Let’s start off the new year with a re-posted review of a really interesting book by one of my favorite authors!

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Holistic Detecting
(originally published on April 28, 2008)

I’ve been wanting to read DIRK GENTLY’S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY, as a big fan of detective novels and author Douglas Adams‘ HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE series, for some time. Having finally gotten ’round to reading it, I will say this.

The novel starts a bit shakily, but soon draws you in as you see Richard, the hapless computer geek protagonist, end up being sought by police in connection with a murder. Through a series of odd events, Richard is led to the offices of Dirk Gently (aka Svlad Cjelli, but let’s not get into all that, shall we?), who helps get to the bottom of things (which are far stranger and darker than Richard can imagine them to be) by, among other things, questioning Richard’s eccentric old university professor. Gently then goes on to save the human race from extinction.

How does the murder connect with the professor and the extinction of humankind? To say more would be to say way too much. Just know that the story has the usual mix of Adams’ surreal situations, satire and absurd humor, only with a dark edge that creates tension toward the end, but resolves in rather a muddle. It also includes quite a bit of computer-oriented and math/science speak that may put off some readers.

I liked it, but I’m an Adams fan. And would recommend the book for other fans.

It’s a bit of fun, really. And mostly harmless.

*******

There will be more original content to come. In the meantime, I urge you, “Don’t panic!”

Have a great weekend! Rock on!

PS: I’m offering my second Sam McRae mystery, Least Wanted, for free, on Amazon and Amazon UK, starting Saturday, Jan. 4 until Wednesday, Jan. 8.