Tomorrow sees the publication of the latest in Christopher Fowler’s Bryant & May series. Until a few weeks ago, I hadn’t heard of the crime-fighting duo but when I was asked if I fancied reviewing a preview copy I jumped at the chance. I’m always looking to get into something new and a crime thriller series sounded like just the thing, as it’s been a while since I finished working my way through Dennis Lehane’s Kenzie & Gennaro series. Having first come across Patrick and Angie in Gone Baby Gone and fallen in love with the rest of the titles at a later date, jumping into a series halfway through didn’t phase me.
Bryant & May, for those not in the know, are a couple of elderly detectives who have been working together for years – with somewhat unconventional methods. Just imagine Inspector Morse and Jack Frost (A Touch of Frost) teaming up, with a splash of Patrick Jane (The Mentalist) for good measure. Of course, detectives are nothing without their wider team and Fowler manages to incorporate a wider supporting band of characters without drawing too much focus away from the titular pair.
The Burning Man, the most recent title, centres on a serial killer with an infatuation with fire. As the duo get embroiled in the case, they find there’s more to it than simple revenge or punishment, with their investigation taking them right back to the ancient traditions of Halloween and Guy Fawkes Night.
Fowler balances the historical elements with contemporary forensic science without patronising or alienating his readers. And despite the long-running series and established characters (this is the fourteenth consecutive title), a newcomer to the series, such as myself, can find themselves completely engrossed in The Burning Man as a stand-alone novel. Not that you’d want to enjoy it as a single read – I already want to catch up on its predecessors. And the best part is that as soon as I finished reading it on the bus yesterday evening, I opened up my Bloglovin feed to find that the next title will be published before the end of the year (I recently added Fowler’s blog to my Bloglovin list). So I’ve not got long to get through those books…
Order your copy of Bryand & May and The Burning Man from Amazon.
I hope you didn’t miss your stop! It’s actually the 12th volume, but I have a feeling I’ll get to the 14th very soon – and I’m very glad you enjoyed the book. I wouldn’t mind being in Cornwall just so I could finish a good read without tube train announcements every ten seconds…
Ah, there are so many titles on Amazon! I must admit I prefer reading on the bus to the train – less interruptions. Thanks for commenting!