See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.

7 used & new from £1.96
See All Buying Options
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The House of Dust (Quintilian Dalrymple Crime Novels)
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

The House of Dust (Quintilian Dalrymple Crime Novels) (Paperback)

by Paul Johnston (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


1 new from £35.95 6 used from £1.96
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover 19 used & new from £0.60

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Water of Death

Water of Death

by Paul Johnston
3.0 out of 5 stars (5) 
The Bone Yard

The Bone Yard

by Paul Johnston
3.8 out of 5 stars (4) 
Body Politic

Body Politic

by Paul Johnston
3.2 out of 5 stars (6) 
The Last Red Death (Mira Direct and Libraries)

The Last Red Death (Mira Direct and Libraries)

by Paul Johnston
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £3.99
The Golden Silence (MIRA)

The Golden Silence (MIRA)

by Paul Johnston
3.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £3.99
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: New English Library Ltd; New edition edition (7 Feb 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0340766131
  • ISBN-13: 978-0340766132
  • Product Dimensions: 17.4 x 11.6 x 3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 365,042 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Product Description

Review
'Hugely entertaining... engagingly imagined' The Times on Body Politic; 'First-rate crime fiction with an original twist' Sunday Telegraph on The Bone Yard; 'Johnston brings an intelligent perspective to the dark excitement of the thriller' Nicholas Blincoe, Observer on Water of Death; 'This futuristic series is still refreshingly original and entertaining' Sunday Telegraph on The Blood Tree

Sunday Telegraph on THE BONE YARD
'First-rate crime fiction with an original twist'

See all Product Description

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below
(1)
(1)
(1)
See all 5 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The House of Dust (Quintilian Dalrymple Crime Novels)
54% buy the item featured on this page:
The House of Dust (Quintilian Dalrymple Crime Novels) 4.5 out of 5 stars (4)
The Last Red Death (Mira Direct and Libraries)
19% buy
The Last Red Death (Mira Direct and Libraries) 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£3.99
The Golden Silence (MIRA)
11% buy
The Golden Silence (MIRA) 3.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£3.99
Water of Death
10% buy
Water of Death 3.0 out of 5 stars (5)
Explore similar items
 

Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The best of Johnston's "Enightenment Edinburgh" series!, 21 Oct 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The House of Dust (Hardcover)
This is the fifth and, I believe, the best, of Paul Johnston's crime novel series set in a future Edinburgh founded on the political principles set forth of Plato's "Republic". (Following the argument advanced in Karl Popper's "The Open Society and Its Enemies", Johnston sees the realization of the "Republic" not as the wonderous utopia dreamed of by countless philosophers and classicists throughout the ages, but rather as a repressive and ultimately fascist state governed by ruthless and uncompromising leaders.) Johnston's vision of futuristic Edinburgh is bleak and depressing, his well drawn characters toughened by the dismal life in the "ideal state".

Like Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe and Ross MacDonald's Lew Archer, Johnston's "detective", one "Quint" Dalrymple, is an idealist made cynical by a corrupt and sinister reality, a sturdy individual with a healthy contempt for incompetent authority, but, in the final analysis, a man who lives according to his own unspoken principles.

"The House of Dust" is an excellent work of fiction. It portrays Dalrymple's quest for the truth (in a rather gruesome multiple-murder investigation), which takes him as far as the enterprising , business oriented "New Oxford" and all its ghoulish secrets. (Johnston's depiction of "New Oxford" is both extremely entertaining and profoundly disturbing: here Johnston once again embarks on an adventure into the realm of scathing social satire.) As for the plot of the novel, Johnston once again demonstrates his considerable skills as a story teller of the highest order.

I don't want to give away anything that will spoil reading this work for any readers. Let it suffice to say that this is a first rate novel that gives new meaning to the notion of individuals being ground to dust by the world of academe.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars an intelligent read, 25 Jan 2002
Having read the authors' other books, this one was the finest yet. Although in parts it did seem a little predictable (if you have read the other books), this was in no way detracts from from quite a few 'shocks' at the end of the book. A must read for all Quint Dalrymple fans, and I look forward to the next book. If the author reads this, 'Quint for public order guardian, perhaps'?
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars More twists and turns than a Rollercoaster, 16 Jul 2001
This review is from: The House of Dust (Hardcover)
Paul Johnston has once again delivered an enjoyable and thrilling read on the possible future of the UK. Johnston's writing gives a real 'sense of feeling' to the whole story, in the sense that the locations seem accurately described. Readers are kept guessing as to the identity of the murder or murderers', and rest assured this is one of the few books that you don't work out 'whodunnit', right till the end. The death of the guardian, leaves a whole new realm of possiblities open for any future books. Long may Paul Johnston continue with this series.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but...
Enjoyable, but I'm a little disappointed that the series has gone so much for Gothic grand guignol, instead of character and drama. Read more
Published on 29 Nov 2001

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

›Discover Health & Beauty

  

Up to 75% off Shoes

Shoe Clearance - 75% off Shoes
Save up to 75% on shoes for the whole family.

›Shop clearance shoes

  

Boys Smell

Lynx Africa Body Spray and After Shave Gift set
But we make sure they smell good...

›Discover male grooming at Amazon.co.uk

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates