- Hardcover: 391 pages
- Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd; hardcover edition (3 Jun 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0340717033
- ISBN-13: 978-0340717035
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 16.2 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,193,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The classic noir private eye is someone whose life orbits around the violent and macabre--normality defies their raison d'être. Such is life for Quintilian Dalrymple, the blues-haunted hero of Paul Johnston's dystopian future, Water of Death.
By 2025, Britain has split into independent city-states, with Edinburgh as the "perfect city." Everything from electricity to sex is rationed, and a zero crime level has been achieved at the cost of individualism. "Quint" is a quintessential PI, whose existence is justified by sudden violence and relegated to the dregs when the effects of global warming hit Edinburgh. With water rationed, citizens are mindlessly devoted to two things: the year-round tourist festival and the weekly lottery (Grand Prize: a five-minute shower per week for a month). The mundane peace is shattered with the death of a demoted "auxiliary", or policeman, found in the Water of Leith. The only clue is a bottle of lethal contraband whisky and, as the body count rises, Quint must deal with duplicity, corruption and a ruthless conspiracy.
Johnston beautifully mixes Noir and Orwellian politics with the bonus of sly social satire: "...the Council set up a compulsory lottery last year, turning greed in to a virtue and most citizens into deluded fortune hunters." Stylish and imaginative, it's a captivating mystery with a dash of science fiction. --Danny Graydon
Review
‘A hugely entertaining fantasy ... engagingly imagined’ (The Times on BODY POLITIC )
‘Think of Plato’s Republic with a body count’ (The Sunday Times on BODY POLITIC )
‘An intricate web ... Johnston is a Fawkes among plotters ... Quint’s career looks set to blossom’ (Observer on BODY POLITIC )
‘A powerful, fantastical thriller' (Night and Day (The Mail on Sunday) on THE BONE YAR )
‘This is first-rate crime fiction with an original twist’ (Sunday Telegraph on THE BONE YARD )
‘Impressive follow-up to the award-winning Body Politic...Johnston’s conceit with Edinburgh is brilliant and there’s a mordant Scots wit...stylish’ (Guardian on THE BONE YARD ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
‘Think of Plato’s Republic with a body count’ (The Sunday Times on BODY POLITIC )
‘An intricate web ... Johnston is a Fawkes among plotters ... Quint’s career looks set to blossom’ (Observer on BODY POLITIC )
‘A powerful, fantastical thriller' (Night and Day (The Mail on Sunday) on THE BONE YAR )
‘This is first-rate crime fiction with an original twist’ (Sunday Telegraph on THE BONE YARD )
‘Impressive follow-up to the award-winning Body Politic...Johnston’s conceit with Edinburgh is brilliant and there’s a mordant Scots wit...stylish’ (Guardian on THE BONE YARD ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good thriller, that keeps you gripped.,
This review is from: Water of Death (Paperback)
A brought this book by chance and was impressed by the attempt to transform, plato's republic into the future state. The story centres around a private detective, who used to hold the same ideals as the state machinery, but has since fallen from grace. The intertwining of the clasic crime/thriller with the serious political comment does not quite work. I was left with the feeling that certain sentences were rather forced into the prose. However, the book is not boring or poor, just a good idea that has not quite been executed. Would make ideal easy beach reading.
2.0 out of 5 stars
A Futuristic Edinburgh Crime Thriller,
By
This review is from: Water of Death (Paperback)
I liked the idea of this - set in a future Edinburgh and a crime thriller. My cup of tea. Having lived in Edinburgh for over 10 years I enjoyed the constant tour of the city and places I am familiar with. The future in 2025 though is painted pretty bleak and at times a bit depressing.As a crime thriller it didn't do it for me. Normally I read a book over a few days. This took me over 2 weeks. I read a chapter at a time and couldn't be bothered to read more. Things hot up in the second half of the book. However, not enough to save this decidedly average crime thriller. I won't bothere with any of his other books. 5/10.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An intelligent and interesting read.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Water of Death (Paperback)
I don't usually post reviews on Amazon or anywhere else for that matter, but this is such a good book, I had to say so. An intelligent and interesting read. I genuinely couldn't put it down, and I will now go out and buy the author's other books.
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