A bit of fluff sums this up nicely. Gratuitouos sex scenes and debauchery abound, and supporting characters are as strange as can be.
Helpful Score: 2
Portrait painter, secret agent, equally willing to debauch beautiful members of either sex, Lucifer Box jumps, runs, flies, takes a hack from one outrageous situation to another. He would be entertaining at a dinner party, he might be fun for a roll in the hay, but you should never to trust him with your secrets or your cash. If you like outrageous conspiracies and mad geniuses with infernal devices, Lucifer Box might show you a good time.
Helpful Score: 2
The story ended with some neat twists, while some areas were a bit difficult to get through, it kept me going to the end. I can't say I've ever really put a book down without finishing though; kind of a completion junkie like that. Mostly thrown by the setting so far in the past though that did bring some interest as well - a glimpse to the old days so to speak.
A little risque in parts but nothing too explicit. Lots of action - probably more enjoyable for someone who really likes well drawn out action scenes - similar to how I imagine a James Bond would read.
A little risque in parts but nothing too explicit. Lots of action - probably more enjoyable for someone who really likes well drawn out action scenes - similar to how I imagine a James Bond would read.
Helpful Score: 1
Funny and charming, this is the story of secret-agent-cum-portraitist Lucifer Box, he of the thin, white hands. From beautiful Bella Pok to the impudent Charlie Jackpot, he has those hands full of spirited companions and dangerous enemies. Much recommended.
Charlie M. (bookaddicted) -
Reading this book was like eating crab legs...a whole lot of work for just a morsel. It meanders and mixes styles to the point I wasn't sure if it was a mystery, a farce or science fiction. There is some potential for this author but, he really needs to find a style and stick with it.
Written with Mark Gatiss' usual wit, this book made me laugh aloud several times. Imagine a novel written by the offspring of Oscar Wilde and PG Wodehouse, and you might come close. This book makes me want to crawl into Mr. Gatiss' brain and see what other awesomeness lies therein. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series!
Tragically Not Funny.
Tragically, because I love Mark Gatiss, and love much of his work. ("The League of Gentleman" in small doses, so I suppose I Should Have Been Warned.)
This seems to be one of those books where the Author is having a lot more fun than the Reader. It might also have been a lot funnier as a TV programme or movie -- with talented people doing the broad shtick, and no phonetic rendering of funny accents, and NO TRAGICALLY UNFUNNY NARRATION, I can see it being a good laugh, in the style of "League of Gentlemen" ...
This is also one of those books that Einstein could have used to illustrate Time Dilation, because the more I read it, the further away the last pages seemed to get, and the more time literally slowed down. If I had been willing to put up with it, it is possible that I might have lived forever. But trust me, it wasn't worth it ...
Tragically, because I love Mark Gatiss, and love much of his work. ("The League of Gentleman" in small doses, so I suppose I Should Have Been Warned.)
This seems to be one of those books where the Author is having a lot more fun than the Reader. It might also have been a lot funnier as a TV programme or movie -- with talented people doing the broad shtick, and no phonetic rendering of funny accents, and NO TRAGICALLY UNFUNNY NARRATION, I can see it being a good laugh, in the style of "League of Gentlemen" ...
This is also one of those books that Einstein could have used to illustrate Time Dilation, because the more I read it, the further away the last pages seemed to get, and the more time literally slowed down. If I had been willing to put up with it, it is possible that I might have lived forever. But trust me, it wasn't worth it ...
New...very funny
