Not as good as The Vesuvius Club, or as well written. It makes a few hours pass, that's about it. ( )

Fun period pastiche of half a hundred things—from the pulp novels of the 20s and 30s, to James Bond, to the Da Vinci Code—which doesn't have quite the energy and verve of its predecessor, but which compensates for that with better pacing. This is not a life-changing book by any means, but as two hours of bonkers bisexual spy caper escapism (Lucifer Box "rides the number 38 bus as well as the number 19", as he puts it), it's well worth the read. ( )

This was my introduction to Mark Gatiss' "Lucifer Box" series. While I enjoyed the book, with it's bisexual bon vivant main character, the overall story line was a bit silly. The action is non-stop even if unbelievable. Lucifer Box is a likable personage, which helps keep the story moving. The style is somewhat "British mystery meets Benny Hill" with its wacky names for characters, outlandish plots, and bad puns, but it works as a good chuckle. All in all, a light read for summer. ( )

Lucifer Box is such a wonderful anti-hero who must be admired as much for his instinct of self-preservation and propensity to scream in fright as for his derring-do. Gatiss's novel is at once utterly silly (conjuring the devil) and poignant (the aging anti-hero mourning the loss of lovers and friends in the Great War), but interestingly not inconsistent. The only way to describe this book is "jolly good fun"! ( )

Another romp with Lucifer Box. This one isn't quite as opulent as the first book, but then it is set in much later, after the ravages of WWI. However, Box is no less naughty In this novel. Lots of fun. ( )

I read this in a back to back book joined with Mark Gatiss's first Lucifer Box novel 'Vesuvius Clus@'.

I enjoyed both books, very funny main character who is a bit of a dandy, sleeping with anyone he can find and having all sorts of jolly fun while he manages to save the world. Great holiday read. ( )

Another camp romp starring Lucifer Box, this time set in the 1930s. Lovely parody of the Dennis Wheatley novels I devoured as a young teen. ( )

An old school ripping yarn - this book has spies, murder, double crossing and derring do and the Devil just to add spice. I'll definitely have to read the Vesuvius Club now. ( )

http://nomiddlename.blogspot.com/2008... ( )

http://www.austcrimefiction.org/node/... ( )

Meh. There's only so far my Doctor Who completist demons will make me follow Gatiss's writing career. The Lucifer Box series is /okay/ I guess, but not sufficiently stand-out enough for me to turn to it in future in preference to the wealth of other reads I've got stacked up. Also, without wishing to appear homophobic, the constant guy-on-guy action just doesn't interest me and as such is a bit off-putting. ( )

Somewhat disappointing after the somewhat Bond-like frivolity of the first Lucifer Box novel. There we had a suitably outrageous villain, complete with a base inside a volcano. The fantasy was based on people doing and being outrageous things and I enjoyed the escapism.

In contrast, the fantasy here has changed to some kind of bizarre hammer horror devil summoning cult. Which, for me at least, was just a bit too dark and not quite silly enough. There was plenty of intrigue, plotting and double-crossing which I did appreciate, don't get me wrong. But somehow it all just got overshadowed by the overblown ending, which just didn't work for me at all. I fear this may be my last Lucifer Box read. ( )

The Devil in Amber by Mark Gatiss is the second novel to feature Lucifer Box, agent of the British Crown, dandy, bon vivant and serial romancer. Where the last book was set in the late Victorian period, this one features an older Box in the period between the Wars, when he’s starting to feel his age a bit. If you’ve read the first book (The Vesuvius Club) this is unashamedly more of the same – it’s silly, over the top, full of bad puns, decadent and absurd – and a lot of fun. If you object to the sort of book where characters have names like “Percy Flarge” and “Professor Reiss-Muller”, then it’s probably not going to be for you, but if you want something completely silly to immerse yourself in for a few hours, then this’ll do just fine. ( )

Another wonderful romp with the fabulous Lucifer Box. A real page turner that keeps one hand gripping the seat. ( )