Hugh Laurie

I wanted to buy The Gun Seller even before I saw the author's name or read the synopsis - I was hypnotized by its bright comic-book-like cover. Then I saw that it was written by Hugh Laurie, and I was like, "Holy crap! House wrote a book!" How could that be bad? In The Gun Seller, Thomas Lang is an ex-British army guy who's approached to assassinate a big-name American financier. He refuses the offer and intends to warn his victim instead...which decision catapults him into an international show more arms conspiracy. While the book does have a fairly serious political message, it reads more like a pastiche of the spy/espionage genre, with Lang as the perfect film-noir narrator. My favorite aspect of this book was the humor - laugh-out-loud moments galore. I'd definitely recommend this book even if you hate spy novels, but get it from the library before you buy it. show less

Someone has tried to hire Thomas Lang to kill an American industrialist, but he is not a killer. He is however, newly retired from the Scots Guard and a freelance soldier of fortune. Lang decides to warn the potential victim and meets his daughter Sarah Wolfe. He can take care of himself in any situation, except ones involving Sarah. Using her big gray eyes and Fleur de Fleurs perfume, she lures him into a convoluted scheme involving the CIA, the British Defense Ministry, a terrorist cell, show more and a highly advanced military helicopter.

I heard in an interview that Hugh Laurie was trying to write a journal, but he thought his life was to boring so he decided to turn it into a spy thriller. I couldn't help but imagine Laurie as the main character. He added things to Lang's personality that he enjoys in his reality; like riding motorcycles. Lang starts off as awkward but becomes more self possessed and in control by the end of the story.

This book is a funny take on the spy novel. The characters are what you would expect in a thriller; the feme fatale that draws the hero into trouble, the dependable good girl (he really should be with) the rich foreign financier, and the gung-ho American military man. There are many plot twists, surprises and witty asides. I had a problem with one aspect of the ending (how did the hero get the villain to the roof?) but other than that it was a slam-bang finale. show less

Americans are most likely to know Hugh Laurie as the star of House. Which, great as he is in that, is kind of a shame, because if that's the only place you know him from, you've missed out on his long, hilarious career as a comic actor. And it turns out he's just as funny as a novelist, too, because this crazy spy thriller is written with a droll, pitch-perfect wit that makes pretty much every page a delight to read. Mind you, the plot is completely ridiculous, being convoluted and contrived show more and based on an idea that's pure tin-hat conspiracy theory. Which wouldn't be a problem, really, except that it was written in 1996, and its flippant, dated depiction of terrorism reads a lot more uncomfortably now than it would have then.

Rating: It's a little hard to decide how to rate this, but, hell, it's not Hugh Laurie's fault 9/11 happened, and even with some discomfort about that niggling in the back of my head, I still enjoyed it a lot. So I'm going to call it 4/5. show less

I love Hugh Laurie (as Bertie Wooster and Dr. Gregory House) and this novel is full of witty one-liners and humorous internal dialogue. Thomas Lang is a hapless former soldier for the British who turns down an offer of significant money to kill a wealthy American in the gun-selling business. Lang feels obligated to warn the intended victim and instead finds himself attracted to the man's daughter and embroiled in a plot of international intrigue and deceit. The storyline is rather confusing show more and the humor wanes a bit toward the end as a serious resolution is worked out. Similar to Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell but not as gory nor as compelling. show less