Wonderful conceit of setting a noir crime book in Aberystwyth, with druids instead of the mafia, and ice creams instead of booze... ( )

The second Louis Knight private eye book. I remember loving the first book. While this one was very much in the same vein as Aberystwyth Mon Amour, I didn't feel so strongly about it.
Technically, it was everything I expected it to be, everything I enjoyed from the first book. It was easy to read and difficult to put down. BUT it was lacking in something. I don't think it has anything to do with the deficiency of Malcolm Pryce as a writer. He is an excellent writer and takes on the genre superbly.
I think it's because the last books I read ahead of this were so outstanding, that I couldn't help but measure this book against them.
Pryce lacked the easy wit of Jasper Fforde and the heart-stopping story weaving of C.J. Sansom.
It's my own fault really... I really must stop comparing such different writers. ( )

Malcolm Pryce has two books with this Welsh town in the title. For a non-Welsh, let alone non-Brit, it is linguistic gymnastics (though it is actually phonetic) to say it. It's a cool sounding word. I read Aberystwyth, Mon Amour a few years ago and wasn't sure that I really understood everything that happened. I tend to read quickly and miss stuff. Pryce's plots tend to be complex and even incestuous in some cases, so you can't afford to drop a thread here and there like in some stories. I finished the book feeling vaguely as though I had missed something. I just finished the second one, Last Tango in Aberystwyth. Thankfully, it retells the story of Mon Amour far more simply than it actually occurred.
I actually followed the Last Tango much better, perhaps I was used to Pryce's style. Definitely a good story, lots of twists and surprises that seemingly come out of nowhere. If you enjoy Jasper Fforde, Pryce is of a similar vein.
Originally posted March 26, 2005

I really struggled to read this book; I found it too surreal in places to really keep up with what was going on. I had heard great reviews about it, so I was let down when I read it myself. I did persevere with it, which was a good thing, as it did improve as I continued and I must admit some sections were quite amusing. But overall it felt a bit like some great in-joke that I was not privy to and thus couldn't join in with. If you have trouble sleeping, this might well help!! ( )