The Herring-Seller's Apprentice
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1.5 • 2 Ratings
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- $1.99
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- $1.99
Publisher Description
In this Edgar-nominated cozy series opener, a second-rate British crime novelist and his quirky agent investigate his devious ex-wife's murder.
A mediocre mystery-writer (and thus a purveyor of red herrings), Ethelred Tressider has even less interest in writing his books than his (dwindling) fan base has in reading them, and his agent—the pesky, nosy, vulgar, chocolate-chomping Elsie—has no interest in them at all. But with a name like Ethelred, things can always get worse, and when Ethelred's dishy ex-wife turns up dead, they do. The Case of the Dead Dish is the most exciting project Elsie's come across in years, but however much she bullies Ethelred he refuses to take much interest in the mystery. Chalk it up to some pathetic mid-life crisis? Maybe. But how much more interesting would it be to note that Ethelred's lack of interest raises what might be called some extremely interesting questions?
Praise for The Herring-Seller's Apprentice
"Fans of comic mysteries will welcome British author Tyler's debut." —Publishers Weekly
"Tyler is a stylish writer, and his humor is both subtle and sly." —Booklist
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Fans of comic mysteries will welcome British author Tyler's debut, the first in a series to feature novelist Ethelred Tressider and his chocoholic literary agent, Elsie Thirkettle. When the body of Tressider's ex-wife, Geraldine, turns up near his West Sussex home, the police mark Tressider as a person of interest. Aided by Thirkettle, Tressider investigates other suspects, as the official theory switches from possible suicide to a serial killer. One-third of the way in, Tressider's Wodehousian narrative voice ("You'll have found the same thing yourself, of course. Just when you think you have committed the perfect crime, things most unfairly take a turn for the worse") switches to that of Thirkettle, who doesn't miss a beat sustaining the light tone ("If there's one thing that gets up my sodding nose, it's starting a new chapter and finding that the poxy narrator has changed"). The resolution may not satisfy everyone, but the lively characters and amusing banter will bring most readers back for more.
