Isn’t it lovely when something turns out to be an unexpected treat? I read a lot, I read all sorts of stuff, and I don’t always choose my reading matter with some highfalutin, intelligent purpose in mind. In fact, I often pick a new book to read on a complete whim – because I need something to read and it’s there, because the cover stood out, because the author has an amusing name. I’ve discovered some great reads this way, and I was thrilled that this was true of Full Dark House, a recent selection made purely out of the blue. I was unfamiliar with Christopher Fowler, but I needed a quick fix and it sounded like a page turner – with a quirky cover to boot.

The first in a series of British mysteries, Full Dark House opens with a bomb destroying the London headquarters of the Met’s Peculiar Crimes Unit (PCU) and ending the 60 year partnership of its longest serving detectives. Bryant and May’s first case together – a ‘phantom’ stalking a controversial new production of Orpheus in the Underworld during the Blitz – seems to be connected. But how?

With parallel stories cutting between the present and 1940, a cast of memorable characters, and Fowler’s ability to paint a sometimes far-fetched plot with enough charm to render it plausible, Full Dark House was tough to put down. The writing is energetic and effervescent, brimming with wit and clever turns of phrase, and full of engaging and unexpected plot twists. Fowler conjures a vivid image of London during the Blitz, and the mythic, bleak setting amplifies the sinister nature of the crimes to great effect. The Palace Theatre looms large in the narrative, as much a character as any of the production company players.

The PCU deals with ‘unusual’ matters – the sort of crimes that call for a different way of looking at things. At times echoing the quirkiness of Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently, Fowler weaves mythology and elements of the supernatural seamlessly into his fast paced novel. Bryant, with his eccentricities and unorthodox methods, and May, with his dapper charm and logical brain, leap off the page as they try to solve this gothic mystery, successfully avoiding staid ‘odd couple’ clichés. The pairing is part Sherlock Holmes, part Fox Mulder, and ultimately it is their solid friendship that makes Bryant and May a hugely entertaining, immensely likeable duo.

Though I discovered him only recently and at random, Christopher Fowler has written numerous novels and short stories across several genres, and to much critical acclaim. Among his award successes, he won the August Derleth Award (Best Novel) for Full Dark House at the British Fantasy Awards in 2004.  With eight other titles in the series, Bryant and May have been added to my list of guaranteed future reading.