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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I always pick 2 novels to take on my annual 2 week holiday and read one in each week ( I take my time). So this year I picked Past Mortem (along with You Are Here by Steve Horsfall). I have never read a book by Ben Elton before, but this blew me away - it's funny, touching and risque with a great comment on how the past catches us all up at some point ( centred in this case around the Friends Reunited phenomenom). The whodunnit leaves you guessing to the end. I read it in 2 days ( and You Are Here in 3). I'll need to buy more books next year!!!
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the book which started me reading Ben Elton again. My only previous experience of his novels had been "Gridlock" and "Stark" , which both had their moments, but were, to my mind, neither quite one thing nor the other. I was taken aback by the difference in the quality of writing between those two early novels, and this latest one. This is a one sitting book.
If you've read "Dead Famous" then its probably helpful if I tell you that "Past Mortem " does for the internet school reunion (a la Friends Reunited) phenomenon what "Dead Famous" did for the "Big Brother" phenomenon. Except that there's more murders in this, and they are far more inventive and gruesome. This is not a criticism.The different methods of the murders are essential to the narrative.
Without giving away too much of the plot, several rather horrible people are murdered. There seems to be nothing linking them, except that they have all been mentioned in messages on the Friends Reunited website.
I've already mentioned "Dead Famous" . One important difference in this story is that you are drawn far more into all the characters than in the earlier book. To be honest, I couldn't really have cared less about the three investigating detectives in the earlier novel. This is not true in "Past Mortem". All of the characters hold your interest. There is nothing slack or wasted here.
One word of warning. Of the several others of Elton's novels which I have read, I would say that , in terms of matters sexual, they are earthy, but not worryingly explicit. There is one scene in "Past Mortem" which is extremely graphic in its depiction of a sado masochistic sexual encounter. Actually its rather shocking, and quite funny at the same time, and it is certainly justified in terms of the development of the depiction of the two characters involved. But don't say that you haven't been warned.
So, this is, if anything, a darker Ben Elton - a less jokey ( although still very funny at times ) Ben Elton. I'm hooked.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A superb read, I could not put the book down, reading right through the night. I have tried to analyse why and how Ben Elton’s style of writing is so captivating, but I can’t tell you. By half way through the book, I had a good idea who the villain was, but there was always an element of doubt, which kept me burning the midnight oil.
There is a great interweaving of different story lines, the crimes with gruesome details, a love story, interesting characters and the sex. The sex – my father used to say
“You youngsters think you invented sex”
I’m now at the same age my fathers was when he made these remarks, and it’s true, youth must have invented sex, there are things in this book I had never dreamt of; but then again, I have lead a very sheltered life.
A truly enjoyable read.
There is a great interweaving of different story lines, the crimes with gruesome details, a love story, interesting characters and the sex. The sex – my father used to say
“You youngsters think you invented sex”
I’m now at the same age my fathers was when he made these remarks, and it’s true, youth must have invented sex, there are things in this book I had never dreamt of; but then again, I have lead a very sheltered life.
A truly enjoyable read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
I liked it but I didn't love it. A little disappointing.
The book starts off well with highly descriptive (though a little gruesome) scenes of murder, it has some great comedy moments and a lead character that pretty much everyone can... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jayne
Good social commentary, but...
Ben Elton's social commentary and attention to detail in Past Mortem was dead on as always, so that made for a good read. Read more
Published 8 months ago by David Blair
Not very good
I hadn't read any Ben Elton for a while, and then read First Casualty which I liked very much. So I bought this. It starts off very well, and is exciting. Read more
Published 9 months ago by B. Powell
Slightly disappointing
Ben Elton, whilst he is a gifted writer, fails at the 'whodunnit' genre. In this book (as in his others) the culprit's identity was blindingly obvious from the middle of the book... Read more
Published 17 months ago by B. Cohen-Brown
A Post Mortem on Past Mortem
Yesterday I finished Ben Elton's Past Mortem.
This followed two previous Ben Elton books - Blind Faith and Blast from the Past. Read more
This followed two previous Ben Elton books - Blind Faith and Blast from the Past. Read more
Published 19 months ago by A. Brown
Past Mortem - 5 Stars!
This, like a few other reviewers, was also my first Ben Elton book.
I wasn't sure what to expect. Read more
I wasn't sure what to expect. Read more
Published 21 months ago by N. McCusker
Quite predictable, though utterly enjoyble.
I didn't know Ben Elton at all before reading this book, so I have to admit that he's been an utter surprise for me. Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2009 by Alessandra F.
Captivating
A very good book. Captivating, intrigueing, sexy, with strong characters. A great read. It's not gritty reality and yes, I did guess the killer before the end, but stories are for... Read more
Published on 19 Nov 2007 by CH
Predictable
This is the 1st book by Ben Elton that I have read and from the begining it appears to be a well writen piece of work. Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2007 by cocosteel
You cannot be serious!!
I must say before the rest of this review that I listened to this on audio whilst I was at work and had no alternative - to all of you who enjoyed this book, please read Mark... Read more
Published on 9 Oct 2007 by Louise Giblin
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