One of the darker Discworld novels, this still made me smile and brought light to my lock down. I'm so grateful that I decided not to read the last few books until I needed them. STP was a master at spinning words into beautiful, insightful and humourously delightful stories. He is sorely missed. I thoroughly enjoyed this, Vimes is one of my favourite characters, and I was sad to finish it.

If you like me are a fan no matter what, you will love this book, it only took me two days to read, couldn't put it down. I'm looking forward to re reading it slower to catch the hidden neuances missed at the first reading This is more like the Terry Pratchett we have come to love, no dissrespect but there had been a bit of a lack of ummmf but its back , hoooray. Can't wait for Dodger the preview was tantalising.

I like the city watch series this one has goblins and murder this is by far my favourite book of the city watch series

Snuff is the latest novel in Pratchett’s world-famous Discworld series, but twists the usual formula by playing up to the world of Jane Austen. At first glance this might sound ridiculously improbable, but think a little more, and you’ll see how well it fits. Sam Vimes, the star of many of the Discworld books, has finally taken a holiday into the countryside, where he is confronted by members of the gentry who live in large country houses and have a completely different mode of living to the one he knew in the city. He riles against the bizarre traditions of the nobility, and is perfectly placed to understand the social problems of both countryside and city, being a humble city copper now raised to the rank of Watch Commander and married to the aristocratic Sybil Ramkin. As always, Pratchett’s essentially humorous flight of fancy runs along a serious theme, and in Snuff, it is mainly that of racial equality and social prejudice. At the heart of the book lies the problem of goblins, and whether they should be treated as equals with the other humanoid races of the Discworld. The problem is brought to the fore by a brutal murder – an act which sets Vimes well and truly on the warpath to setting the world to rights. Snuff is a masterpiece because it succeeds in marrying the complicated and bizarre world of the Disc with several allusions to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It is not only the countrified setting which joins the two, but also the theme of social prejudice, and a few nods to Austen in bringing into the story a family of five daughters, one of whom is named Jane and wishes to be a writer. It is also strangely apt that Pratchett’s witty writing style and clever sentences have so much in common with Austen – while of course remaining in a wholly different genre, and one would imagine, readership. Snuff is less fast-paced and more thoughtful than some of Pratchett’s other books, but readers of Discworld should rest assured that the master of modern fantasy and wit can still deliver the goods.

This book takes place about 5 years after the events of Thud, so Young Sam is 6 years old, and very interested in all the things young boys like. Vimes is manoeuvered into taking a holiday in the countryside and crime ensues. Willikins plays a major role and is delightful as ever but I wasn't particularly captivated by the newly introduced goblins, and Young Sam's interest in poo just seems like an excuse for a tie in book (like Where's my Cow?, but more scatalogical). I would say this is a stronger book than Unseen Academicals (and you can't really go wrong with Vimes, even if the rest of the Watch doesn't play a big part) but it's nowhere near the dizzying heights of Night Watch. By all means read and enjoy it, but don't be expecting a masterpiece like that. I will reread it and probably pick up on things I will have missed the first time around, but I must admit to a bit of disappointment when I finally put the book down. Good, but no cigar.