THE SATSUMA COMPLEX

If you’ve ever seen him on Would I Lie to You? you’ll know that comedian Bob Mortimer can tell funny stories, whether they are true or not. If you’ve seen him on Gone Fishing with old friend Paul Whitehouse, you’ll know he can be insightful and sweet. If you’re a fan of his bizarre work on Vic Reeves’ Big Night Out and Shooting Stars, you’ll know he has a hilarious sense of bizarre and surreal humour. In his rst novel, he combines all of these elements to bring us a hugely enjoyable crime mystery.

e likes of Richard Osman and Ardal O’Hanlon (the latter’s Brouhaha was reviewed in our previous issue) have introduced a new wave of ‘cosy crime’ stories, and you would be forgiven for wondering if every comedian thinks they have a novel in them, but in the case of Mortimer, they absolutely have. Having interrupted a tour with comedy partner Vic Reeves in 2015 to undergo life-saving heart surgery, he discovered a desire to try new things, hence several podcasts, an autobiography, and now this novel, and as with all of his work, it doesn’t disappoint.

Taking liberal doses of his own experiences as a shy solicitor in London in the days before he fell into comedy, the author is clearly visible in Gary, an unassuming legal assistant who stumbles into a mystery one night when he meets an old private eye friend for a pint. His friend departs suddenly, leaving behind a USB stick of unknown origin in the shape of a corn cob, and Gary thinks nothing much of it, instead becoming smitten with and unsuccessfully irting with a woman at the bar whose name he never discovers.

However, when his friend is found dead in suspicious circumstances a few days later, with the aforementioned lady somehow connected, he begins a quest to discover the truth, ambling through the streets and pie shops of South London in an e ort to nd the woman from the pub, in turn revealing a case of domestic abuse, police corruption and possibly murder.

AUTHOR: BOB MORTIMER

Mortimer brings all the tropes of the crime novel into play well – the unwilling but curious investigator, the femme fatale, brutish policemen - and provides good twists to keep us on our toes, but it is the surreal details that make this stand out. ese range from the little quirks each character displays, to interludes where Gary imagines a squirrel questioning his investigative capabilities, but somehow none of these comic elements seem forced, instead becoming part of the main character’s narrative and point of view.

is is a clever, charming and very funny crime story that doesn’t take itself too seriously, much like the author himself, and is a highly recommended read.

THE GUARDIANS: 100 YEARS OF AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA

An Garda Síochána celebrated the centenary of its foundation this year, and along with the fanfare and ceremonial events to mark the historic founding of an unarmed police force that replaced the British-led RIC comes this book looking at the 100-year history of the force.

Compiled by Garda Stephen Moore and overseen by an editorial board, it consists of 39 individual articles and essays (not counting the forewords and prefaces) from contributing gardaí of all ranks that cover the whole gamut of Garda history. This includes the origins of the organisation from its first clandestine meeting, through operations during Civil War, World War II and the Troubles, but it also includes contributions on social and political aspects, major crimes and events, and the evolution of the force to become what it is today. Once you’ve read it, you’ll have a newfound appreciation for the men and women who act as guardians of the pace.

THREE CASTLES BURNING: A HISTORY OF DUBLIN IN TWELVE STREETS

DFB historian Las Fallon’s son Donal is an accomplished and wellrespected social historian in his own right, and this book based on his popular podcast is a great read. If you’re a fan of that podcast you’ll know what to expect – fascinating insights and little-known trivia about Dublin’s streets and characters that will make you look at the city in a di erent light.

Fallon focuses on 12 specific streets - Henrietta Street, Watling Street, Fishamble Street, Rathmines Road Lower, South William Street, Parnell Street East, James Joyce Street, Ship Steet, Church Street, Eustace Street, Pearse Street (to Westland Row) and Moore Street – and champions the people who lived and worked there. Activists, architects, poets, merchants and artists are all represented in the depiction of the making and remaking of a city, and Fallon brings his characteristic flair to the telling of the stories of these lesser-known heroes and events that transpired in their time.

LEAVE THE GUN, TAKE THE CANNOLI: THE EPIC STORY OF THE MAKING OF THE GODFATHER

The stories behind the making of Francis Ford Coppola films are legendary. The documentary Hearts of Darkness revealed the chaos and madness behind filming Apocalypse Now, and in this fascinating book that takes its title from an infamous line in the film, journalist and author Mark Seal gathers the truth, lies and everything in between that transpired during the making of Coppola’s other masterpiece, The Godfather. He reveals stories that are just as gripping, entertaining and dramatic as the film itself through interviews with the director and actors including Al Pacino, James Caan and Talia Shire, plus other ‘silent sources’. Alongside the usual complications came predictable but major interference from the Mob, with several underworld characters vying to be in the cast, a brawl between author Mario Puzo and the heavilyconnected Frank Sinatra, and ominous threats directed at producers. A great read for film-lovers, well told in a pacey, page-turning fashion.

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