The Comedy Club Mystery by Peter Bartram (Deadline Murder #3), Review
The Comedy Club Mystery is a Crampton of the Chronicle adventure, the third title in author Peter Bartram’s Deadline Murder Series.
The Comedy Club Mystery Synopsis
Murder has never been such fun…
When theatrical agent Daniel Bernstein sues the Evening Chronicle for libel, crime reporter Colin Crampton is called in to sort out the problem.
But trouble escalates when Bernstein turns up murdered. Colin discovers that any of five comedians competing for the chance to appear on a top TV show could be behind the killing.
As Colin and his feisty girlfriend Shirley Goldsmith investigate, they encounter a cast of colourful characters – identical twin gangsters, an Irishman who lives underground, and a failed magician’s assistant.
And it’s not long before their own lives are in peril as they battle to crack a code that will lead to a fortune. Join Colin and Shirley for a rollercoaster of an adventure in Swinging Sixties England – where the laughs are never far from the action.
“Superbly crafted and breezy as a stroll along the pier, this Brighton-based murder mystery is a delight.” — Peter Lovesey, Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger winner
(The Bartram Partnership, May 2019)
Genre: Mystery, Crime-Detective, Humour, Adventure, Historical
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BOOK REVIEW
Late last year we welcomed author Peter Bartram to share how his long-running character Colin Crampton and his ‘Crampton of the Chronicle’ Mysteries came about. Now, at long last Colin Crampton and I have become better acquainted after I spent a delightful few hours reading Bartram’s latest release, The Comedy Club Mystery.
Firstly, do not judge this book by its very slim price tag… This is a quality offering, from a talented writer that has honed his craft.
Even the stiffest upper lips will be won over by lead Colin Crampton. Unflappable under fire, never short of quick-witted repartee and a good-natured wisecrack… he’s the clever underdog (a fox terrier) many have made the mistake of betting against.
What made Pinker’s problem worse for me was the fact it involved theatricals. They flounced around and called each other “darling”. And they never paid for their round in the pub.
Colin’s Australian girlfriend Shirley knows she’s got a diamond in the rough. And luckily for Colin, she is far more than just a pretty face — handy in a stoush and with a smart mouth to boot.
In addition to a narrative filled with charmingly corny quips, vividly drawn characters and whimsical descriptors such as “a thick carpet which sighed with pleasure when you walked on it”, Bartram skilfully delivers one of the most complex yet fun mystery plots I’ve read in years. The experience much like one of those murder mystery games.
I was thoroughly entertained by Peter Bartram’s The Comedy Club Mystery. A highly recommended read.
BOOK RATING: The Story 4.5 / 5 ; The Writing 4.5 / 5 — Overall 4.5
Get your copy of The Comedy Club Mystery, Deadline Murder Series from:
About the Author, Peter Bartram
Peter Bartram brings years of experience as a journalist to his Crampton of the Chronicle crime mysteries. Peter began his career during a “gap year” between school and university when he worked as a reporter for a local newspaper. After graduating from the London School of Economics, Peter resumed his life as a journalist working for newspapers and magazines in London.
Peter has done most things in journalism – from door-stepping for quotes to writing serious editorials. He’s covered stories in locations as different as 700-feet down a coal mine and Buckingham Palace. He’s edited newspapers and magazines and written 20 non-fiction books. As a ghost-writer of non-fiction, his clients have included a member of parliament, an Arab businessman, and an IT entrepreneur.
* Receiving a copy for review purposes did not impact the expression of my honest opinions.
