This is a dark comedy novella for grownups that blends the mysterious with the everyday to create an unpredictable but very entertaining story.
The characters are realistic and credible, and varied enough to make their interactions interesting. The story is well written, with enough twists to keep it interesting without becoming unbelievable.
That it can be easily read in less than two hours makes it a great option for busy people who have to fit a good read into the demands of life.
‘The Gold Dragon Caper’ is a the fourth of the Damien Dickens mystery novel/audiobook series.
The story is complex and full of intriguing twists, and progresses at a pace that keeps the reader hooked without feeling rushed. A number of the characters from previous books in the series return in this story, giving a pleasing sense of continuity and connection for those who have read or listened to them, but there are also enough new characters to keep things fresh and interesting.
The book does stand alone for readers who have not read the previous installments, but will deliver spoilers for anyone who might want to read the earlier books.
The narration by Tom Lennon is very easy to listen to, and very much suits the detective noir style and tone of the story.
What a treat it is to find a mystery that is interesting, unpredictable and highly original.
The writing is good, the characters and scenarios are believable, and there are plenty of suspects and reflection herrings to sort through.
As the central character, Harmony Dupree is refreshing in her normality and average appearance, using her brains and ingenuity to solve her problems and find solutions to the challenges she encounters.
This is an interesting and engaging story that, once started, is hard to put down and really keeps the reader guessing.
