A book about a vinyl detective, doesn’t seem exciting, but this book is full of intrigue and action, you will fall in love with the characters within a few sentences of being introduced, and then you will be invested. Once invested, you’ll be hooked. **Spoilers** And the characters in this book are just spectacular. Nevada and Agatha are two of my favorite female characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading (and I maintain that Gail Ann Dorsey should play the latter if this ever gets adapted for the screen), and every book brings around a new cast of characters that are wildly interesting. The Blue Tits reminded me so much of The Slits, and to center the story around a female punk band just makes my little feminist heart sing. I loved the clear send-up of the Pistols on the Bill Grundy show in the 70s, and the phrase “Goat Aid” is not one I was expecting to read, but I’m hilariously amused that I did. Five stars all around, as per usual. Geographically, I do try and do fairly scrupulous research and use real locations. Since I’ve established my heroes as living in my own neighbourhood, that is generally pretty easy (the low hanging fruit principle again), but they do also go roving further afield. And when they do, I’ll research the area, at the very least on Google Maps. If possible, I will visit the locations. My most recent Vinyl Detective novel, Low Action, had to be written in a hell of a hurry, so I set it around Epsom in Surrey. This isn’t far from London, where I live, and I had friend who was a local there who very helpfully drove me around to scout locations. This gave rise to some terrifically vivid sequences in interesting and memorable places. Overall, I think Low Action is the best book in the Vinyl Detective series so far. It has all the the things that made the previous books so enjoyable (cats, humour, music nerdiness, cats, coffee, quirky characters, cats) while at the same time improving on the one outstanding criticism I had with them: believability. It is a long book split into two halves. Why? Because there are two distinct stories within this one book, both surrounding the same characters. If you like there are two distinct cases which the vinyl detective takes on, all be it that they are connected.

The fact that the newest Vinyl Detective novel came at such a perfect time that it’s the book that finished off my reading goal for the year is maybe the best thing that’s happened to me in weeks. Erik Make Loud's new girlfriend Helene Hilditch was a member of the pioneering all girl punk bank The Blue Tits. There have been attempts to kill her and in desperation they turn to the Vinyl Detective for help and to find an original copy of their first album which was pulled for being too good. At first, I wasn’t sure about the two halves approach, but actually it makes much more sense than to separate the story into two books. The two halves are one and the same story. AC: “I mentioned how science fiction was the first stuff I loved to read. As I became a teenager, though, my tastes broadened and I began reading crime fiction, particularly I guess what you’d call hardboiled crime stories, and mainstream fiction — even the sort of literary stuff I rather lambasted above. (For instance, I gamely worked my way through the novels of Thomas Pynchon, including Gravity’s Rainbow). My heroes in crime fiction were (and remain now) John D. MacDonald, Thomas Harris, Raymond Chandler and, as you so astutely note, Dashiell Hammett. Hammett is a big influence with his elegantly pared down prose style and his deeply cynical sense of humour.One of the most innovative concepts in crime fiction for many years. Once you are hooked into the world of the Vinyl Detective it is very difficult to leave.” Nev Fountain The Vinyl Detective is one such true enthusiast. He is a true record geek whose trawls of second hand stores and record fairs are a major feature of each of the 5 novels to date. But far from being the conventional anorak loner his interests have helped him to build a series of wonderful relationships with a fascinating bunch of characters Imagine my surprise as I started to gather my thoughts for this review I found that a 6th book is scheduled for release on 5/17/22 a day shy of my 70th birthday celebration. Huh... Plot: When one of his cats accidentally discovers a rare Victory Disc, the Vinyl Detective and his girlfriend, Nevada, are whisked into the world of big band swing music and a mystery that began during the Second World War. The adventure for The Vinyl Detective then begins with a birthday present. A birthday present from Nevada to Tinkler, a birthday present which was found, where else, a charity shop.

This is the fifth volume in The Vinyl Detective series, and I found it to be as entertaining as the previous four. The central character, still unnamed, is a record collector but has developed a sideline as an actual detective. The stories usually revolve around the search for a record, which triggers a series of unfortunate events. Often murder. Usually murders. Plural. There are some genuine ‘ laugh out loud’ aspects to the book and at one point, I actually found myself welling up. It is well written with believable characters who you find yourself loving and hating. On the train on the way home, I continued to read and I was not disappointed. This story is simple in its essence, but actually really good. There are so many twists and turns, surprises and unusual, elements to this story. A good old fashioned mystery. Not gritty, but who cares when it's so much fun, with suspects coming from everywhere - music industry, TV industry, even Helene's school as a child. AC: “When I finished the book I realised it was overlong and I quite ruthlessly excised about 30,000 words. Once I’d done that I was satisfied with it. So it was ready about five years before it was actually published — but that’s just the nature of the business.I had strongly considered taking the off-ramp from The Vinyl Detective saga after book 4, but was a) in the mood for another silly romp, b) intrigued by the mention of a cameo by a character from the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch, which I follow ardently.

My only real gripe was the weird pronunciation of some words by the man reading the book, for example, “Percy-phone” said in all seriousness, rather than “Per-seff-oh-knee”It came to me from my father-in-law. He said he thought I’d be interested in this book, “The VInyl Detective,” because it was about collecting records and I love records. “He solves crimes and is really into jazz,” is what I remember him telling me. The Vinyl Detectives’ love of good coffee, good food, and fine wine are developed more throughout this book as are his relationships with Nevada, Tinkler, Clean Head, and Stinky. It is these relationships that provide the relevant depth and keep you reading/listening.