Matt McAvoy Book Review

A pretty easy-going, formula crime whodunnit from a likeable author.  There is no violence to speak of, and no profanity, but rather standard, afternoon-TV detective fare; indeed, at one point the narrator (the primary protagonist, Frank Gibson himself, with Martin writing in the first person) even refers to it as a “family book”.

I have to say that the murder plot itself, whilst initially intriguing, does rather fall by the wayside; this book becomes perhaps more about Gibson’s inoffensive manner and his budding relationship with Helen.  It is also, more than just a little, a journal of his culinary obsession!  It isn’t an exaggeration to say that on nearly every page in this book Frank is talking about or thinking about food, sometimes in such detail that I wonder if the author might be a cook or a chef.  I would even go as far as to suggest perhaps Frank’s character himself might have been suited to being an amateur sleuth from a cookery background, in a similar vein to Diagnosis Murder or The Gourmet Detective; indeed, the book is in that cosy murder-mystery style.  Don’t get me wrong, some of the dishes really did make my mouth water, but between this and Frank canoodling like teenagers with his neighbour, I did feel the investigation itself was relegated to something of a subplot.  It is fair to say that this is a book which intentionally doesn’t take itself particularly seriously. 

This may be to its detriment on occasion, if I’m honest, in that some of the constant joking and wisecracking, not just between the characters but also in Frank’s internal monologue, does feel out of place on occasion, and I did find myself wishing perhaps that the author had toned it down a touch.  The wit is relentless and at times can grate, in truth.  This is particularly exemplified by Frank’s tendency to immediately orate his thoughts verbatim; a couple of times is one thing, but there is a habit in this book of incessant repetition of humour devices, such as this and the pastry arrangement.  But it’s all light-hearted fun, and I think it will appeal to a lot of readers who have a taste for the aforementioned formula.  Additionally, it is packed full of Southern affection and hospitality, which is always a good thing, in my book.  I do wonder, though, how Frank manages to get through his front door, with all the grub he jams in!