A new take on crime fiction. PI Bill Winkie (he does not like to be called Wee Willie) disappears when a serial killer is let loose in Toy City, and one by one, the prominent characters are killed off. Jack, in search of a fortune in the City, stumbles into a partnership with Winkie's side-kick Eddie, a teddy-bear, and they set out to solve the mystery.

This is the first Rankin book I have read. What intrigued me was his style. He uses cliches throughout, developing them, expanding them, inverting them, and turning them into in-jokes. Even the structure of the book is in a deliberate cliched format. He reminds my of Jasper Fforde, but without Fforde's sophistication. I thought it would be a better book with a touch of editing for some of the episodes can become a bit tedious. I can appreciate that Rankin fans would enjoy it.

I note that it is said to be voted SFX Magazine's Best Book of the Year (Front cover)


Ray : Elestr
Molyneux
YowlYY
Wistfuldragon

Postal release to Elestr

Picked up from sorting office yesterday. TBR as soon as I finish Mists over Pendle. Hopefully v. soon.
Elestr/Iris:)

Really enjoyed this. I laughed aloud a few times (easily pleased me!)I do like Robert Rankin. To be passed on to Molyneux when I have the snail mail addy.

Elestr/Iris:)

Arrived safely yesterday...thank you Elestr, it looks intriguing!

First of all I MUST apologise for keeping the book so long.....can only blame myself for being so disorganised during December!

A very strange book - not sure I really got into it at all! I would agree that with Mastulela that it was a little Fforde-like but without Fforde's sophistication. I wonder if the author was trying to be a little too clever?...I was intrigued by the ideas but for me it didn't work.

On to YowIYY now...when I have her address.

The hollow chocolate bunnies have now hopped all the way to Nottingham... thanks to Lynne for sending this :)
It is the third ring/ray to reach me, so it will take me a while to go through it. Please let me know if there's a problem.

Absolutely hilarious! I loved the story, and the characters are all very lovable, too. The dialogues were funny and I wish I could quote some of the one-liners here! There's a similarity with Fforde, but since I've read only one book of each author, I will hold my guns and not express any preference for the time being.

The book is leaving Nottingham tomorrow and heading to London to visit Wistfuldragon. Happy reading!

Thank you, arrived on Saturday - with the most wonderful postcard, thank you YowlYY!
I'm very pleased to see I am at the end of this ray, as it will take me a little while to get to it. Mastulela, any preferences as to what happens to it next?

I loved this book! I didn't immediately think of Jasper Fforde - I don't think Robert Rankin is in the same league - but that does nothing to detract from his book. My comparison was rather with the film 'Who framed Roger Rabbit'. It is a great giggle, and I would dearly love to meet Eddie.
I'll see if any other B-cookers fancy reading this one; if not, I'll release at the Streatham OBCZ, as I know a Rankin fan goes in there occasionally - unfortunately anonymously at present, but you never know!

The ray has started again! Current participants are:

Tachyonuk
UrbanSpaceman
Parsleyraisin
Winterson
Sunflowergirl
Jenatleisure
Weebly
BC-widow

I've tried really really hard to read this book, but it grates. I just cannot get into it.

Will be PMing U/S to pass it on.

Sorry it's taken so long, but I'll make sure it moves on soon.