Seventy-seven Clocks

by Christopher Fowler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an interesting story which chronicles the first case of the Peculiar Crimes Unit. It takes place in 1973.  Arthur Bryant and John May had been partners some time ago and they are now reunited as the PCU is given it's first quarters away from the Metropolitan Police as well as a small group of assistants who will comprise the unit. Before the paint dries on the walls they are knee deep in peculiar murders and the press as well as the Met are clamoring for answers. The Met seems to hope the unit will fail and the press is beginning to think them a foolish gesture.

The game is afoot when an apparent maniac dressed in Victorian clothes goes into a museum and defaces a painting of that era. Before he can be captured he blows up in a subway in an unusual manner. This is preceded by the bizarre murder of the family lawyer by a exotic snake bite. More deaths follow and Bryant and May are always one step behind. They are aided though by an intrepid young girl Jerry, who is intent on helping because she discovered two of the victims.

Bryant is an unusual mixture of  an old dog who can't learn new tricks and a almost genius recollection of the past. May, slightly younger is the more classic detective. It could be said that May looks to the future and Bryant doesn't want to lose the past and his mind seems to stay there.

The mystery is complex involving Victorian megalomaniacs as well and a gang of assassins some of who are reluctant. The plotting is intricate and intriguing, the pace is moderate and the story very enjoyable.