Charlie Mortdecai:
When you burn an old carved and guilt picture frame it makes a muted hissing noise in the grate - a sort of genteel fooh - and the gold leaf tints the flames a wonderful peacock blue-green. I was watching this effect smugly on Wednesday evening when Martland came to see me. He rang the bell three times very fast, an imperious man in a hurry. I was more or less expecting him, so when my thug Jock put his head around the door, eyebrows elaborately raised, I was able to put a certain aplomb into my "Wheel him in."
Don't Point That Thing At Me, Kyril Bonfiglioli ("Loved and respected by all who knew him slightly.")
and if you enjoy Kyril's gilt-frame of mind, you may also enjoy the Lovejoy novels by Jonathan Gash.
Kyril won me over with this line from 'After You With The Pistol'
- Sleep slunk up like a black panther and sank its kindly fangs into what remained of the Mortdecai brain.
Posted by: Ann O'Dyne | 12 February 2008 at 21:13
I was loathe to mention Lovejoy given the TV show was so dreadful after the first series; especially the latter dross. Nor have I read the books.
Still, I WAS thinking something along the lines of Lovejoy meets Minder
Posted by: Tony T | 12 February 2008 at 21:49
I also recommend a novel from the early 1960s, "Pop. 1280", about a simple sheriff in a small town. Think "In the heat of the night", and think of the dialect writing of "Huckleberry Finn". The hero is very likeable given that so many people die on his watch.
Posted by: Professor Rosseforp | 12 February 2008 at 22:18
"Have you ever thought about taking up squash Jock? You'd make a wonderful wall."
The Mortdecai books are a fun read. Well at least the first two. "Something Nasty" gets pretty weird and downbeat at the end.
Kyril's "All The Tea In China" is also worth a look. A hearty Flashmanesque romp speckled with fun details like how to get rid of maggots in the stilton by pouring hot port over the cheese.
Posted by: Nabakov | 14 February 2008 at 16:46