The Lamplighter

I read this in one sitting, unable to put it down once I'd started. This was quite different than anything you'll read again, and sort of reminded me of The Testament of Gideon Mack. (If you haven't read that one, run, do not walk to your local bookstore and pick it up).

Anyway, it is a difficult book to review, but I'll give it a go.

Set in Edinburgh, during the reign of Queen Victoria, a group of highly-respected citizens are being killed off. The cases are being investigated on two fronts: first, by Professor Thomas McKnight of the University of Edinburgh and his friend Joseph Canavan, a cemetery caretaker; second, by the city police's Acting Chief Inspector Carus Groves. Groves spends much time considering how the actions he takes show more will be set down in his personal memoirs -- and I'm not sure why, but it seems like the author is poking fun at Groves' character and isn't sure whether he's a bumbler who lucks into things or a detective who's hot on the trail. Nevertheless, to get back to where I'm going, whoever is killing these people is capable of superhuman strength, but the only lead the police have is a young girl who works in a book shop named Evelyn. Evelyn, it seems, knows that the killings are happening because she dreams about them. She tells police that the culprit is someone named Leerie, who is a lamplighter, but she is written off as a crank. Basic outline of story. From there, the author delves into the realm of what I'd label fantasy cloaked in the mysterious and dark underpinnings of a gothic novel.

I spent a LOT of time after finishing the novel trying to understand exactly what the author had in mind here and came to my own conclusions. It wasn't easy. Be open minded as you read it.

So: the question is, into which category do I lump this book? Psychological suspense? Yes. Supernatural, yes. Gothic? Most definitely. Mystery, yes, but not your average historical mystery. It sort of rises above genre, if you want my opinion.

I can recommend it to people who don't mind supernatural tone in their novels; I can also recommend it to those who enjoy the realm of fantasy. As a mystery, it's so-so, but overall, a very good (but challenging) read. show less

It's Victorian Edinburgh and several well-known people in the area are dying. Inspector Carus Groves is assigned to the case and is hoping that this will prove what he sees as his superior investigative powers. He's baffled by the power of the murderer. He enlists the aid of Thomas McKnight a Professor of Logic and Metaphysics to help.

Evelyn Todd claims to have dreams of this and the questions start.

It's strange and surreal story and I did find it interesting. The descriptions of Edinburgh rang true and felt real, however the story didn't really work for me.

Non male l'inizio, originale lo svolgimento, e anche il colpo di scena verso la fine è notevole. Peccato però che la conclusione scada al livello di una specie di videogioco talmente esagerato e kitsch da apparire ridicola, affrettata e fuori posto, rovinando tutto e riducendo drasticamente il voto.

Un libro bello per 3/4, poi il disastro.
Inizialmente il libro riesce a catturare l'attenzione del lettore, poi nel finale non si capisce davvero cosa stia scrivendo l'autore o per meglio dire di cosa stia scrivendo l'autore.
Per buona parte del romanzo si ha la sensazione di vivere una storia alla Sherlock Holmes. Ambientazioni e personaggi sono davvero interessanti e ben delineati, tranne poi nel finale scadere nel puro fanta-horror e per giunta in maniera così rocambolesca e caotica da far venire voglia di smettere istantaneamente la lettura. Un vero peccato perchè è un libro scritto abbastanza bene e con dovizia di particolari.
Dispiace non poter dare le 4 stelle che avrebbe meritato se non ci fossero state le ultime 80 pagine show more davvero scadenti. show less

Ein merkwürdiges Buch - der Klappentext spricht noch von einem Thriller, aber das ist es bei weitem nicht. Vielmehr eine metaphysische Reise zu einem nicht wirklich lohnenswerten Ziel. Wirre Geschichte, komische Figuren, ansatzweise Spannung.

Insipide, un ramassis de clichés ne fait pas un livre.