Yes, you read that right. I’ve actually read a mystery novel. I can’t believe it either tbh.
You guys know I prefer books that are either Contemporaries, or Fantasy (in all shapes and forms). SO WHAT HAPPENED HERE??? WHY DID I READ A MYSTERY NOVEL??? ME OF ALL PEOPLE???
Well, back when I first started out on Netgalley, I requested (and was approved for) Geekerella. I was SO excited that I just had to check out which other books Quirk Books had to offer—and Ten Dead Comedians caught my eye!
I don’t usually read mysteries but the synopsis caught my eye, and I felt like this would be a nice change to what I usually read!
Did the book live up to my expectations? Was it actually a nice change? Or did this book scare me off from the mystery genre forever? You’ll have to read my review to find out* 😛
*oh my god, could I get anymore annoying
Ten Dead Comedians by Fred Van Lente
“Fred Van Lente’s brilliant debut is both an homage to the Golden Age of Mystery and a thoroughly contemporary show-business satire. As the story opens, nine comedians of various acclaim are summoned to the island retreat of legendary Hollywood funnyman Dustin Walker. The group includes a former late-night TV host, a washed-up improv instructor, a ridiculously wealthy “blue collar” comic, and a past-her-prime Vegas icon. All nine arrive via boat to find that every building on the island is completely deserted. Marooned without cell phone service or wifi signals, they soon find themselves being murdered one by one. But who is doing the killing, and why?
A darkly clever take on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and other classics of the genre, Ten Dead Comedians is a marvel of literary ventriloquism, with hilarious comic monologues in the voice of every suspect. It’s also an ingeniously plotted puzzler with a twist you’ll never see coming!”
// July 11th 2017 by Quirk Books (OUT TODAY!) //
Goodreads / Amazon US / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble
*I received an ARC from Quirk Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way!*
In Ten Dead Comedians, a text by popular comedian Dustin Walker goes out to 10 comedians (duh), inviting them on a private island to work on a new comedy project together. But when they get there, Dustin is nowhere to be found, they have no cell reception and therefore no way to get off the island and they’re getting killed off one by one.
It’s sounds like quite a story, doesn’t it? I’m not usually into mysteries but the plot sounded very intriguing so I thought I’d give it a chance!
The first chapter starts with all 9 comedians getting the text aka 9 DIFFERENT POVs – I was already confused after the third comedian was introduced and I thought to myself “Oh no, this is exactly why I don’t like multiple POVs!” but I still continued on.
Thankfully, it was told from third person and not from first person because I don’t think I would have been able to distinguish the characters! I mean, it wasn’t really off to a good start and I still felt myself getting confused throughout pretty much the first half of the book!
There were 10 different characters but they were all comedians and it was really hard to keep up with them! None of them had a strong personality, a defining character trait or something about their looks that would help distinguish one from the other – instead no one really stood out to me!
This is going to sound weird but the more comedians died, the easier it was for me to familiarize myself with the characters and to really get who was who. Since there were fewer people, it was a lot easier to remember their names and know what their personality was like. I kept confusing everyone in the beginning of the book and even forgetting some characters!
The plot had its good and its bad moments – I always liked when a comedian was about to die (this sounds so WEIRD I’M SORRY BUT IT WAS EXCITING) because there were so many creative and unexpected ways to die and all these hidden traps! Being someone who doesn’t really read mysteries, it was so intriguing!
I especially liked the ending of the book! I was so stunned when everything was revealed because it was so unexpected! And I loved the process of the mystery being uncovered and figured out by the remaining characters! It’s such a plot twist when you find out who the murderer is and how everything was planned and executed! I really liked that I was surprised and it wasn’t easy to guess at all!
The very last paragraph was so lovely as well and when I finished reading the last few lines, I was left with a good feeling (I can’t really explain but it was NICE!).
What I really didn’t like was the ending of each chapter. After every chapter, there would be a comedic act/performance of one of the comedians – for what reason, I don’t really know (comedic effect maybe?) – but I didn’t find them funny AT ALL and I didn’t care so I always skipped them!
As someone who doesn’t read a lot of mysteries and therefore having nothing to compare it to, I found Ten Dead Comedians to be very enjoyable! I’m not sure if it’s for the “die-hard” fans of the mystery genre but I felt like it was well-done and the plot twist was something that nobody could have expected (even the die-hard fans *winks*).
⭐⭐⭐.5 (3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS)
Do you like to read mysteries? What is your favourite mystery book of all time? Do you enjoy reading books with multiple POVs or not? Let’s chat in the comments!
This is a terribly cute review! My mother LOVES mysteries so I know all about them and watch crime shows all the time (especially the ones from Britain)… I love how you were excited by the murders… then skipped the comedian performances! Lovely review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you haha! I’ve never really been into crime shows but I know that a lot of people love them! Which ones are your faves? 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
British ones! Watching Shetland now set on an island north of Scotland. Perez is pretty great! Also Swedish Wallander is super good…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review! It sounds very interesting! I know what you mean about multiple povs, it can get incredibly confusing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Agreed, I only really like them when it’s done well and the characters each have a distinctive voice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the candidness of your review…based on the review this sounds like a spin on Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None…is it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! Yes, I’ve seen a lot of people on Goodreads mention that!! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice review! This is not really my cup of tea but it does sound interesting! I enjoy multiple POVs but only if there are less than four POVs. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! 😊 Agreed! I think 4 Povs is more than enough!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I’ve heard of this one! I think this one has a lot of mixed thoughts but it sounds vaguely interesting? And WHOA 9 POVs is a little far out there. XD It’s so awkward when people make comedic jokes but you don’t get them???
Also no books appeal to me rn because freaking Illuminae.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeaaaahhh I think most people on GR gave it like 3 stars because they read the Agathe Christie (is that the name?) book that inspired this one and apparently it’s not THAT well done haha XD
SAME I KEEP THINKING ABOUT EZRA AND KADY LIKE LAST NIGHT I HAD A DREAM THAT I WAS AT THE HYPATIA
LikeLiked by 1 person
(AgathA Christie.) And ohhh, I see.
OMG REALLY THAT’S GREAT. I dreamed this weird thing with Ares and me trying to find him but also hide from him??? I AM STILL DAMAGED BY WONDER WOMAN OKAY
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha is Ares a character in Wonder Woman??? I haven’t seen it yet 👀
LikeLike
Ooh, a new take on an Agatha Christie! That sounds amazing! So glad you posted about this one. It’s super intriguing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay I’m glad you think so! I’ve never read anything by Agatha Christie but she seems amazing! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve read a couple of her books, but it’s been a LONG time. I did love them though! So I’m totally captivated by this story idea. Sounds like so much fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review! Sounds very intriguing! I do like a good plot twist 🙂
I nominated you for the Unique Blogger award 🙂 No obligation to participate but if you’d like to check it out, it’s here: Unique Blogger Award
Jo-Ann
LikeLiked by 1 person