A Sudden Interest in Shakespeare is an oddly compelling PI mystery by Paul Breen. Released 6th July 2023, it's 277 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.The first book featuring musician/part time PI Seamus O'Neill is also available on KU.
This is a quirky, but choppily written modern PI procedural with multiple plotlines and an interesting cast of characters. There's a missing persons case, a box full of unexplained cash, fake passports, and assorted other skullduggery. The returning characters get some development in this volume, but none of them are truly appealing or empathetic. MC Seamus appears to be floating through life, doing as little as possible to get by and not making much progress. He is, however, undeniably clever, and despite the banal and ridiculous plans he comes up with, manages to figure it all out in the end.
It's not clear whether this is a very dryly humorous caper, a modern noir, a caper mystery, or a combination. It is well constructed, and although it would undoubtedly have benefited from a more thorough editing process, it is engaging and readable.
Three and a half stars. R-rated language and situations. Although it's the second book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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