Bryant & May off the Rails: A Peculiar Crimes Unit Mystery [Paperback]

The Peculiar Crimes Unit was created "to handle serious crimes that could be considered a threat to public order and confidence." The PCU, which is kept afloat by senior detectives Arthur Bryant and John May, along with a small team of dedicated men and women, has suffered a serious setback. Inadequate security led to the escape of the "King's Cross Executioner" and the murder of a promising young constable, Liberty DuCaine. Operating in a decrepit old warehouse under Home Office Jurisdiction, the PCU is being pressured to recapture "Mr. Fox," the name by which the King's Cross Executioner is known, and to apprehend a second killer who is targeting passengers in the London Underground. Perpetually criticized for its non-traditional methods of detection, members of the PCU must once again prove that they have what it takes to get the job done.

In "Bryant and May off the Rails," Christopher Fowler's sense of humor is as wacky as ever. In a particularly droll passage, Raymond Land, the beleaguered Acting Temporary Unit Chief of the PCU, sends out a scattershot memo about a variety of unrelated matters including: the need to give the media a wide berth, the sudden resignation of April May (whose agoraphobia has recurred), and the hiring of two Turkish gentlemen, both named Dave, who are supposedly repairing the "electrics, woodwork and plumbing, while no doubt offering unsought-for advice on the policing of the capital." Naturally, the two Daves prove to be completely inept. Land adds, "There's a hole in the floor in Mr. Bryant's office. Don't go near it."

The rumpled and exasperating Arthur Bryant remains "acidulous, stubborn, insensitive, [and] opinionated." His dapper counterpart, John May, is the more reasonable and diplomatic of the pair. This time around, they have to discern what connection, if any, exists between the following events, all of which occur in the Underground: A businessman is robbed on his way to Paris, a young mother is pushed down the stairs to her death, a drug addict is stabbed, and a college student disappears. The PCU gathers evidence and follows leads, but there are far more questions than answers. For Bryant, this investigation hits close to home. He loves the London subway system; "he had always felt warm and safe in its sooty embrace...."

It is delightful to observe Bryant reveling in the city that he loves so dearly. As he gazes at coffee shops and tofu bars, he remembers the old days when "prophets and anarchists had held court." To him, the past is still fresh; "he basked in the neighborhood's sublime indifference to the passing of time and people." Dressed in an unkempt suit and ancient trilby, with false teeth, a hearing aid, pockets full of rubbish, and a mind filled with "a mad scramble of ideas," it would be easy to dismiss him as a doddering and irrelevant old man who is out of step with all that is current. Yet his ability to connect the dots has him spotting associations that others overlook.

The plot is, as usual, byzantine. The reader must be patient while a host of disparate clues are slowly laid out before us, but even the most observant sleuth would have difficulty guessing where the story is headed. Although "Bryant and May off the Rails" is not particularly coherent or realistic, it is a colorful look at the rich and varied history of London's tube stations. It is also an entertaining adventure in which Bryant, May, the tough-as-nails DS Janice Longbright, and other members of the PCU stretch themselves to the limit to catch one or more killers.

There is a serious message here, as well: The PCU may be more necessary than ever in today's sterile urban environment. Sadly, we live in a climate where self-centered and alienated people rarely look out for one another, and in such circumstances, a serial killer like Mr. Fox can operate with impunity. To succeed, detectives must stretch themselves and become more like magicians: "We're supposed to specialize in finding out what isn't there." This unconventional series may confound those readers who are more comfortable with linear works of fiction. On the other hand, "Bryant and May off the Rails" and its predecessors will appeal to those who are fascinated by London lore and by the convoluted and mysterious workings of the human mind.

Mr. fowler has created an ensemble of quirky and unusual characters in this series. The geriatric detectives and the Peculiar Crimes unit are wonderful, in my opinion. The plots are clever and very British as well. One can enjoy the little "factoids" about obscure London history that the author cleverly weaves within the storyline and plot. It is not ponderous to read any of these stories and the characters while not all likeable they are entertaining and fit nicely together.
This installment weaves a rather dark tale ( as others are too) with the premise of a repeat villain. Pick up any from the series you won't be dissapointed.

I plunged into the eighth Peculiar Crimes Unit novel by Christopher Fowler without having read any of the earlier books in the series. I found Bryant & May Off the Rails to stand well on its own, and Fowler's writing is clever and funny throughout. Senior detectives Arthur Bryant and John May find their special unit threatened with dissolution following the death of a colleague when a murderer in custody escaped. The setting for the latest novel is the London Underground, especially King's Cross Station, and there's a haunting aspect to this world below ground that provides the perfect atmosphere for a crime novel. The stakes are high for Bryant & May, and joining them on this adventure was great reading entertainment. Any reader who enjoys clever mystery writing will likely appreciate this novel and this series.

Rating: Three-star (Recommended)

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