Ten Second Staircase - Christopher Fowler

You know, if someone asked me, "Hey, would you like to read a book about two cranky old men who run a crime unit in London?" I would probably answer, "Uh, not really...but I'll try it?" Fortunately, I didn't read the inside flap of this book before I checked it out from the library. Aside from being a mystery novel set in London, the bare details of the book didn't appeal to me that much. Again, glad I didn't read the flap--I will definitely be going back for more.

So, the first thing you need to know about this book is that the two main characters run the Peculiar Crimes Unit. Yes, really. I love it. And I can't speak for the other cases they've solved, but this book was indeed peculiar. The crime begins when a highwayman on a horse wearing a tricorn hat (the man, not the horse (unfortunately); sorry for the poor sentence structure) dumps a woman into her own art exhibit featuring fetuses in a large aquarium tank. She then drowns in her own art...literally. Peculiar, no? The highwayman reappears, each time attacking a different fairly-well-known celebrity. Of course, none of them seem to be connected, and the job falls to the PCU, run by two cranky (and hilarious) old men named Bryant and May.

Look, people, the book is hilarious. Also somewhat strange, but in a completely good way. So go read it, and I'll go to bed. Good night!

P.S. Also, thankyouthankyouthankyou to my first commenter, Jessica, and to my two new followers, the aforementioned Jessica and chrisw170200. My sad little ego is being stroked right now.