Author: Guy Adams
Publisher: Del Rey
Rating: WARTY!
DISCLOSURE: Unlike the majority of reviews in this blog, I've neither bought this book nor borrowed it from the library. This is a "galley" copy ebook, supplied by Net Galley. I'm not receiving (nor will I expect to receive or accept) remuneration for this review. The chance to read a new book is often enough reward aplenty!
I hate to start the new year on a downer or two, but today is Guy Adams day and I have two reviews of his novels, neither of which I liked, so I guess I'm done with him as an author. It's sad, because I've read good things about him and was curious to read something of his. Obviously my mileage differed significantly from that of many other readers.
The first problem for me was that this novel was really a rip-off of the British TV series from the sixties, titled The Avengers, and it did not stand up well. Don't confuse the TV show with the tried-too-hard-and-suffered-for-it movie featuring Sean Connery, Ralph Fiennes, and Uma Thurman. That was barely passable. This novel, by comparison wasn't. In addition to The Avengers, it and tries to lard itself with liberal helpings of US TV's The X Files, with a sprinkle of Jasper Fforde. None of this work for me.
The basic premise is that Toby Greene, an incompetent British secret agent, is reassigned to Section 37 (it ought to have been section 38) where he works for August Shining. They investigate the paranormal. The first case to which Toby's assigned is really a magical history tour of Shining's personal history, as Britain comes under threat from zombie-fied Soviet agents. Yes, it was as ridiculous to read as the plot sounds.
I honestly could not read this stuff, much less get into it. It wasn't amusing, wasn't really original, and wasn't at all entertaining for me, so I can't recommend it.
