Exactly what I would expect from the talented Chris Brookmyre

 

5 stars

Though I know, and have enjoyed, Chris Brookmyre's previous works, this is my first outing with daredevil journalist Jack Parlabane. What a joy to drop into a series well underway and find a new (to me) series worth exploring!

I can say popping in without previous awareness of Jack's backstory and historical (mis)deeds has not limited my enjoyment one bit and, actually, found this quite a good place to start. We learn a lot of Jack's early years through the main plot regarding the Maskyns, a dynastic family who first came into importance with a tv series called the Imaginators in the 60s. In Quite Ugly One Evening Jack is set on the path of a shadowy figure who was once loosely linked to the Maskyns so he joins a celebrity cruise for fans of the series. Here, he encounters all sorts from the wide cast of the Maskyn family to super fans, MAGA followers and those with darker intentions. Chris Brookmyre's political views are clear and slathered on rather heavy-handedly so no mistaking his position. Regardless, the exposé on the destructive culture war is spot on. 

Quite Ugly One Evening was everything I want in a locked room mystery and Jack is a diverting guest to this particular one set on the high seas. The characters are all uniquely interesting and varied, the plot is deliciously twisty and well executed. I did suss out the murderer but clocking it did not diminish my enjoyment of the story. Classic Chris Brookmyre that simply cannot disappoint, I loved it.