Long, Dark Tea-time of the Soul by: Douglas Adams

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Rating: - Death of the Immortals

'The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul' is Douglas Adams 2nd Dirk Gently novel, following on from 'Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency', and this time sees Dirk investigating the explosive disappearance of his ex-secretary and the decapitation of his latest client. In many ways 'The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul' is a more straightforward novel than it's predecessor, with the main storyline concerning the immortal remnants of the Asgardian gods always being to the fore, though it's still fun watching Adams tie-up the disparate plot-threads using Dirk's holistic detective approach. Sadly one thing common it has with the first Dirk Gently novel is that after a hugely enjoyable build-up the novel ends with a disappointing 'blink and you'll miss it' climax, but the crucial fact that this appears to be an original novel rather than a conglomeration of Adams old Doctor Who scripts makes this ultimately the more enjoyable of the two novels.

Rating: - This is a hugely disappointing book.

Absolutely terrible! That is my honest opinion of this book. I read HHG and loved it, but this book was possible one of the worst I have read. If it hadn't been for Adams name on the cover I would have abandoned it after a few chapters. It read like something a school boy might write, or possibly J.K.Rowling. The humor can only be described as 'whacky', in that it tries to hard but is not actually funny, a bit like wearing odd socks and a bright dickey bow to seem funny. I feel many people have added stars simple due to the author and the fact that it was his last book. Unless your blinded by the name 'Douglas Adams' don't both with this offering.

Rating: - a holistically funny book!

Dirk Gently owns a 'holistic detective agency', believing that as all things are connected, seemingly random coincidences can solve a mystery. The mystery needing to be solved now involves a coke machine, disappearing- and re-appearing- norse gods, an american woman in england, a strange eagle that may have more to it than meets the eye, a private hospital for 'strange' cases, a demon with a contract, and, god forbid, LAWYERS.

The same, random, bizarre and genuinely funny humour from the writer of 'The HitchHikers Guide To the Galaxy' and while not as hysterical, incisive or purely brilliant as that series, is still a fantastic, and not wholly light-hearted piece of fiction.

Rating: - Alas the Final Dirk Gently Installment

Dirk returns to play out another thriller using his private detective powers and believing as he does in the "interconnectedness of all things"

Throwing in a number of inexplicable godly acts caused basically by a family fallout, startling weirdness and the very timely passing away of a lawyer this book takes you on a tour which you wont be able to fathom until the end.

There were times when I turned the page thinking "No, thats just plain wrong" "Or, nah, that cant be right"

But the book never fails to come good, maybe a few pages later, or maybe at the end, I felt myself thinking, "Ah - that explains it then" even to the most absurd explanations you can imagine! Douglas Adams makes weird normal.

It is also the only detective story I have ever read where, although being intertwined with the storyline from beginning to end and having a major part to play, the detective doesnt actually solve a case. Though his fridge has a part to play in making it a happy ending.

Anyone who likes Adams needs this book on their shelf, anyone else who likes to grin should give it a shot too.

Rating: - Wacky and Fun But Missing Something at the End

Kate Schechter should have taken the signs the universe was trying to give her. That's what she tells herself as she shows up at the airport for a trip to Norway in spite of all the warnings. Still, she is unprepared for the check in desk to be blown through the roof just after she misses her flight.

Meanwhile, Dirk Gently has hit a low. He has almost no money and no clients. Except the one he's forgotten about who promptly gets himself killed. Now Dirk feels responsible for not taking this guy's claims serious and wants to track down the green eyed monster. As if that weren't enough, he and his cleaning lady are having a war over who will open his fridge first, an out of order soda machine keeps appearing and disappearing, and he's being stalked by an eagle. What these seemingly unrelated events have to do with each other provides plenty of wacky entertainment.

I am still only mildly familiar with the books of Douglas Adams, and I simply must correct that. This fantasy novel was wonderfully strange and entertaining. The opening bits about the airport and Kate's trip had me laughing out loud. The laughs slowed down over the course of the book, but they were still plentiful. Maybe it's my normal reading of mysteries, but my only real complaint was an ending that was really more confusing then enlightening of what had gone on before.

This is a wonderful title sure to entertain. I must move more of his books higher up my to be read pile.

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