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Fans of the Golden Age of Crime will love this book
From the outset of Eight Detectives the writer is toying with the readership, we are dropped into a world of murder mystery. A young editor visits an unna... READ MORE
This book is a great springboard into the crime genre
On a small island Julia, an editor, sits next to mathematician and author, Grant McAllister, reading his seven published murder mystery stories from the 19... READ MORE
Could you be the next Jessica Fletcher?
This is a love story to the detectives of the past, where nothing is what it seems, and proof that the best mysteries can break all the rules.
All murder m... READ MORE
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9780241433577
Customer Reviews
View allEnjoyable
I was sent a copy of Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi to read and review by NetGalley
This novel read rather like a book of short stories interspersed with ... READ MORE
Unique
What does a good murder story need? One or more victims, a murderer, suspects, and one (or more) detective(s). Those are the rules to follow for the perfec... READ MORE
A quirky murder mystery
This was a very quirky novel and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved the format of the book and how there were seven different short murder mystery stories ... READ MORE
Left me Cold
I try to put thought into my reviews but all I can say about this is that it left me cold. Can't even be bothered to describe all the ways its not good. Ea... READ MORE
A concept novel
Sadly this book did not meet my expectations - I though the concept was great, and the stories were enjoyable, but not great. Unfortunately, the interactio... READ MORE
Literary detective fiction
Julia is a publisher's agent and she visits Grant on a Greek island to discuss reviving an old book of his. He wrote it when, as an academic mathematician... READ MORE
Not one for me
Grant McAllister is a reclusive mathematician. Many years ago he wrote a book of short stories to illustrate his theory of the patterns that come into play... READ MORE
Very interesting telling of the story
Publishes review: The eight detectives is a book of eight different stories. Initially I wondered if I was reading a book of short stories that all include... READ MORE
crime stories within one plot
Grant McAllister has developed a mathematical formula for murder/detective stories and has written a number of short stories to illustrate each combination... READ MORE
Don't judge a book by its cover.
I picked this book ignoring the age old advice, entirely by how beautiful it looks.
I read right through to the end in just a matter of days, primarily be... READ MORE
Great Read!
Firstly, this book was unlike any books I’ve read in this genre before. I found myself completely drawn in to the short murder mystery stories - the book w... READ MORE
So much fun
Eight Detectives is a real joy. Julia Hart has come to meet Grant McAllister, the author of The White Murders. Grant's book was written 30 years before an... READ MORE
Eight Detectives Review
“Grant McAllister, a maths professor, has written down the rules for murder mysteries. There must always be a victim, a suspect, a detective and then, you ... READ MORE
Concept over content
I can’t help feeling that if Magpie Murders hadn’t been such a success than this might not have been published. A version of the ‘book within a book’ idea ... READ MORE
Unique and intriguing
An accomplished debut novel featuring an intriguing puzzle of seven short stories bound together by an overarching mystery. The story revolves around a pub... READ MORE
Twisty
I thought I'd worked it out early on but there was a nice twist at the end
Did not warm to this at all.
The idea was clever but every story within the story deeply unappealing. I didn't mind the main protagonists but they were 2 dimensional and prompted no em... READ MORE
Nope. Not for me.
Review by another reader here, Peter Badger, put it perfectly. Although I think I liked it less than he did….
An absorbing and addictive read. It would make a great party game.
Eight Detectives has stories within a story, a mathematical rather than emotional interpretation of murder mystery and an increasingly menacing atmosphere ... READ MORE
Interesting!
What an unusual book!
I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this book as I'm not keen on short stories.
Alex Pavesi has very cleverly threaded all the stor... READ MORE
highly recommended to fans of murder mysteries and detective crime fiction
"Julia nodded. '...The craft, then, is in the misdirection: in picking the solution that in some ways it seems the most unsuitable to the story you've writ... READ MORE
Hard going with a laboured plot
Sadly I found this book really hard going. It was an interesting premise to link seven short murder mysteries and look at the mathematics and permutations ... READ MORE
Engaging and clever with lots of twists!
I love a book where the dialog is of two people which this book is. This is not a light read, it's a very complex read but it's really engaging and clever.... READ MORE
Disappointing
Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
As a fan of murder mysteries I could appreciate this book, however, ... READ MORE
Unsure
Eight detectives was a little tricky to get stuck in to. The story follows a woman, Julia, who has reached out to a former author, Grant, who has gone AWOL... READ MORE
A New, Compelling and Clever Twist on the Detective Genre
Thanks to Penguin UK for a review copy.
It seems fair to say that this book probably has one of the most original and intriguing set ups for a mystery nove... READ MORE
An Intriguing Read
Grant McAllister is a math teacher. He's written out the rules for murder mysteries: a victim, suspect and a detective.
Julia Hart is an editor who trave... READ MORE
Dark, twisty, intellectual, challenging and deeply satisfying
Thirty years ago mathematician Grant McAllister devised a set of rules which defined all murder mystery stories, eg there must be at least one victim. He t... READ MORE
A mystery within a mystery
Author Grant McAllister left his life behind to live a secluded existence on a remote island. When a woman, Julia, contacts him, ostensibly to discuss a re... READ MORE
Unique
This is a very quirky and unique style combing a novel with seven separate short stories. To be honest I was a little confused at the start as the book ope... READ MORE
A very clever novel framing a series of murder mysteries Via mathematical formula
My thanks to Penguin Books U.K. Michael Joseph for an advance reading copy via NetGalley of ‘Eight Detectives’ by Alex Pavesi.
According to Grant McAllist... READ MORE
Eight Detectives
4.5 stars.
This is notsomuch just a novel, rather a bunch of short stories all linked by a continuing narrative regarding the republication of them. It's u... READ MORE
Original and quite delightful
Original and revealing. A perfect book for a crime fiction reader. It pays homage to the genre and plays with the writing process; endings and authorship.
... READ MORE
Brave concept
I was drawn by the synopsis of this debut novel by author Alex Pavesi.
A young editor named Julia Hart travels to a remote village in the Mediterranean ho... READ MORE
A real brain teaser
This was a real brain teaser and kept me fully concentrated the whole way through. Interesting concept, breaking down the composition of a murder ,mystery... READ MORE
Eight murder mysteries by a writer with a secret.
Publisher Julia Hart is asked to read seven previously unpublished stories by reclusive author Grant McAllister, who has decided his masterpieces now need ... READ MORE
Clever premise, but slow to get going
This was a clever premise for a book - outline a whole host of permutations of what makes a good murder mystery, and then include short stories based on th... READ MORE
A wow book
Today I'm thrilled to be sharing my review for this impressive debut novel by Alex Pavesi. Thank you to Michael Joseph at Penguin UK for a digital review c... READ MORE
Unique concept and wonderful writing!
I loved this book! It’s a cliché, but it really does keep you guessing until the last page. It’s beautifully and playfully written, with deep love for the ... READ MORE
Fascinating and Original
A fascinating clever crime novel.
Julia Hart travels to a remote island to meet mathematician Professor Grant McAllister who had written a paper in the 19... READ MORE
Interesting anthology
I had very high expectations of Alex Pavesi’s The Eighth Detective/Eight Detectives, I was imagining something like The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle b... READ MORE
Clever
I was drawn by the synopsis of this debut novel by author Alex Pavesi.
A young editor named Julia Hart travels to a remote village in the Mediterranean ho... READ MORE
Unique debut novel, a different take on a crime novel
WOW, what a brilliant inventive debut novel .perfect for fans of Christie and Doyle’s stories. This is certainly a different take on mystery crime stories,... READ MORE
Too complex for my liking
This book ranks between a 3 and a 4 for me. I appreciate the tipping of the hat to the queen of mystery, Agatha Christie, and the level of complexity in th... READ MORE
Great Murder Mystery
This was a lot of short murder mysteries peeled back to reveal how each could be easily solved of enough attention is paid. I really enjoyed this one and f... READ MORE
Great premise but not quite for me
Eight Detectives is one of the most highly anticipated books of the year, by me and many others. I was intrigued by the idea of the characters solving a my... READ MORE
A twist, within a story, within a book!
Julia Hart has travelled to a quiet Mediterranean island to the home of mathematician and one time author Grant McAlllister. She wants to re-publish 'The ... READ MORE
This is one of the most original and clever books I have ever read
Very different and very clever. I’m not sure I’m clever enough to understand it. Certainly not the mathematical formula and permutations that are at the he... READ MORE
Quirky!
Thank you to the publishers for this review copy.
This is a lovely quirky, cosy and rather unique crime read which I happen to think will make a good Chris... READ MORE
Quite the page-turner!
Well this was intriguing!
It's always impressive to see a fresh take on a genre as familiar as the murder mystery, but Pavesi achieves it - we have a coll... READ MORE
Very clever
This book has engaged my interest with lots of short murder mysteries with an element of maths and deduction. As a student studying physics, it engaged my ... READ MORE
Disappointing
Despite the over-enthusiatic hype, I found this novel longwinded and pompous. The author was clearly pleased with his efforts, however, as his smugness ooz... READ MORE
Right Detectives
Hi, in general I do not read short stories, I can't be bothered by them, especially intertwined in this story which I couldn't enjoy,
Eight Detectives by Alex Pavesi
Editor Julia Hart has been tasked with tracking down an elusive professor of mathematics turned author to discuss republishing his self-published novel ‘Th... READ MORE
Intriguingly different
Former Maths Professor Grant McAllister writes a paper ‘The Permutations of Detective Fiction’ in which he demonstrates that crime fiction comprises of fou... READ MORE
Every so often a book comes along that takes your breath away
Every so often a book comes along that takes your breath away. Eight Detectives is surely in that category. I cannot find the right words to recommend th... READ MORE
Fabulously Engrossing Read
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, for the ARC.
What a fabulously engrossing read! Don't be put off by the first chapter; ... READ MORE
Clever and devious
I am conflicted about this book. It is original, clever and well written; unlike anything I have read before. Seven short stories bound together with a fin... READ MORE
Such a clever book!
This is a very clever book, and hard to review without giving anything away! The novel centres around a book of murder mysteries, written by a reclusive a... READ MORE
Captivating and refreshingly original!!
I typically love thrillers/murder mysteries, so I read a lot of them, the downside of this is that they often tend to get very same-y. As is with any genre... READ MORE
A pleasant enough read
Editor Julia Hart travels to the Mediterranean to meet Grant McAllister, the author of a book of short stories, entitled the White Murders. First published... READ MORE
A Mystery Within A Mystery.
This is different. A story within a story with twists and turns in many directions. I think this concept worked and I began to enjoy the story more as it m... READ MORE
Unique and Interesting read
Eight Detectives is very different to any other detective novels I have read but it had me gripped from the start. I found it so easy to fall into the stor... READ MORE
And a suspect to rule them all
The idea of the book is fascinating. The narrative takes the rhythm of the Golden Era, immersing the reader into a world long forgotten, much more tranquil... READ MORE