City of Tiny Lights
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Review
Cool, slick and funny ... a delightfully mischievous tweaking of the downbeat, hungover gumshoe. Terrific (Independent )
A rollicking detective story ... keeps you guessing until the last page (Red )
A rare treat in a thriller ... A surprisingly touching book that demands at least one sequel (Daily Express )
In getting to the heart of the tensions that run through London's streets, City of Tiny Lights reimagines the modern city afresh (Metro )
A spry, ambitious thriller (Time Out )
Neate's books have a sparky loquacity that is funny and inventive (New Statesman )
A rollicking detective story ... keeps you guessing until the last page (Red )
A rare treat in a thriller ... A surprisingly touching book that demands at least one sequel (Daily Express )
In getting to the heart of the tensions that run through London's streets, City of Tiny Lights reimagines the modern city afresh (Metro )
A spry, ambitious thriller (Time Out )
Neate's books have a sparky loquacity that is funny and inventive (New Statesman )
Product Description
Meet Tommy Akhtar, Ugandan Asian cricket fan, devoted son, and not very successful private investigator with offices over his brother Gundappa's mini-cab firm in deepest West London.
He's just woken up from his hangover (combing the parting on his toungue) when his next case comes through the door. It looks like just another investigation when hooker Melody comes into his office asking him to find her co-worker, Natasha, last seen meeting new client at a bar in Shepherd's Market.
But as the search for Natasha intensifies, Tommy's world becomes increasingly sinister. He is drawn into a murder investigation, the criminal underworld, the world of fundamentalist religion and maybe even terrorist activities. Neate brilliantly explores the oddball underbelly and wierd cultural mix of London - The City of Tiny Lights - today and questions just what it really means to be British now.....
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Neate's lastest novel is an engaging take on the hard-boiled detective genre, albeit one that perhaps somewhat overextends itself just a bit to much to be considered a total knockout of a book. Set in contemporary London (with a minor excursion to the Lymington seaside), the book revolves around Tommy Akhtar. Now in his mid to late 30s, Tommy was born in Uganda to Indian parents who immigrated to England when Idi Amin came to power. But don't let his colorful background fool you (in his youth he fell in with some people at the local mosque and ended up killing Soviets in Afghanistan), he's a classic Chandleresque private eye. Alcoholic? Check. Chain-smoker? Check. Smart aleck? Check. Cynic? Check. Good-hearted? Check. Got a "friend" on the police force? Check. Poor family life? Check. Pursues interesting case even though he's finished what he was paid to do? Check.
It all kicks off when a hooker hires Tommy to track down her missing flatmate/partner, who apparently owes her money. By the time the book is over, this simple case will have spiraled out of control into a very complex situation involving the murder of a Minister of Parliament, a mysterious Russian, an alleged terrorist group, and a cadre of MI5 and CIA agents. Interwoven with this is background on Tommy's life and his relationship with his dodgy brother and whacked out artist father. When the story follows Tommy down the mean streets, doing his work, tracking down the missing girl, sneaking into hotel rooms, and bantering with the supporting characters, the book works very very well. Neate brilliantly catches the patter and rhythm of dialogue, from Tommy's father's stern scolding to the local Pakistani teenage rude boy's patois. Where the book is somewhat less successful is the convoluted plotting, especially once the intelligence agencies are brought into the thick of things and it all gets rather conspiracy-theoryish.
There's a lot to like in the book as Neate takes the reader along for a very colorful and often funny ride. One aspect that's very welcome is that Tommy is a private eye who takes a lickin' and comes away quite wobbly. It's a rare case of the detective getting roughed up and there being real consequences. Some American readers may have trouble deciphering some of the book's pervasive Brit-slang and there's are running references to cricket tactics, lore, and legends which will elude those not familiar with the sport. These minor quibbles aside, it's a pretty entertaining read that's unlike almost anything else out there in the crime genre. I'll definitely be going back to check out Neate's previous books.
Note: The cover of the U.S. paperback edition has an awesome playful cover illustration of London by design outfit "Eboy", whose work (including similar pixel panoramas of Berlin and Venice) is easily found online.
It all kicks off when a hooker hires Tommy to track down her missing flatmate/partner, who apparently owes her money. By the time the book is over, this simple case will have spiraled out of control into a very complex situation involving the murder of a Minister of Parliament, a mysterious Russian, an alleged terrorist group, and a cadre of MI5 and CIA agents. Interwoven with this is background on Tommy's life and his relationship with his dodgy brother and whacked out artist father. When the story follows Tommy down the mean streets, doing his work, tracking down the missing girl, sneaking into hotel rooms, and bantering with the supporting characters, the book works very very well. Neate brilliantly catches the patter and rhythm of dialogue, from Tommy's father's stern scolding to the local Pakistani teenage rude boy's patois. Where the book is somewhat less successful is the convoluted plotting, especially once the intelligence agencies are brought into the thick of things and it all gets rather conspiracy-theoryish.
There's a lot to like in the book as Neate takes the reader along for a very colorful and often funny ride. One aspect that's very welcome is that Tommy is a private eye who takes a lickin' and comes away quite wobbly. It's a rare case of the detective getting roughed up and there being real consequences. Some American readers may have trouble deciphering some of the book's pervasive Brit-slang and there's are running references to cricket tactics, lore, and legends which will elude those not familiar with the sport. These minor quibbles aside, it's a pretty entertaining read that's unlike almost anything else out there in the crime genre. I'll definitely be going back to check out Neate's previous books.
Note: The cover of the U.S. paperback edition has an awesome playful cover illustration of London by design outfit "Eboy", whose work (including similar pixel panoramas of Berlin and Venice) is easily found online.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A great read... This is a brilliant take on today's multi-cultural Britain. I felt as if I've known the main character, Tommy Akhtar, for years - although I still can't work out whether I like the guy or not! Don't normally read detective stories but glad I made an exception for this one, it had me captivated. It's got some hilarious one-liners and is an absolute must for cricket fans, too...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Tommy Akhtar describes himself as a 'Ugandan-Indian/ Paki/ immigrant/ Englishman' (p321) who also happens to be a Private Investigator working in Chiswick. He is approached by a prostitute, exotic Melody, to find her friend referred to as sexyrussian.co.uk. What follows is like a modern day Dashiell Hammett type story. Tommy gets caught up with pimps, dishonest police and a terrorist ring.
One of the main problems I had with this novel was the stereotypical dialogue. At times it really is cringe-making. Does every one under the age of 25 say 'you get me' every time they speak??
The story was a little thin as well and having worked myself up for an explosive ending, I felt a bit disappointed when the story just cut out before anything much happened.
Thin story and not that memorable. Sorry.
One of the main problems I had with this novel was the stereotypical dialogue. At times it really is cringe-making. Does every one under the age of 25 say 'you get me' every time they speak??
The story was a little thin as well and having worked myself up for an explosive ending, I felt a bit disappointed when the story just cut out before anything much happened.
Thin story and not that memorable. Sorry.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Hard to love
This was a fine read, but the characters were tough to love (with the exception of the main character's dad). Read more
Published 23 months ago by robotfish
Enjoyable Chandler pastiche
Tommy Akhtar is an ex-freedom fight/fundamentalist, hard-drinking, hard-nosed, hard-boiled, cricket-loving private eye. His best friends are Wild Turkey and Benson and Hedges. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2009 by Victor Ward
Hard-boiled in London
I'm a huge fan of the great hard-boiled detective stories: Chandler, Hammett and some of their modern counterparts. Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2009 by Mr. P. Roberts
Simply the best
My favourite book of the last year bar none, City Of Tiny Lights is a witty and iconoclastic take on multicultural Britain, which mixes gumshoe storytelling with hip slang and... Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2008 by Ali Capon
Characters better than plot
Ironic, provocative or simply subtle is what the main character wonders about his father. This could be applied to the whole book. Read more
Published on 7 Oct 2007 by P. G. Harris
Brilliant!
What distinguishes Patrick Neate's writing is his extraordinary ear for dialect. African voices, American voices, pigeon voices (! Read more
Published on 24 Aug 2005
A must read!
I've read all of Patrick Neate's books and, to this point, my favourite was Twelve Bar Blues. I have now, however, changed my mind. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2005 by Jeff Jones
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