrator:5/5
March 1, 2022
5 stars because I love this witty series, and any book that makes me laugh out loud is a rarity these days. More madcap crime caper than mystery, Lynne Truss cleverly captures the time period of 1950s Brighton both physically and culturally.
In this fourth book, a psychotic criminal has escaped the asylum and is seemingly headed for his next victim, the again-famous Inspector (HATE THIS MAN) Steine. Will Constable (Clever Clogs) Twitten and partner Sergeant (Stupid) Brunswick stumble into this plot in time, or will Twitten's driving lessons mark the end of his career? Meanwhile, crime boss/cleaning lady Mrs. Groynes herself suffers a crisis of confidence. I do wonder, since the aforementioned criminal plays a very small (but pivotal) role in the plot, who exactly is the psycho by the sea? In this series there are many candidates - delightfully so.
This is probably not everyone's cup of Mrs. Groynes' tea, deary, but check it out if you're looking for something different. Definitely start at the beginning of the series or you will be a bit befuddled.
In this fourth book, a psychotic criminal has escaped the asylum and is seemingly headed for his next victim, the again-famous Inspector (HATE THIS MAN) Steine. Will Constable (Clever Clogs) Twitten and partner Sergeant (Stupid) Brunswick stumble into this plot in time, or will Twitten's driving lessons mark the end of his career? Meanwhile, crime boss/cleaning lady Mrs. Groynes herself suffers a crisis of confidence. I do wonder, since the aforementioned criminal plays a very small (but pivotal) role in the plot, who exactly is the psycho by the sea? In this series there are many candidates - delightfully so.
This is probably not everyone's cup of Mrs. Groynes' tea, deary, but check it out if you're looking for something different. Definitely start at the beginning of the series or you will be a bit befuddled.
June 5, 2022
Although it’s #4, this book was my first introduction of a funny, charming, quirky series by Lynne Truss. Set in 1950’s Brighton, dramatically violent events are solved by the local constabulary, who are a kind of English ‘Keystone Cops’, bumbling and tripping over themselves doing good work without even realizing it.
The story includes an odd mesh of ultra-violent images, such as the boiled of heads of escapees from Broadmoor, with the apparently banal administrative mechanics of police procedures. Constable Twitten is a character that wouldn’t be out of place in a Monty Python sketch, as he strives to be a professional in an unlikely band of idiots. Similarly bizarre characters such as Barrow-Boy Cecil selling his mechanical bunnies, psychopathic carpenter Geoffrey Chaucer, the mysterious charlady/criminal mastermind, Mrs. Groynes and various other eccentric characters, add to the bizarre environment of the books.
It’s not to everyone’s taste but, if you get it, it’s hilarious. At one point while Twitten is being held at gunpoint he is so pedantic and obnoxious that he bores his assailant out of shooting him. It isn’t to be taken as realistic drama, it’s satire and it’s brilliant. I never quite figured out why it’s a key part of the narrative but characters often refer to things as being “bally” good or “bally” splendid. I hope I’ll learn about this when I try other books, which I definitely will. The book is a madcap throwback (and that’s not meant as a criticism) to the kind of humour that used to be pretty common in the 50’s but that has all but disappeared today.
The story includes an odd mesh of ultra-violent images, such as the boiled of heads of escapees from Broadmoor, with the apparently banal administrative mechanics of police procedures. Constable Twitten is a character that wouldn’t be out of place in a Monty Python sketch, as he strives to be a professional in an unlikely band of idiots. Similarly bizarre characters such as Barrow-Boy Cecil selling his mechanical bunnies, psychopathic carpenter Geoffrey Chaucer, the mysterious charlady/criminal mastermind, Mrs. Groynes and various other eccentric characters, add to the bizarre environment of the books.
It’s not to everyone’s taste but, if you get it, it’s hilarious. At one point while Twitten is being held at gunpoint he is so pedantic and obnoxious that he bores his assailant out of shooting him. It isn’t to be taken as realistic drama, it’s satire and it’s brilliant. I never quite figured out why it’s a key part of the narrative but characters often refer to things as being “bally” good or “bally” splendid. I hope I’ll learn about this when I try other books, which I definitely will. The book is a madcap throwback (and that’s not meant as a criticism) to the kind of humour that used to be pretty common in the 50’s but that has all but disappeared today.
January 9, 2023
In the latest installment of this funny, charming and quirky series - longlisted for the acclaimed CWA Historical Dagger - our trio of redoubtable detectives are faced with the arrival in town of an escaped criminal with an unlikely penchant for boiling the heads of policemen...
It's September in Brighton and the city is playing host to weeks of endless rain and lashings of villainy.
A trusted member of a local gang has disappeared part way through planning a huge heist; a violent criminal obsessed with boiling the heads of policemen has escaped Broadmoor and is rumoured to be headed towards the city, while at Gosling's department store an American researcher has been found dead in the music section.
Inspector Steine has other things on his mind – since the triumphant conclusion to his last case, Steine has so many awards and invitations coming his way that he has had to take on a secretary – but Sergeant Brunswick and Constable 'Clever Clogs' Twitten are both on the case.
If only they could work out just who is behind these dastardly acts…
It's September in Brighton and the city is playing host to weeks of endless rain and lashings of villainy.
A trusted member of a local gang has disappeared part way through planning a huge heist; a violent criminal obsessed with boiling the heads of policemen has escaped Broadmoor and is rumoured to be headed towards the city, while at Gosling's department store an American researcher has been found dead in the music section.
Inspector Steine has other things on his mind – since the triumphant conclusion to his last case, Steine has so many awards and invitations coming his way that he has had to take on a secretary – but Sergeant Brunswick and Constable 'Clever Clogs' Twitten are both on the case.
If only they could work out just who is behind these dastardly acts…
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