Simon Kurt Unsworth

Unsworth has created an intricate and gorgeously detailed portrait of hell and its inhabitants in this book, but that's truly nothing compared to his character work and storytelling. Thomas Fool, one of Hell's so-called Information Men, is a character that one can't help but be entranced by. He's sympathetic and engaging while being helplessly stuck in a job that's as important as it is chaotic and difficult. More than that, he's utterly believable. And the story itself, intricate and show more fast-paced, is all the more powerful because of Unsworth's talent for otherworldly detail and twists.

All told, I fell into this book and loved it, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I could not tell you what genre it is, but in all sincerity, it doesn't matter. This is a fun, gorgeous ride of a book that doesn't shy away from real meaning and big questions, and it's absolutely worth reading.

Recommended. show less

This one took me a lot longer to read than normal, but I'm not sure why. I was engaged in it, I enjoyed it, but it just took awhile. My point is, it sure as hell wasn't due to the quality.

This is—and I say this rarely—a much better story than the first novel. It's one of the few times I've seen an author absolutely fearless in doing everything bad to their hero, and Unsworth does it with a mad glint in his eye.

This series takes place in Hell...so it should be hellish. And Unsworth show more delivers. But the real shocker here, is when the action moves to Heaven. I won't spoil anything, but let's just say it's a completely unique and fascinating look at that world, too.

But in the last third of the book, it just shines. The action, the pathos, the twists and turns....honestly, this book couldn't really have delivered more.

In fact, I just talked myself into a 5-star review. show less

Satan’s gumshoe

The Devil’s Detective: A Novel by Simon Kurt Unsworth (Doubleday, $25.95).

Don’t dismiss The Devil’s Detective, Simon Kurt Unsworth’s debut novel, as just some more horror fiction—not that there’s anything wrong with a good scary book. But Unsworth has something extra here: a broad swath of originality in his premise, some first-rate world-building, a light touch with satire and the good sense to mix it up where genre is concerned.

The title tells you how Thomas show more Fool is employed. He’s an Information Man, assigned to investigate and report to his employer—the boss in Hell. In essence, it’s noir horror, Sam Spade in Hades, but that’s simply too reductive to stick. First, people aren’t supposed to die in Hell–already dead, right?–but when they do, no one investigates. The place is full of punishment, but justice and law enforcement are not on the demonic agenda.

But then, of course, an out-of-the-ordinary-bloodshed murder occurs, right as a delegation of obviously important people are on–er, under–the ground. Thomas can’t remember anything about his life, but he’s got an apparently unquenchable thirst for justice that leads him to uncover a conspiracy in the hottest of hot zones.

From his sideways hits at bureaucracy to his genuine compassion for the damned, Unsworth is really onto something here, which is good for all the fans he’s going to have as soon as they read this book.

Reviewed on Lit/Rant: www.litrant.tumblr.com show less

On one level, this a damn fine example of 'supernatural noir', an inspired blend of dark-fantasy and gumshoe grit a la John Constantine. The scenario is superb (hell's gone to, well, hell in a handbasket) and the bewildered titular detective is the very definition of the three-time loser (as he must be. He's in hell, after all).

It works as a proper murder mystery with plenty of clues so you can spot the bad guy fairly early on. It's also beautifully bleak and grittily grim. Author Unsworth show more paints in many shades of relentless grey, and isn't scared of throwing all types of distasteful bodily excretions into the mix. It's emotionally and verbally explicit, and utterly engaging.

SPOILER ALERT! Abandon hope, etc, if you choose to read on.



On another level (you'd have to check with Dante which circle it might possibly be), you can also read this book as a metaphor for the rise of fascism in the 1930s. Equally, it's an extremely apposite commentary on the current trend to subjugate social and personal liberties for the sake of state security.

Either way, it's a damned (geddit?) fine read. When's the next one out?
8/10 show less